USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. IV > Part 2
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chased the Tiffany mill and property at Daniel- sonville, Connecticut, and organized the Quine- baug Manufacturing Company. In 1854 the Lip- pitt brothers withdrew from this concern and began manufacturing, Henry Lippitt concentrat- ing in this field after his brother's death. His company, by January, 1874, had a capitalization of $1,000,000 and the Social and Globe mills at Woonsocket. Mr. Lippitt was treasurer and owned a controlling interest in the stock. Mean- time, in 1859, the firm name became Henry Lip- pitt & Company. This enterprising manufac- turer reëquipped the old Harrison mills for the making of woolen and assumed the presidency of the Lippitt Woolen Company. He also organized the Silver Spring Bleaching and Dyeing Com- pany in 1864 and served as president, and he was likewise president of the Rhode Island Na- tional Bank, the Rhode Island Institute for Sav- ings, the Wheaton Hotel Company, the Provi- dence Opera House Association, the Dyer Street Land Company, and the Colonia Warehouse and Dry Dock Company of South America. He was an organizer and first vice-president of the Prov- idence Board of Trade, and later president. He was thus a part of all the business progress of the city.
His participation in other departments of com- munity progress was equally energetic. Mr. Lip- pitt helped reorganize the Providence Marine Corps of Artillery in 1840 and 1842, and he was elected lieutenant-colonel of the corps after serv- ing in various subordinate offices. He com- manded part of the company in the Dorr War of 1842, defending the Arsenal for three nights against the Dorr attack, and leading an offensive against the Dorr forces. He also served as com- missioner for the County of Providence for draft- ing and enrolling men during the Civil War in 1862. In 1875, his popularity culminated in his election to the office of Governor of Rhode Is- land, which he filled with brilliant success. His own words indicate his ideals:
The best growth of a State is brave, wise and good men, and noble and true women; its worst product, ignorant and vicious citizens. It is the highest function of Legislatures to encourage and promote the one and to reduce within the narrowest possible limits the other.
Henry Lippitt married, December 16, 1845, Mary Ann Balch, daughter of Dr. Joseph Balch, and they were the parents of eleven children: I. Governor Charles Warren Lippitt, born Octo- ber 8, 1846, brilliantly educated, widely traveled,
associated in all his father's important business enterprises with that magnate, and Governor of the State in 1895 and 1896; married Barbara Farnum, and they had children: Charles Warren, Jr .; Alexander F .; and Gorton Thayer Lippitt. 2. Henry Merriman. 3. Joseph Balch. 4. George Ernest. 5. Jeanie, born in 1852, afflicted with deafness at the age of four, was sympathetic with fellow-sufferers the rest of her life, contributing as a pioneer in this work for the deaf in the way of advice and money; she was the first deaf child in America to learn speech and lip-reading, and her experience counted toward the founding of the Clarke School for the Deaf, while she helped raise money for the Coolidge's Endowment Fund for that institution; she married William B. Weeden. 6. Frederick. 7. Henry Frederick, United States Senator from Rhode Island, 1911 to 1917. 8. Mary Balch, born in 1858, married Charles John Steedman, who died in Paris, France, in 1907, by whom she had a son, Charles Richard Steedman. 9. Robert Lincoln, who mar- ried Lillian Blazo. 10. Abby Frances, who mar- ried Duncan Hunter. II. Alfred.
Mr. Lippitt lived and labored for seventy-three years and wrought most potently for the ad- vancement of Rhode Island along economic, social, and political lines. He ranked head and shoulders above most of his fellows in ability, ideals, and accomplishments. Nor did his power die with him, for his fine family of sons and daughters continued to work for humanity, Mrs. Weeden for the deaf, and Mrs. Steedman in contributions of money and personal effort in behalf of the blind.
MOSES E. SHIPPEE-For approximately two and one-half centuries the Shippee family has been continuously resident in the ancient town of East Greenwich, where its members have been identified with its complete history. Many of the representatives of this sturdy Colonial stock have been among the leading farmers, business men, and manufacturers of the district, while all have borne the highest of characters for civic pride and use- fulness, patriotism and lofty ideals to which they have adhered faultlessly.
