USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. IV > Part 27
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Haverford College, his alma mater. His clubs include the Wamsutta Club and the New Bedford Luncheon Club, both of New Bedford, Massachu- setts ; the Exchange Club and the University Club, both of Boston; the Milton Club of Milton, Mas- sachusetts; the Merchants Club of New York City; and the Warwick Country Club. He is also a member of the National Association of Cotton Manufacturers and of, the Providence Chamber of Commerce, and a director of the Cotton Textile Institute. In politics he is a supporter of the Re- publican party, while his religious affiliations are with the Society of Friends. He is fond of out- door life and especially of horseback riding and he is also greatly interested in the collecting of anti- ques.
Mr. Howland married, in 1922, Alice Hathaway Forbes, a native of Milton, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Howland are the parents of three chil- dren : Weston, Jr., John Sedgwick, 2d, and Hester Ann.
WILLIAM J. DUFFY, JR .- Continuously connected with the Providence Post Office for more than three decades and ever since the com- pletion of his education, Mr. Duffy has held many important and responsible positions and for the last eight years has been Assistant Postmaster of Providence. He is one of the well-known men in the United States Postal Service in this sec- tion of Rhode Island and enjoys alike the con- fidence of the community and the respect of his associates. For many years he has been promi- nently active in fraternal affairs and he is also a member of several social clubs.
William J. Duffy, Jr., was born at Bristol, March 16, 1878, a son of William J. and Anne Maria (Cole) Duffy. His father, who was born in Manchester, England, in 1847, was engaged in the rubber business until his death. Mr. Duffy's mother, who was born at Bristol in 1850, is still living. Having received his early education in the public schools of Bristol and having attended and graduated from the Bristol High School, Mr. Duffy entered Brown University, where he re- mained for two years. At the end of this period, August 1, 1897, he became connected with the Providence Post Office. His first position was that of clerk. In 1908 he became acting superin- tendent of the East Providence branch of the Providence Post Office. On February 10, 1909, he was made superintendent of the Olneyville Sta- tion of the Providence Post Office, in which ca-
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pacity he continued until January I, 1922, when he was appointed to the position of Assistant Postmaster of the Providence Post Office, a posi- tion he has held since. He is a member of the Providence Post Office Supervisors Association and a director of the Providence Federal Busi- ness Bureau Association. His clubs include the Excelsior Tennis Club of Bristol and the Sunset Social Club of Providence, of which latter he is a past president. He is also a member of Pilgrim Lodge, Ancient Order of United Workmen; the Providence Fraternity of Rhode Island; St. John's Lodge, No. I, Free and Accepted Masons; Prov- idence Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Providence Council, Royal and Select Masters; St. John's Commandery, Knights Templar ; Palestine Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; the Tall Cedars of Lebanon; the Manu- facturers Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows; and Rhode Island Chapter Sons of the American Revolution. His religious affiliations are with the Plainfield Baptist Church. Mr. Duffy is very much interested in all forms of athletics.
In 1901, Mr. Duffy married Abigail J. Edgell, a native of Fall River, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Duffy have one son, A. Edgell Duffy.
DAVIS W. RICH-A native and lifelong resi- dent of East Providence, Mr. Rich has been regarded for many years one of this city's lead- ing business men. Having entered business as a young man, just out of school, with his father, Mr. Rich has always been engaged in the gro- cery, hay, grain and coal business and today he is the sole owner of one of the best known and most prosperous establishments of its type. He is a member of several fraternal, civic and social organizations, takes an active interest in reli- gious work and in every respect is regarded as one of the representative and substantial mem- bers of the community.
