USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. IV > Part 25
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Mr. Manchester was prominently affiliated with Freemasonry, a member of St. Alban's Lodge, No. 6, Free and Accepted Masons; Hope Chapter, No. 6, Royal Arch Masons; St. John's Commandery Knights Templar, of which he had served as treas- urer for twenty years; and was a thirty-second de- gree member of the Scottish Rite. He was also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Society of Colonial Wars. His clubs were the Turks Head, of which he was a charter member and a director ; Hope; Squantum; Players and Anawan clubs, while in line with his profession he was a member of the American Gas Association ; New England Association of Gas Engineers and Gas Presidents Guild.
Charles Howard Manchester married, April 7, 1886, at Bristol, Lois Burnham, daughter of Anson B. Burnham, and of this marriage there is a son, Howard Norcott Manchester, born January 8, 1887,
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who was educated in the schools of Bristol and at St. John's School, Manlius, New York, and then entered the employ of the Industrial Trust Company of Providence. He is now secretary, treasurer, and director of the Union Wadding Company, of Pawtucket, and John R. White & Son, Inc., of Providence. Mrs. Manchester holds membership in the Society of Mayflower De- scendants and Daughters of American Revolution.
The death of Mr. Manchester, which occurred June 25, 1930, was an occasion for widespread regret on the part of great numbers of people of this State. A statement from the office of the Providence Community Fund, of which Mr. Man- chester was the financial adviser, voices the pub- lic feeling with regard to his passing in his sixty- sixth year :
In the death of Charles H. Manchester the Prov- idence Community Fund and the community have lost a sincere friend and adviser. His financial judgment and broad sympathy won for him the respect and the affection of those who came in con- tact with him through the Community Fund office. Although Mr. Manchester served primarily as an adviser to the Community Fund in matters finan- cial, he demonstrated many times during the four years of his service as treasurer, a broad under- standing of social problems and a warm sympathy for his fellowmen. His death deprives the Provi- dence Community Fund and thousands of persons whom it serves of one of their most able and devoted friends.
REV. J. FRANCIS VINCENT, S. M .- One of the important religious institutions of Rhode Island is the Church of the Immaculate Concep- tion, at Westerly, which is in charge of the Rev. J. Francis Vincent, S. M. The parish conducts three regular mission churches, one in Bradford, another in Hope Valley, and still another at Caro- lina, and also has charge of summer missions at Watch Hill, Weekapaug, Quonochontaug, and Mis- quamicut.
The parish of the Immaculate Conception was originally, with all of southern Rhode Island, a part of the parish of Stonington, Connecticut, in the diocese of Hartford. In 1851 there were one hundred and fifty adult Catholics in Westerly and by 1861 the number had increased sufficiently to warrant the erection of a church, St. Michael's. The town of Westerly was half in Rhode Island, half in Connecticut, Westerly being the Rhode Island name, Pawcatuck the Connecticut name. It was on the Connecticut side that the first
church was built. When the diocese of Hartford was divided and the diocese of Providence created no change was made. The priest, who was of the diocese of Hartford, continued to reside on the Connecticut side of the river, having faculties in both dioceses. In May, 1885, Bishop Hendricken erected the Rhode Island portion of Westerly into a separate parish, the parish of the Immaculate Conception, with Rev. William Pyne as the first pastor. The Hibernian Hall was secured as a place of worship and in a month the congregation had outgrown the building. A larger hall, seating about five hundred was secured on Main Street and there services were held for more than two years. In February, 1887, two lots three hundred feet square were purchased and the following summer work was begun on the church edifice. The Church of the Immaculate Conception was opened for services in 1889 and in October, 1891, it was dedicated. Father Pyne remained in charge until the fall of 1894, when he was succeeded by Rev. William Galvin, who was still in charge in 1905. On July 3, 1924, the present pastor, Rev. J. Francis Vincent, took charge, and during the six years of his pastorate he has greatly advanced the interests of the parish.