(I) David Shippee, the earliest American an- cestor of whom there is record, was married in the town of Warwick, Rhode Island, on August 15, 1664, to Margaret Scranton, daughter of Thomas Scranton. He lived in Kingstown, East
Moses E. Shippee
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Greenwich, and Providence, and his death oc- curred about 1718. His children were: Elizabeth, Martha, Mary, Samuel, David, Thomas, and Solo- mon.
(II) Samuel Shippee, son of David and Mar- garet (Scranton) Shippe, married, December 29, 1702, Ann Leithfield. They were both of East Greenwich. He died in 1740, his will being proved September 27 of that year.
(III) Thomas Shippe, son of Samuel and Ann (Leithfield) Shippee, married December 24, 1732, Hannah Matteson, both of East Greenwich.
(IV) Caleb Shippee, son of Thomas and Han- nah (Matteson) Shippee, was born August 23, 1747, married, February 12, 1775, Alice Collins, daughter of Cupper Collins, of Coventry, Rhode Island, and their children are all recorded in the birth registry of East Greenwich.
(V) Lodowick U. Shippee, the middle initial standing for the given name Updike, son of Caleb and Alice (Collins) Shippee, was born August 23, 1789, son of Caleb and Alice (Collins) Shippee, was reared in the "Shippee Settlement" and was the father of three sons, born as follows: Mancer C., born June 1, 1818; Wanton, born in 1827; and Christopher A., born in 1837, who was one of the substantial citizens of East Greenwich and served the town as postmaster from 1871 to 1880.
(VI) Mancer C. Shippee, eldest of these sons and father of Moses E. Shippee, was born on the "Shippee Settlement" as related and there spent his boyhood days. His father was a mechanic and at an early age he began to work at machine build- ing, but in 1837 dropped this work, learned weav- ing and became a boss weaver, remaining at that occupation for more than twenty years. He then became superintendent for a number of years of the Usquepaug Mill in South Kingstown. He married Harriett Dawley, of Exeter, who died March 5, 1895. His own death followed in three days and they were both interred on the same day. He was a member of the Six Principle Baptist Church and for a long time was superintendent of its Sunday school. He and his wife were the parents of the following children: Sarah, born in 1840, married James Holland and lived in East Greenwich; Moses, deceased in childhood; Mary, married Charles Tarbox; Aaron, married Mary Eliza Nicholas, of Coventry; Amanda, married David Vaughn and lives in California; Delia B., married Nathaniel G. Carpenter, of East Greenwich; Ella, married Colvin Gardner; Henry, married Edna Johnson; and Moses E., of whom further.
(VII) Moses E. Shippee, descendant of the fore-
going line of pioneers, was born May 19, 1859, in Richmond, Rhode Island. He spent his years from two to twenty-one on a farm owned by his father in the westerly part of the town of East Green- wich, whence the family removed. Upon leaving the farm to engage in business Moses began work in the grocery and market establishment of N. G. Carpenter in East Greenwich and also assisted in the management of the old Updike Hotel. Through a severe attack of rheumatism in 1895 he lost his sight. At this time he was prosperously engaged in real estate dealing and had made a fine success of the enterprise. His affliction did not incapacitate him to the extent of compelling his retirement and, with grim courage and fortitude he continued his business operations and was rewarded with continuing prosperity, his insurance business bring- ing him excellent returns. In 1922, however, he decided to retire and so disposed of his business to the H. V. Allen Estate. He was an active and influential member of the First Baptist Church and was fraternally affiliated with the order of Free and Accepted Masons. His death occurred on April 2, 1927.
Moses E. Shippee married Sarah Aylesworth, daughter of Lyman Aylesworth, a member of the Council and Assembly in North Kingstown. They were the parents of one daughter, Marion, who ably assisted her father in the conduct of his busi- ness after his sight failed.
Moses E. Shippee was a God-fearing man, an able citizen, courageous, pure of character, loyal to friends and duty. He was esteemed as a type of the best forces that have been active in the development of Rhode Island, working with all his strength to advance the prosperity of the whole community through the energy he put into his individual enterprises. He obeyed the commands of God and took delight in following the principles of good government and progressive labor. Rhode Island was richer for his contributions to the gen- eral commercial activities of the State.
JOHN FRANCIS DEERING-In the edu- cational world, John Francis Deering has for many years been one of Rhode Island's leading workers. He is today (1931) superintendent of public schools in West Warwick, this State, hav- ing held this post since 1913, the time of the division of the Warwicks. A man of conscientious and public-spirited qualities, he has done much valuable work in his community; and his place is one of deserved respect and high regard.