Davis W. Rich was born at East Providence, June 21, 1876, a son of the late Stephen S. and Eugenia Elizabeth (Pierce) Rich. His father, a native of Millville, Massachusetts, was for many years and until his death engaged in the grocery, meat, grain and coal business, estab- lishing himself in these lines in East Providence as long ago as 1873. Mr. Rich's mother, also now deceased, was a native of Providence. Mr. Rich himself was educated in the public schools of East Providence and later attended a private
school conducted in Providence by Goff, Rice and Smith. After leaving school he went to work for his father in the latter's business, con- tinuing to be associated in business with his father for eight years. In 1902, together with Clarence H. Horton, he formed the firm of Rich & Horton, a partnership which existed until 1927. In that year Mr. Horton retired and since then Mr. Rich has been the sole owner of the business, retaining, however, the old firm name of Rich & Horton. In that year Mr. Rich dis- continued the handling of groceries and since then has restricted his business to the handling of coal, hay and grain. His office and yard are located at No. 12 Valley Street, East Provi- dence, and he enjoys a large and profitable busi- ness. He is a member of the East Providence Business Men's Association, the East Providence Lions Club, the Craftsman Club and several Masonic bodies, including the following: Rising Sun Lodge, No. 30, Free and Accepted Masons; Gibbs Chapter, No. 13, Royal Arch Masons; and Adoniram Council, No. 8, Royal and Select Masters. He is also a member of the Tall Cedars of Lebanan. In politics he is a supporter of the Republican party, while his religious affiliations are with the Universalist Church and more particularly with the First Universalist Church. Mr. Rich is fond of outdoor life and is greatly interested in horses.
Mr. Rich married, in 1899, Mabel Goff, a native of Providence. Mr. and Mrs. Rich have no children and make their home in East Provi- dence.
CHARLES W. GREENE-A man of wide experience in the world of business and finance, Charles W. Greene has demonstrated his ability in many important positions during the years of his career at Warren, Rhode Island. As town treasurer he has served the community ably and well, while his own success has been achieved in lines of usefulness and progress.
Mr. Greene was born at Bristol, Rhode Island, on August 14, 1864, a son of George T. and Maria (Monroe) Greene, both natives of Bris- tol, Rhode Island, and both now deceased. The father was a farmer, engaging in agricultural pursuits until the time of his death.
Charles W. Greene received his education in the public schools of his birthplace, and follow- ing graduation from the high school he began his career in the world of banking and finance,
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taking a position with the First National Bank and the Warren Institute for Savings. He oc- cupied various positions until the year 1889, when he was chosen cashier of the National Warren Bank. This promotion came to him solely through his own efforts, and well de- served by the merit of his services. Mr. Greene remained as cashier of the National Warren Bank for a period of fifteen years. In 1904, however, this institution was taken over by the Industrial Trust Company of Providence, Rhode Island. Following the reorganization Mr. Greene was continued as teller until his resigna- tion in 1909. With long years of profitable ex- perience behind him, he was now well qualified to establish an independent enterprise, and ac- cordingly turned his attention to the insurance field, in which his activities have since centered. Mr. Greene's services are in wide demand, and he has built up a highly profitable insurance service extending throughout all this section.
In spite of other demands upon him, Mr. Greene has never neglected his civic duty, giv- ing to service in the public interest the same fine talents which brought him his own success. Since 1891 he has been town treasurer of War- ren, discharging the duties of this important office with the greatest efficiency and to the complete satisfaction of the electorate, which has continually returned him to this position. Mr. Greene is independent in politics, having the support of progressive voters of all parties, and giving his own endorsement to every worthy movement for advance and progress. In 19II he was honored by his election to the Rhode Island State Senate from Warren, serving in that body during 1911 and 1912. He was also a member of the Warren School Board for four years. In 1892 he enlisted in the Warren Artillery Company with the rank of sergeant, and served in that organization continuously until his retirement in 1906 with the rank of colonel. During the period of the World War he acted as a member of the Rhode Island Legal Advisory Board, giving his services freely in his country's cause. Mr. Greene is now a member of the Burrs Hill Park Commission at Warren. He is affiliated fraternally with the Free and Accepted Masons, being a member in this great order of Washington Lodge, No. 3, of which he is Past Master, a member of Webb Council, No. 3, Royal and Select Masters, Tem- ple Chapter, No. 3, Royal Arch Masons, St. John's Commandery of the Knights Templar,
and a member of all bodies of the Ancient Ac- cepted Scottish Rite, including Rhode Island Consistory. He is also a member of the Provi- dence Central Club. Mr. Greene worships with his family in the Episcopal faith, being vestry- man and treasurer of St. Mark's Church at Warren, and a liberal supporter of all church work. He is fond of all kinds of sports, par- ticularly golf, to which he turns most often in his leisure moments.