Rev. J. Francis Vincent, S. M., was born in France, September 26, 1880, and came to this country when he was twenty-one years old. His early education was received in the schools of France, Belgium, and England, and after his ar- rival in this country he entered the Catholic Uni- versity of Washington, District of Columbia, where, in 1906, he was ordained by the Rev. Bishop Alfred Curtis. For nine years he was a teacher in All Hallows College, at Salt Lake City, Utah. He was then appointed assistant pastor at the Church of Our Lady of Victory, at Boston, Massachusetts, where he served for an- other nine years. On July 3, 1924, he came to his present charge as pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, at Westerly, where he has accomplished a valuable work among the people of the parish and of neighboring com- munities. He has charge of the spiritual guid- ance of about 7,450 souls, and the services of the church and of the numerous missions mentioned above necessitate the reading of twelve Masses each Sunday. During the six years of his pas- torate he has built the present twenty-two room rectory and purchased the building which is now used as a convent, accommodating seven Sisters. In the near future Father Vincent will begin the erection of a new convent built to accommodate
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fifteen Sisters. He has also built a school con- taining thirteen class rooms and an auditorium seating six hundred and fifty persons, in 1926. The school was opened with provision for three grades only, but a grade has been added each year and at the present time there are seven grades with a total enrollment of three hundred pupils. The chapel at Misquamicut has been en- larged until it accommodates six hundred and fifty persons, and in both the regular parish work and the work of the numerous missions of the parish Father Vincent has accomplished much. He is aided by two assistants, Father J. P. Cassagne, who has charge of the Hope Valley work, and Father Bruno, who has charge of the work among the Italian people and also of the mission at Bradford. The work of the convent school is under the supervision of the Sisters of Mercy, who are directed by Sister Casimir, Superior. In addition to his responsibilities in connection with the church and its numerous missions, Father Vincent acts as chaplain for the Ancient Order of Hibernians and for the Daughters of Isabella. In all these organizations, and among the people of Rhode Island generally, Father Vincent is widely and favorably known. His hosts of friends admire him for the work that he has accomplished and love him for the excellent traits of character revealed in all his life and work.
REV. JAMES J. TRAINOR-The Church of Our Lady of Mercy, of East Greenwich, Rhode Island, earlier known as the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, has been under the able leader- ship of Rev. James J. Trainor since 1927.
The parish of Our Lady of Mercy dates back to 1852. The Irish immigration of the 1840's and 1850's had brought some Catholics to East Green- wich, but there was little Catholic influence in the town during those years. The first resident pastor was Rev. J. P. Lenihan, a young priest who was ordained at the Bishop's Seminary in Providence, June 13, 1852. He purchased a house and lot in East Greenwich, September 10, 1853, and at once fixed up the building for the celebration of Mass. As there were only a few Catholics in the town and in the neighboring districts, he was given nearly all of Southern Rhode Island as his mis- sion, but he set about his work courageously, in spite of the fact that the "Know Nothing" agitation against Catholics was at its height. He called his
"church" in East Greenwich the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus. He was a man of zeal and piety, but so strong was the anti-Catholic feeling at the time in East Greenwich that Father Leni- han never went out alone at night for fear of personal harm. His missions, too, were so distant that he could not give them the service he wished to give-but he remained in East Greenwich to the time of his death, which occurred in 1857. After his death there was an interval of ten years before East Greenwich had another resident pastor. Dur- ing that time the town was ministered to from Phenix, first by Father Wallace and then by his successor, Rev. John Couch, who bought more land for a new church. The Catholic population was still small in 1857, in which year Bishop McFar- land estimated that there were one hundred adult Catholics in East Greenwich and thirty-five at Wickford.
In November, 1867, Rev. William Hart became the second resident pastor, but a year later, De- cember, 1868, he was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Kane, who remained for four busy years. In Sep- tember, 1869, he began the erection of a new church, which, in 1871, was dedicated by Bishop McFarland to Our Lady of Mercy, thus changing the name of church and parish. Father Kane served ably until 1872, when Rev. William Halli- gan took charge. Father Halligan served for seven years, doing the hardest kind of missionary work. Under his ministrations the mission stations in- creased their membership rapidly, and in 1875 Father Halligan built St. Catherine's Chapel in Apponaug. About the same time he built St. Ber- nard's Chapel in Wickford. The next pastor was Rev. William Hines, who took charge in 1879, and remained until January, 1888, a period of eight years. From January, 1888, to June, 1899, Rev. Owen F. Clarke was in charge of Our Lady of Mercy. He greatly improved the church property, strengthened the spiritual life of the parish, and won the profound respect of his people. In June, 1899, the Rev. Thomas Fitzpatrick was made pas- tor. The parish then covered a territory twenty- three miles in length, and the mission at which Mass was said every Sunday was eight miles dis- tant. Father Fitzpatrick served until 1906, when Father Malone took charge. He raised the church and placed a tower upon it in 1907. The next pas- tor was Rev. William R. Houghton, who served until 1923, when he was succeeded by Rev. James P. Kelly. After three and a half years of service Father Kelly was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. James J. Trainor.