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Mr. Deering was born in Melfort, on the west coast of Scotland, on November 24, 1863, son of John and Isabella (MacKay) Deering. His father was superintendent of the powder works at Mel- fort, and in later years, upon coming to the United States, served as foreman of the heat- ing plant for the calico printing department of the Clyde Print Works, at Warwick, Rhode Island. From La Salle Academy, Providence, John Francis Deering was graduated in 1878. He then took a two-year course in the Rhode Island School of Design, after which he worked with the firm of D. M. Thompson, as a mill engineer, until the spring of 1882. From Septem- ber, that year, until July, 1913, he was principal and teacher at the Arctic Public School, War- wick, Rhode Island. On July 12, 1913, he was elected by the Warwick school committee to the office of superintendent of schools. That post he held until November 12, 1913, when he became superintendent of schools in West Warwick, a newly-created municipality. From time to time, Mr. Deering has taken further studies at differ- ent institutions of learning, chiefly in drawing and design, in which he has always been especially interested.
His work as a teacher and school administrator has at all times been valuable to his fellowmen; but he has not confined his activities to these fields of civic life. With many different organ- izations and groups, in both social and frater- nal circles, he has long been active; and since 1895 he has been a member of the Knights of Columbus, in which he was for one year Grand Knight. For a quarter of a century he was financial secretary, and at the time of writing (1930) he is recorder of the James P. Gibson Council No. 181. He also holds membership in the P. V. Nursing Association and the P. V. Board of Trade, as well as the Chamber of Commerce. Educational groups have found in him a loyal supporter and active member. He belongs to the Rhode Island Institute of Instruc- tion, in which he has been a member for many years; and prior to 1916 he was secretary of this organization. In 1919 he was its president. He also belongs to the National Education Asso- ciation and the New England Superintendents' Association.
Mr. Deering also holds membership in the Barnard Club, of Providence, an educational or- ganization; the West Warwick Country Club, of which he has been a member since its incep- tion; the Boy Scouts of America, in which he is
both an active member and an officer; and the Catholic Church. His parish is that of St. James, in West Warwick. Mr. Deering was formerly a member of the P. V. Agricultural Association, and for two years its secretary. Into all his work and into his different associations with his fellowmen and with different civic bodies, he has ever put his best energies and his fullest measure of devotion, with the result that his is a place of eminence and esteem among his hosts of friends and acquaintances.
John Francis Deering has been twice married: (first), in August, 1893, in the St. James Church, at Arctic, Rhode Island, to Sarah E. McGuire, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Gillan) Mc- Guire; and, (second), in the same church, in November, 1921, to Ida Helen Taylor, daughter of William J. and Ellen (Healey) Taylor. His first wife died in August, 1899. He has two chil- dren, both born of the first marriage: I. John Deering Deering, born December 17, 1894. 2. Margaret Cecilia Deering, born December 19, 1896.
HERBERT A. CAPRON-One of the well- known men in the automobile industry in Rhode Island, is Herbert A. Capron, president of the Auburn Motor Car Company of Rhode Island, distributors of the Auburn and Cord cars for this State.
He was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on January 2, 1885, son of Herbert A. and Ellen P. (McCloy) Capron. His father, a native of Wrentham, Massachusetts, was for many years engaged in the jewelry business, and later was in the automobile business until his death. The mother, Mrs. Ellen P. (McCloy) Capron, was born in Providence, where she still makes her home (1931). In the public schools of this, his native city, Herbert A. Capron, received his early education, and also attended the English High School. In 1903 he entered the automobile busi- ness, becoming associated with his father in sales and service work connected with the Franklin automobile. They were the first to sell Franklin automobiles in the State of Rhode Island. He and his father continued this agency until 1905, when they became the representatives of the Pope auto- mobiles, handling these cars until 1914, when Herbert A. Capron went with the Cadillac Motor Company as salesman. Here he remained until 1915 and the following two years he was in the used car business. In 1920 he became associated
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with Robert W. Powers and Company, distribu- tors of the Hudson and Essex cars. Five years later, in 1925, he was made sales manager of this company, and continued in this position until 1929, when he made a change and became dis- tributor of the Auburn and Cord cars for the State of Rhode Island. This company, which operates under the name of the Auburn Motor Car Company of Rhode Island, has as its officers: Herbert A. Capron, president; C. C. Darling, vice-president; G. P. Metcalf, vice-president; E. T. H. Metcalf, vice-president of sales and service; and Gardner Martin, Jr., treasurer. The company has a sales and service station at No. 91 Broad- way, Providence.