On January 27, 1887, Charles W. Greene married Mary G. Wyman, who was born at Foxboro, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Greene are the parents of two children: I. Charlotte M. 2. Alice G., who married Frank A. Wight- man, of West Medford, Massachusetts.
THOMAS ROBERT-Founder and owner of the oldest undertaking establishment in the town of West Warwick today, Thomas Robert has long been an important and familiar figure in the life of this section. Under his able direction the firm of Thomas Robert and Son has grown to prominence, and has long maintained the high- est standards of service in the community.
Mr. Robert was born at Sutton, Canada, on April 17, 1855, a son of Thomas and Marceline (Benoit) Robert, both born in the Province of Quebec, Canada, and both now deceased. The father was a laborer by occupation. Thomas Robert, the son, began his active career at the age of nine. He started to work then in the textile industry, and gave his attention to this field until 1881. Seeking a sphere of larger op- portunity, he worked for three years as a barber, and then became proprietor of a merry-go-round at Bullocks Point (now Crescent Park), Rhode Island. This enterprise he continued to operate successfully for six years. For a period of three years thereafter, he owned and operated a merry- go-round at Rocky Point, Rhode Island, and then entered the undertaking business at Arctic, in this State, as a member of the firm of Robert and Valliere. This partnership existed until 1905, when Mr. Valliere's interest was purchased, and the enterprise continues independently by Mr. Robert under the name of Thomas Robert. The year 1914 witnessed a further change. At that time Mr. Robert's son, George W. Robert, was admitted into the firm, and the name then became Thomas Robert & Son, its present form. This company is not only the oldest undertaking estab-
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lishment in the town of West Warwick, but for years has been known as the foremost in this section. Mr. Robert spared no pains to perfect his service in every detail. He was graduated in 1894 from the Oriental School of Embalming, and always has kept abreast of latest methods in his profession. His equipment is of the finest and most modern type, while his personal tact and sympathy in going about his duties have done much to bring him the esteem of the community.
In other fields of activity, Mr. Robert has been equally prominent. For twenty-six years he served as chief of the local fire department, quit- ting this office only upon his retirement from active service. In politics Mr. Robert is an inde- pendent voter, while fraternally he is affiliated with the Loyal Order of Moose, the Improved Order of Redmen, the St. John the Baptist So- ciety, and the Union of St. John the Baptist. He is also a member of the Pawtuxet Valley Board of Trade. Mr. Robert worships in the Roman Catholic faith, attending St. John's Church of this denomination at West Warwick.
Mr. Robert has been married twice (first), in 1876, to Mary Louise Demers, who was born in Canada, and died in 1913. They were the parents of one son, George W., a record of whose life follows this. Mr. Robert married (second) Va- lorie Louiselle, who was also born in Canada.
GEORGE W. ROBERT, son of Thomas and Mary Louise (Demers) Robert, was born at Arctic, Rhode Island, on April 6, 1891. He was educated in Rhode Island public schools, and later attended La Salle Academy at Providence and the Boston School of Anatomy and Em- balming. Upon the completion of his professional training, he passed the examination of the boards of embalming of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, and in 1912 became associated with his father in the conduct of his business at West Warwick. In 1914 he was admitted to partnership, and has since continued the joint direction of this enterprise with his father. His services have been an important factor in the later progress of the company.
Mr. Robert is affiliated fraternally with Provi- dence Lodge, No. 14, of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, with the Loyal Order of Moose, the Catholic Order of Foresters, and the Franco Foresters of America. He is also a mem- ber of the Pawtuxet Valley Board of Trade. Like
his father he is an independent voter in politics, and attends St. John's Roman Catholic Church at West Warwick.
On January 19, 1914, George W. Robert mar- ried Blanche Y. Chagnon, who was born in Canada. They are the parents of two children: Therese L. and Dorothy W.
JAMES ANTHONY-A member of an old Rhode Island family and a native and life resi- dent of Newport County, Mr. Anthony has the distinction of having served continuously for al- most four decades as sheriff of his native county. At different times he has also held other impor- tant local public offices, his long service in official capacities indicating not only how ably he has filled the various positions entrusted to him, but also to how great a degree he enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellow-townsmen.
