USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. IV > Part 30
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JOSEPH VINCENT BRODERICK-A native of Ireland, but a resident of Rhode Island ever since his early childhood, Mr. Broderick has made his home in the town of Cumberland, Prov- idence County, since 1894. The first nine years after leaving school he devoted to journalistic work, with the exception of two years, during which he served as secretary to the then Governor of Rhode Island. Elected town clerk of Cumber- land in 1909, Mr. Broderick's services in that re- sponsible office have been so acceptable to the com- munity that he has been continuously reelected and today, twenty-two years later, still occupies this office. Some years ago he also took up the study of law and, having been admitted to the bar, he is now engaged successfully in the practice of his profession, with office in Pawtucket. He is promi- nently active in several fraternal organizations and during the World War proved his patriotism, as well as his exceptional ability for organization work, by taking the leadership in all war activ- ities in his township.
Joseph Vincent Broderick was born at Dundalk, Ireland, October 13, 1877, a son of Patrick and Ann (Kelly) Broderick. Brought to the United States by his parents in 1883, when he was only six years old, he has since resided in the towns of Lincoln and Cumberland, Providence County. He was educated at St. Patrick's Parochial School, Valley Falls, and at La Salle Academy, Providence, from which latter he was graduated in 1900. Im- mediately afterwards he engaged in journalistic work, which he continued for a number of years. At first he was a reporter for the Providence "Telegram," covering the Blackstone Valley. Next he became connected with the Providence "Jour- nal," being placed in charge of that paper's Paw- tucket office, where he remained until 1907. Ap- pointed executive secretary to Hon. James A. Higgins, Governor of Rhode Island, he served in that responsible position with much success during 1907-09. For a short time he then again became active in journalistic work, being connected until June, 1909, with the Providence office of the Prov-
idence "Journal." Elected town clerk of Cumber- land in June, 1909, he has served in that position since then, his able administration of this office winning him reelection after reelection. Eventually he took up the study of law at Northeastern Uni- versity, Providence, Rhode Island, where he was graduated in June, 1924. Admitted to the Rhode Island bar in May of the same year, he established himself in the practice of law in association with William M. Connell, maintaining offices at No. 306 Slater Building, Pawtucket. He has also served several terms as coroner. During the World War he was chairman of the draft board for the towns of Cumberland, Lincoln and North Provi- dence under the selective service act. He also served during this period as chairman of all im- portant committees and headed every important drive in his community. He is a member of the executive committee of the Pawtucket Chapter of the American Red Cross and of the Pawtucket Community Church. For many years a member of the Knights of Columbus, he has served as Grand Knight of St. Thomas Council, No. 1472, Knights of Columbus, and is now the State Advocate of this organization. He also belongs to the Paw- tucket Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Kiwanis Club of Pawtucket, as well as the Cath- olic Institute Association and the Lonsdale Cricket Club. In politics he is a supporter of the Demo- cratic party, and is treasurer of the State Central Committee of that party, while his religious affilia- tions are with St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
Mr. Broderick married Anna E. Lavallee, a native of Hope, Rhode Island, and a daughter of Edward and Eunice (Roy) Lavallee. Mr. and Mrs. Broderick are the parents of one daughter, Anna C. T. Broderick. They make their home at Valley Falls, Cumberland.
JERRY J. SULLIVAN-The son of one of the best-known contractors of Newport, Mr. Sul- livan has followed in the footsteps of his late father, having established himself in business in his native city as a contractor on his own account and under his own name. Under his very capable guidance his firm quickly assumed a leading posi- tion among Newport's contractors and during the five years of its existence it has handled, always with great success, many important contracting projects. Though the greater part of his time has always been given to his business responsi-
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bilities, Mr. Sullivan takes an interests in many other phases of the city's life and maintains membership in numerous civic, business, frater- nal, social and religious organizations, in all of which he is very popular.