Mr. Capron is a member of Nathanael Greene Lodge, No. 45, Free and Accepted Masons; Providence Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Prov- idence Council, No. 1, Royal and Select Mas- ters; Calvary Commandery, No. 13, Knights Templar; also Palestine Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the Shriners' Club. He also is affiliated with all bodies of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, including the Rhode Island Consistory, where he attained the thirty-second degree. He is a member, too, of the Rhode Island Automobile Dealers' Association and the Narragansett Boat Club. Mr. Capron's politics are Republican and he believes in the policies and principles of that party. His religious faith is that of the Protestant Episcopal Church, his parish being St. Martin's.
Herbert A. Capron married, in 1912, Charlotte Smith, a native of Johnston, Rhode Island, now deceased. By this union there were the following children: George B., and Barbara N.
JOHN HENRY BAILEY, JR .- For many years an active worker in the profession of edu- cation in Rhode Island, John Henry Bailey, Jr., served faithfully and well as superintendent of schools in Coventry, this State. Although he is now retired from his active endeavors, living on the so-called Nathanael Greene homestead, in Anthony, of which he is custodian, he maintains a lively interest in education and in civic life.
Mr. Bailey was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on March 6, 1863, son of John Henry, Sr., and Elizabeth Ann (Nickerson) Bailey. On both sides of his house he is descended from old and honored families, the Baileys, who then wrote their name Baily, having settled in Bris-
tol County, Massachusetts, early in the seven- teenth century, and the Nickersons having first appeared in New England about 1630. Among Mr. Bailey's more prominent ancestors, Dean Nickerson held an important place in his day, having been a captain in the first United States Navy in the War of the Revolution; while Mr. Bailey's own father was a veteran of the Civil War, in which he served in Company D, 3d Rhode Island Heavy Artillery.
Mr. Bailey spent his first five years of life in his native Pawtucket, and then was taken by his parents to Fall River, Massachusetts, to live, and later to North Smithfield, Rhode Island. In both of those places he attended the public schools, having studied for the first three years in Fall River, Massachusetts. He then studied under a private tutor for a time, entering the State Normal School, at Providence, in 1880. He had by that time determined upon teaching as his profession, and, after his graduation in 1882, at once sought educational work. He obtained a position in the Mowry School No. 10, at North Smithfield, but stayed there only a short time before becoming principal of the Chepachet gram- mar schools (Glocester), where he continued for three years. His next assignment was principal of the Centreville School, Warwick, Rhode Is- land, whence he came to Bristol in 1889 to teach in the "Old Brick School," the town's oldest school, which has since been razed. He was ap- pointed principal of that school, and so served for a time, until he left to assume a similar post in the Walley School, the Byfield School and the Reynolds School. It was in 1898 that he was chosen principal of the Byfield School; and in 1917 became supervising principal of both the Byfield and Reynolds schools. Then, on July I, 1919, he took the post of superintendent of schools at Coventry, Rhode Island, where he continued in that capacity until his retirement in 1929. It was then that he bought the Thomas Read farm, in the Read School District of Coventry, where he is engaged in farming on a small scale.
It would probably have been impossible for a man who lacked Mr. Bailey's ardor for edu- cational work to have accomplished so much in this field as did he. But so great was his en- thusiasm for each professional task that came before him that he was able to devote himself and his fullest energies to teaching and school administration and to achieve fine results in all his efforts. He has ever manifested a keen inter-
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est in humanity and its welfare, both in his professional activities and in his social affiliations. A member of the Free and Accepted Masons, he is connected, in this order, with St. Alban's Lodge, Hope Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, of Bristol, and Webb Council of Royal and Select Masters, of Warren, Rhole Island. He also holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has served as Noble Grand of his lodge, and also as Chief Patriarch of Wampanoag Encampment; in this order he has likewise been Grand Warden and Grand Sentinel, in the Grand Encampment as a mem- ber of the staff of the Grand Patriarch. He is a member of the Barnard Club, the Rhode Island Grammar Masters' Club (of which he is a past president) ; and the Sons of Veterans, in which he is affiliated with the Charles F. Gordon Camp, No. 10, of Woonsocket, and is a past divi- sion commander (colonel) of the Rhode Island division. He has for many years been a mem- ber of the Bristol Train of Artillery, an organ- ization founded in 1776, of which he has been twice colonel, from 1900 to 1903 and again from 1917 to 1919, as well as adjutant with the rank of captain. Mr. Bailey's political affiliation is with the Democratic party, and he is at present a member of the Democratic Town Committee of Coventry. He served as chairman of the Demo- cratic Town Committee of Bristol for several years and as a member of the Democratic State Committee of Rhode Island. While living in North Smithfield, he was at different times a member of the school board, as well as both school superintendent and tax assessor; and in Bristol he served for several terms as a mem- ber of the town council.