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Rev. James J. Trainor was born in Providence, Rhode Island, August 31, 1884, and after com- pleting his course in the public schools matriculated in St. Charles' College, at Baltimore, Maryland, from which he was graduated. He began his theological training in the Seminary at Brighton, Massachusetts, where he continued his studies for two years, and then entered Grand Seminary in Paris, where he was ordained in 1910. After graduation he continued his studies for three years, doing post-graduate work at Rome, Italy, and upon his return to this country he was as- signed to the Cathedral in Providence, Rhode Is- land, where he served as an assistant for fourteen years. At the end of that time he was made a pastor and assigned to his present charge as pas- tor of the Church of Our Lady of Mercy, at East Greenwich. Since coming to this parish Father Trainor has made many improvements to the church property. He has redecorated the in- terior of the church, installed electric lights, re- placed the old pews with new ones providing seat- ing for four hundred and fifty persons in the upper church and three hundred and seventy-five in the basement. There are the usual three altars in the main church, and Father Trainor has given much attention to the artistic and harmonious furnishing and decorating of the interior. Though the church is a wooden structure it is built in a most substantial manner, and is well planned to meet the needs of the parish which it serves. The rectory, too, has been thoroughly renovated and remodelled and now (1931) contains twenty rooms. It was built in 1888. The usual parish societies are in prosperous and steadily growing condition. There is a vigorous Holy Name Society for men, Holy Rosary Society, Blessed Virgin Society, Chil- dren of Mary Society and Daughters of Isabella, the last named of which has headquarters at East Greenwich, where they meet regularly.
Father Trainor has given three years of zealous service to the parish of Our Lady of Mercy, and during that time has accomplished much for the welfare of the church and parish.
ESTATE OF W. U. FARRINGTON-This concern was founded in 1889 and conducted by William U. Farrington until his death in 1906. Beginning operations with a factory but three hun- dred square feet in area, this plant now operates
three factories, all in the town of Warwick, Rhode Island, covering an area of thirty thousand square feet. It is the largest factory in the State of Rhode Island devoted to the manufacture of gums and dextrines. It also manufactures sizings and softenings and other textile specialties for the finishing of all kinds of printed and woven cotton fabrics.
William U. Farrington was a native of England, who was educated as a finisher of cotton fabrics at Manchester, England. He came to the United States in 1876 for W. F. & F. C. Sayles to super- intend the finishing of fancy cotton goods-a class of work not before done in America.
LOUIS W. FARRINGTON was born in Central Falls, Rhode Island, December 15, 1883, a son of William U. Farrington, a native of Eng- land, founder of the establishment of W. U. Far- rington, deceased in 1906, and Laura (Davidson) Farrington, a native of Haverstraw, New York. He was educated in the public schools of the town of Warwick and at the East Greenwich Academy, after which he attended University School in Providence. He then entered business with his father and upon the death of the founder, became the sole manager and trustee of the estate. Mr. Farrington is a member of the Chamber of Com- merce, and is one of the organizers and served as lieutenant in the Varnum Continentals. Among his clubs are the East Greenwich Yacht Club, Nautilus, of East Greenwich, and Century, of Providence, Shrine Club, Wannamoisett Country Club, Vesper Country Club of Lowell, Massachusetts, and the Lions' Club of Providence. Republican in politics, he is a member of the Warwick Water Supply Board, and served one year on the town of War- wick planning board. He is a director of the Ma- sonic Building Association of East Greenwich, and president of the Glenwood Cemetery Corporation. He is fraternally affiliated with King Solomon Lodge No. II, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is a Past Master; Narragansett Chap- ter of Royal Arch Masons, Providence Council, Royal and Select Masters; Providence Lodge No. 14, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Louis W. Farrington married, June 5, 1907, Mar- guerite H. Butts, of East Greenwich, Rhode Is- land, and they are the parents of a daughter, Marion C. Farrington.