James Anthony was born at Middletown, New- port County, November 6, 1840, a son of the late George and Margaret (Hathaway) Anthony. His father, likewise a native of Middletown, was en- gaged throughout his entire life in agricultural pursuits and also was prominently active in re- ligious circles, being a member of the Society of Friends and a well-known preacher. He died in April, 1888. Mr. Anthony's mother was a native of Portsmouth, Newport County. Having been educated in the public schools of his native town, James Anthony followed in the footsteps of his father and engaged in farming, in which occupa- tion he continued successfully until 1888. For the next three years he was engaged in various types of work, until in May, 1891, when he was elected sheriff of Newport County, an office he has held ever since then, having served at all times so much to the satisfaction of his fellow-citizens that he has been reëlected to it regularly at each election. He is now (1930) in his ninety-first year having served continuously for over forty years, and has been absent but two days in the past years. Today he has the distinction of being the oldest sheriff in point of service in the State of Rhode Island and one of the oldest in the country. At one time he also served for two years as a member of the Middletown School Committee, for three years on the Middletown Town Council, for three years as tax collector, for one term (1891) as a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, and twice as census taker of Middletown. His offices are in the Newport County Courthouse.
James anthony,
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During the Civil War he served as a member of the Rhode Island State Militia. He is a member of many years' standing of the Royal Arcanum, the Improved Order of Red Men, and Aquidneck Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. In politics he is a supporter of the Republican party, and his re- ligious affiliations were for many years with the Society of Friends.
Mr. Anthony married, in 1869, Charlotte S. Coggeshall, like himself a native of Middletown, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Anthony had two sons: I. Arthur R., a merchant in Middletown; he has two children: Louise H., who married Howard B. Milne, and they have a daughter, Juniata; and Charlotte H. 2. Alfred C. An- thony, cashier for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railway Company; he has three chil- dren : George S., who married Marie Chessie; Mabel C., married A. Smith, and they have a daughter, Barbara G .; and J. Howard, married Evelyn Irene Dykeman.
HENRY WILLIAMS COOKE-The char- acter, ideals, and achievements of the late Henry Williams Cooke, of Providence, Rhode Island, bore the imprint of a family notable in the making of America for seven generations. He was an ex- pert on local real estate, founder of the still flourishing concern, Henry W. Cooke & Com- pany, and he was politically prominent.
The Providence family of Cooke was de- scended from John Cooke of Saybrook and Mid- dletown, Connecticut, who bought land and built a house in Saybrook in 1690. He married (second) Hannah Harris, and they had a son, Daniel Cooke, born in Saybrook, September 19, 1691, who in turn married, February 4, 1713, Mary Power, and who settled in Providence, Rhode Island. Of the third generation was their son, Nicholas Cooke, born in Providence, February 3, 1717, destined to become Governor Cooke of Rhode Island. He was a shipmaster, merchant and manufacturer, and large landholder, and he served twice as deputy governor and once as governor, from 1775 to 1778. Of Governor Cooke, the venerable John Howland said:
Rhode Island history, if faithfully written, will hand his name down to posterity in connection with the most eminent public characters of which our country can boast.
Another writer said:
None surpassed him in determined opposition to the arbitrary measures which occasioned the Amer- ican Revolution; and immediately upon the out- break of hostilities he was loudly called to the helm of Rhode Island government.
Governor Cooke was also a trustee of Brown University for a period of sixteen years. He married, September 23, 1740, Hannah Sabin, daughter of Hezekiah Sabin, of Huguenot extrac- tion and proprietor of the famous "Red Tavern." Of the twelve children born to Governor Cooke and his wife, one was Jesse Cooke, born Decem- ber 19, 1757, who married (first) Rosanna Shel- don, daughter of Captain Christopher Sheldon, and they were the parents of Joseph Sheldon Cooke, destined also for business and public leadership. He and Job Angell had a wholesale dry goods business in Providence and New York, which finally became their headquarters and one of the outstanding concerns of its kind in the country. Mr. Cooke was also part owner of several ships, and a large stockholder in the Blackstone Canal Bank, of which he was a direc- tor. He was one of the original proprietors of the Lyman Cotton Manufacturing Company and business agent, building up a large trade before his retirement in 1828. His manifold interests included also a place on the directorate of the Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Company and election as one of its three trustees, offices he held from 1821 and 1831, respectively, until his death. Joseph Sheldon Cooke was the first mem- ber elected to the Common Council from the Third Ward in the new city government adopted in June, 1832. He married, September 21, 1807, Mary Welch, and their son, Joseph Jesse Cooke, became the father of our subject.