John Henry Bailey married, on December 22, 1890, Martha Josephine Harris, daughter of Elisha Harris, of Smithfield, and a descendant of Thomas Harris, one of two brothers who came from Bristol, England, in the ship "Lyon" in 1630, with Roger Williams. Thomas Harris was one of the thirty-nine signers of an agreement for a form of government and also a signer in 1637 of the "Providence pact." To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey there were born three children: I. Mark Harris, who was educated in the public schools of Bristol, and is a graduated of Thibodau Busi- ness College, of Fall River, Massachusetts. He served in the World War, in the 19th Company Coast Artillery, having been one of the first citi- zens to volunteer for service in that company, and having been engaged overseas for one year
and ten months, the last seven months in France. Since the war he has been engaged in the garage business in Bristol. 2. Clifford Harris, educated in the public schools, left high school in his junior year to become manager of his father's farm in Bristol, and is now a successful farmer in Coventry, Rhode Island. 3. Abner Harris, educated in the public schools, of Bristol, was graduated from Rhode Island State College, in 1923, with the degree of Bachelor of Science and received his Master's degree from Columbia Uni- versity in 1928. He is now teacher of mathe- matics and coach of athletics at Newton (Mas- sachusetts) High School. He married Vera Swan, daughter of Herbert Swan; and they have a son, Herbert Swan Bailey.
HOWARD W. HATHAWAY-One of the beautiful and well-managed farms in the vicinity of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, is the fine orchard property of C. E. and H. W. Hathaway. Howard W. Hathaway is associated with his father and ranks as a prosperous and highly esteemed citi- zen.
Howard W. Hathaway was born in Somerset, Massachusetts, December 12, 1876, son of Charles E. and Mary E. (Sherman) Hathaway, the latter, who was born in Massachusetts, now being de- ceased. The father, a native of Somerset, was formerly in the pottery business, and now he is associated with his son in the orchard industry. Our subject was educated in the public and high schools of Somerset and in the Friends' School at Providence. Upon the completion of his schooling, he learned the trade of machinist and for three years followed this trade. He then occupied himself with the manufacture of pot- tery and electrical insulation material until 1915, when he moved to Tiverton, Rhode Island, and then to Portsmouth in 1917 with his father, and for four years continued to manufacture pottery. In 1919, the partners abandoned this business and gave all their attention to the enterprise of orchard development. The orchard business was started in 1905, and Howard W. was in this business with his father in Somerset before start- ing the Portsmouth orchards. He is still inter- ested in Somerset orchards in a small way. In Portsmouth Mr. Hathaway cultivates some fifty acres in vegetables, and one hundred and fifty in fruit trees. The truck garden and orchards are in flourishing condition and their product is in
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much demand. Mr. Hathaway is keenly inter- ested in fruit-growing and belongs to the Amer- ican Pomological Society, the Rhode Island Fruit Growers' Association, of which he is a director, and vice-president of the Massachusetts Fruit Growers' Association, of which also he is a direc- tor, the New York Horticultural Society, and the New Jersey Horticultural Society.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Hathaway has for six years been a member of the Portsmouth School Committee, and since 1926 president of the Portsmouth Town Council. His hobbies are boating, tennis, and politics. Mr. Hathaway be- longs to Eureka Lodge, No. 22, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Elysian Lodge, No. 73, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of Somerset, Massachusetts; the Order of the Eastern Star; and Portsmouth Grange, No. 29, to which he transferred from Somerset Grange of which he was formerly Master. He attends the Friends' Church of Swansea, Massachusetts.
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