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REV. FRANCIS FULLAM has been serving as pastor of St. Joseph's Church of Ashton, town of Cumberland, Rhode Island, since March 29, 1930.
St. Joseph's parish was separated from St. Pat- rick's of Valley Falls and organized as a new parish in 1872. In November of that year Rev. James A. Fitzsimon was appointed first pastor of the parish. Father Fitzsimon did not take up his abode in Ashton at once, but lived in Manville until 1874. His congregation was made up of Eng- lish and French speaking Catholics, who previous to 1870, were few and scattered and who traveled through woods and over bad roads to hear Mass in distant churches or were ministered to by the pioneer priests, Fathers Tully, Daily, and O'Gor- man. When Father Delaney of Pawtucket built a church in Valley Falls and in the southern part of the town, he greatly benefited the Catholics liv- ing in the several parts of the town of Cumber- land by bringing a church much nearer to them and to the other districts and mills which line the valley of the Blackstone. Catholics living in Ash- ton, Albion, and Manville, all were benefited by and were deeply interested in the erection of a church in Valley Falls. Catholic families no longer hesitated to seek work and to settle down in any part of the town of Cumberland. Later, Valley Falls was erected into a parish, with Ashton, Albion, Manville, and the districts on each side of the Blackstone River, as outside missions. The first rector of Valley Falls was Father O'Gorman, and after him came, in succession, Father Mul- len, Father Peter Kelly, and Father H. O'Reilly. During Father O'Reilly's rectorship the Lonsdale Company, who were owners of the water privileges on that side of the Blackstone, built a new mill in the village of Ashton. Between four hundred and fifty and five hundred hands were required to operate the mill and this brought quite a large number of Catholics to the village. Soon these families desired a church in Ashton. The consent of Right Rev. Bishop McFarland was obtained and Father O'Reilly decided to put up in Ash- ton a building forty-two feet by seventy-five so that people in the village might have Mass offered at least every two weeks. The people of Ashton responded generously to the request for funds. John M. Ryan, a storekeeper of the village who was later the first Catholic senator of the State of Rhode Island, gave a half-acre of land as the site of the new church, the Lonsdale Company donated $500, and Father O'Reilly decided to build at once. A plain, strong frame church was put up in a few months, and though it was humble
and not attractive in appearance its completion caused great joy in Ashton. As soon as the build- ing was enclosed, before it was finished, it was dedicated , by the Right Rev. Bishop McFarland and Mass was celebrated for the first time in 1872. Soon after the completion of this modest church Father O'Reilly, who was in delicate health, sickened and died, and Father Kane of Greenwich was appointed pastor of Valley Falls. In the mean- time the diocese of Hartford had been divided and a new diocese formed called the diocese of Provi- dence, with Father Hendricken, of Waterbury, as bishop. Bishop Hendricken worked with great zeal for the erection of a Cathedral in the city of Providence and also for the erection of new churches and parishes. A new parish, compris- ing Ashton, Berkeley, Albion, and Manville, was erected, with Rev. J. A. Fitzsimon, who had been assisting Father Delaney of Pawtucket, appointed as rector, November 1, 1872. Bishop ·Hendricken wished Father Fitzsimon to build a church in Man- ville. Father Fitzsimon bought an acre of land, then formed a syndicate, procured on his own credit timber to the amount of $4,500, and covered in a church seventy feet by one hundred and twenty-eight, with a steeple one hundred and twenty-nine feet high. The basement was finished within ninety days and the enterprise was financed by a mortgage of $7,500. At the same time Father Fitzsimon was building a priest's house, twenty- eight feet by forty, in Ashton, and making addi- tions to the church in Ashton at a cost of four hundred dollars. Soon Manville was made a sep- arate parish, and Father Fitzsimon was free to devote his time to the development of the Ashton parish. He built a new hall with a seating ca- pacity of 1,000 for the use of the Sunday school and the church societies, for $2,500, and built a convent. More than twelve acres of land was purchased for a cemetery, and so well was this laid out that it is considered one of the most beautiful country cemeteries in the State. Its main drives are eighteen feet wide, the others fourteen feet, and every lot can be reached by cars.