Joseph Jesse Cooke, son of Joseph Sheldon and Mary (Welch) Cooke, was born June 1, 1813, in Providence and was educated there. Trained in business in his father's enterprises, he finally established, in association with his brother, George Lewis Cooke, and with Robert S. Baker the house of Cooke, Baker & Company, later known as Cooke Brothers & Company. Through the early 'fifties the company had establishments in San Francisco and New York, and Mr. Cooke was the New York manager, conducting business under the name of Joseph J. Cooke & Company. He was prominently connected with the great public improvements in Providence, particularly the water works system, for he was appointed a
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commissioner, one of three chosen in 1869, to push the work, and was made president during the years of construction, remaining in office until 1876. He owned a magnificent estate in Newport and one in Providence, and he had one of the largest and finest libraries existing in any private house in this country in his day. It was his vi- sion and his interest in the beauty and welfare of Providence which led to the attractive street layout and to the planting of the trees which now enhance the charm of the city. A Republican, he was president of the Rhode Island State Conven- tion of 1857 and chairman of the Republican State Central Committee the same year, and in 1855-56 he was president of the Rhode Island Society for the Encouragement of Domestic In- dustry. Parts of his fine library were donated to the Redwood Library at Newport and the Public Library and Historical Society of Providence. Joseph Jesse Cooke married (second), September 12, 1865, Maria Adelaide Salisbury, daughter of John and Abby Wilson (Foster) Salisbury, and they were the parents of our subject.
Henry Williams Cooke, son of Joseph Jesse and Maria A. (Salisbury) Cooke, was born June 26, 1867, in Providence, on the Elmwood estate. He received his preparatory education in the Mowry & Goff English and Classical School and attended Brown University, graduating in 1891. His first business position was in the office of Spencer Trask & Company, stock brokers, with whom he was for a year associated. He then, in 1892, established his own real estate business, opening a small office at No. I Custom House Street, Providence, where he remained until 1894. He then associated himself with Francis M. Smith, and the resulting firm of Henry W. Cooke & Company prospered. The location was changed from its early address at No. 3 Custom House Street, to the Banigan Building and later to the Hospital Trust Company Building. In spite of his youth, Mr. Cooke built a large and important business and made for himself an enduring repu- tation as a man of acumen and an expert in realty values. He was one of the commissioners selected to secure the land upon which the new State Capitol now stands, and he succeeded by condemnation proceedings. He was a member of the Common Council from the First Ward from 1896 to 1898, a Republican in party affiliation. He belonged to the Brown Chapter of the Psi Upsi- lon Fraternity, to the Chamber of Commerce, the Hope Club, and the Elmwood and West Side clubs. His integrity and good judgment not only
won for him the confidence and admiration of all who knew him and knew of his business activities, but these qualities brought him many offices of honor and trust as appraiser and administrator of estates.
Henry Williams Cooke married, November 6, 1894, Alice H. Robinson, daughter of Edward H. Robinson, formerly a well-known oil dealer in Providence, and member of an old Wakefield, Rhode Island, family. Her great-grandfather orig- inally owned all of Narragansett Pier. To Mr. and Mrs. Cooke were born two daughters: I. Margaret Howard, who married Edmund H. Keiler, of Marion, Ohio, and has two children: Margaret Howard Keiler and Pendleton Cooke Keiler. 2. Adelaide Welch Cooke, who married Charles E. Trowbridge of Providence and has children: Charles Eastman Trowbridge, Jr .; and Robinson Cooke Trowbridge.
The death of Mr. Cooke occurred May 20, 1904, at the early age of thirty-seven. He was greatly missed in the circle of his family and friends, and public life, for he was a man of genial nature and rare social charm. In religious circles he was formerly a vestryman of the Elm- wood Episcopal Church of the Epiphany and at the time of his death was a member of Grace Episcopal Church. He continued the traditions of a fine old family and fulfilled in public, civil and private life the highest ideal of American citizenship.
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