But the great material achievement of Father Fitzsimon's long and successful pastorate was the erection of the new church of St. Joseph's which was dedicated in April, 1890. Built in pure Gothic style, with two steeples, one one hundred and fifty feet high and the other one hundred feet, it can be seen from almost every part of the parish and from miles beyond the parish limits. It is a beauti- ful structure, both inside and out, beautifully pro- portioned, of fine and striking lines, and most
George R Hicks
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artistically finished. Its central altar is of exquisite and ornate design, rare and beautiful figures rep- resent the Stations of the Cross, and statues of the Blessed Virgin and of St. Joseph dominate the two side altars. The main church is lighted by beautiful stained glass windows placed above the altar and around the sides of the church, sanctuary and sacristy are of beautiful and well-executed design, and the choir-loft is equipped with a fine- toned organ. The building is sixty feet by one hundred and twenty-six, and is heated by steam.
Father Fitzsimon, who was greatly beloved by his people and who accomplished a great work for Ashton, was succeeded by Father Baggott. He, in turn was succeeded by Father Gibbons, who re- mained for eight years, serving until March, 1930, when he was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Francis Fullam.
Rev. Francis Fullam received his early educa- tion in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and then con- tinued his studies in Woonsocket High School. When his academic course was completed he at- tended St. Lawrence College for four years, then the Grand Seminary, in Montreal, Canada, where he took his theological degrees, and remained for six years. He was ordained a priest in Decem- ber, 1909. After his ordination he returned to the States and was assigned to St. Michael's Church at Providence, where he remained until 1918. In that year he enlisted for service in the United States Army, and was sent to France. There he rendered valuable service at the front, both in the field and in the hospitals. His courage and genial personality carried cheer to hundreds of suffering soldiers and wherever he went he won the hearts of those with whom he came in contact. Few men were privileged to render service of a higher or more effective quality than that rendered by Father Fullam during the year of his active service. After the signing of the Armistice he was honorably discharged with the rank of first lieutenant, and returned to this country. He was then assigned to St. Mary's of Bristol, where he remained until 1923 as an assistant. In that year he was made a pastor and placed in charge of St. Mary's, of Centerdale, where he remained until he took charge of St. Joseph's of Ashton, March 29, 1930. The usual parish societies here are flourishing and pros- perous and include a Holy Name Society, Blessed Virgin Sodality, a St. Ann Society and a Children of Mary Society. St. Joseph's is also a member of the Third Altar Society of St. Francis.
Though he has been in charge of St. Joseph's only since March, 1930, Father Fullam has already
won the confidence and the loyalty of his parishion- ers, and there is every prospect that his term of service here will be a most successful and pros- perous one.
GEORGE ROBERT HICKS-For more than half a century Mr. Hicks has been one of the leading farmers of his native town, Portsmouth. Widely known for his great interest and excep- tional success in the field of agriculture, he has also been prominently active for many years in civic affairs and has the distinction of having served as town clerk for more than two decades, the efficiency and ability with which he admin- istered the duties of this office having brought him continuous reelection, so that he still holds it today. At other times his fellow-townsmen have honored him also by election to other offices, in all of which he proved himself a very able and conscientious public official. In every respect he is regarded as one of the most substantial and most representative members of the community, where he enjoys to an unusual degree the liking, respect and confidence of all who know him.
George Robert Hicks was born at Portsmouth, December 17, 1856, a son of the late Robert and Emily M. (Greene) Hicks. Both his parents, who are now deceased, were natives of Portsmouth, where his father was successfully engaged for many years in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Hicks received his education in the public schools of his native town and then attended the Mowry & Goff School, at Providence. Having completed his education he returned home and engaged in farming, an occupation which he has continued to follow ever since. A member of an old Ports- mouth family, he has always taken a deep interest in the welfare of his native town and has been prominently active in civic affairs for many years. At various times he served, for three years, as town surveyor; for two years as superintendent of schools; for one year as tax assessor; for six years as a member of the Portsmouth Town Council; and for several years as a member of the Portsmouth School Board. In 1908 he was elected town clerk, to which office he has been reelected ever since then with the greatest regu- larity. He is a member of Portsmouth Grange, No. 29, Patrons of Husbandry. In politics he is a supporter of the Republican party, while his re- ligious affiliations are with the Baptist Church, of which he is a deacon. He has always been very
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