Jerry J. Sullivan was born at Newport, Octo- ber 9, 1892, a son of Jeremiah P. and Julia M. (Shea) Sullivan. Both his parents were natives of County Kerry, Ireland, but came to this coun- try in their early youth. His father, who died in 1929, was engaged in construction work in New- port for half a century. Mr. Sullivan received his early education in St. Mary's Parochial School, Newport, and then attended St. Joseph's High School. After leaving school he became connected with his father's firm, the J. P. Sulli- van & Sons Construction Company of Newport, with which he remained for eight years. The next six years he spent at the Newport Torpedo Station and then became a partner in the Hudson Construction Company of Newport, with which latter concern he remained for four years. In 1925 he organized the Jerry J. Sullivan Con- struction, of which he has been the sole proprietor ever since. His offices are located at Nos. 20-22 Pelham Street, Newport. Under his very able and aggressive management this company has been developed into one of the largest construc- tion firms in Newport, employing at the present time some seventy-five men. It has to its credit many important construction projects, invariably handled with much ability and to the entire satis- faction of its clients. The most notable of these include the following: Muriel Vanderbilt Church, Edson Bradley residence, the foundation work on the Newport Savings Bank on Washington Square, the development work on Bliss Road con- sisting of a number of cottages, the development of the Greene Estate of Newport located on Broadway, the development of Bellevue Terrace and many other large projects of similar nature. Mr. Sullivan's firm also developed the E. C. Knight Estate and built all of the road from Bailey's Beach to the Vicking Hotel, a road five miles in length. He is a member of Newport Lodge, No. 104, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Newport Council, Knights of Columbus; Division No. 1, Ancient Order of Hibernians; the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick; the New Eng- land Road Builders Association; the Newport Chamber of Commerce; the Newport Contrac- tors Association; the Wanamatonomy Golf Club; the Discussion Club; and the Ida Lewis Yacht
Club. In politics he is an independent, while his religious affiliations are with the Roman Catholic Church and more particularly with St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church of Newport. He is fond of outdoor sports and especially of golf and tennis.
Mr. Sullivan married, in 1918, Rosina A. Hol- ton, a native of New York City. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan have two children: Eileen and Lawrence.
A. EDWARD STENE-Scientific methods in agriculture and pomology have been thoroughly and comprehensively applied throughout many sections of the country during recent years and it is unlikely that any district has had the advantage of better assistance than has Rhode Island. It is a matter of State policy to raise the quality and quantity of crops, to destroy plant pests and to encourage farmers in their valuable services to the people. In all of these things a highly quali- fied scientist was found as long ago as 1903 in the person of A. Edward Stene, who in that year came to Rhode Island State College as assistant horticulturist and who has since been connected with that institution, his present position being that of pomologist in the Experiment Station. He came to Kingston with a liberal theoretical and practical education in the work he has pursued since his entry into professional life many years ago.
A. Edward Stene was born in Ashby, Minne- sota, August 14, 1872, a son of John and Mary (Efskin) Stene, was educated in the schools there and at the School of Agriculture of the Univer- sity of Minnesota, from which he was graduated in 1891. For the following two years he worked at farming and teaching, then reentered the uni- versity and was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Scientific Agriculture in 1897. He then took special courses in education at Wilmar Seminary and at the University of Minnesota, and from there returned to Ashby, where he was appointed principal of schools and remained in that position for three years. He then went to Cornell University for a post-graduate course and attained the degree of Master of Scientific Agriculture, in 1902, whereupon he came to Kingston, as has been related. In 1904 he was appointed superintendent of extension and was one of the first to take up this line of work in a Land Grant College. In 1914, after the passage
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of the Smith-Lever Act by Congress, providing for cooperative extension work between the United States Department of Agriculture and Land Grant Colleges in the several states, he was appointed director of this new work for Rhode Island. Then followed eleven years of active work which included the trying period of the World War, developing the activities at the college, organizing farm bureaus, guiding them in the selection and direction of county agents, en- couraging local cooperation in agricultural devel- opment and overcoming the apathy and opposi- tion which any new venture in agriculture is likely to meet, especially here in the non-agricultural East. In 1925, he relinquished the extension work at the State College and took up again the line of work for which he prepared at Minnesota and Cornell, becoming pomologist of the Experiment Station.
In addition to his duties at the State College he had also served the Rhode Island State Depart- ment of Agriculture. In 1904 he became the State Nursery Inspector. In 1906, under a special act, Governor Utter appointed him commissioner for the suppression of the gipsy moth. Later when this work was added to the duties of the State Board of Agriculture, he was appointed State entomologist by that organization and served in this capacity until 1927, when the State Board was reorganized as the State Department of Agriculture and when he became chief of its Bureau of Entomology and Plant Pest Control. In addition to the many reports required in his various activities, he is the author of several bul- letins dealing with fruit growing and entomology, among which are "Suggestions for Rhode Island Apple Growers" and "The San José Scale."
He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Society for Horticultural Science, the American Entomolog- ical Society, the American Association of Eco- nomic Entomologists, the Rhode Island Horticul- tural Society, the Rhode Island Fruit Growers Association, the Patrons of Husbandry and other related organizations. He is affiliated with the Order of Free and Accepted Masons, a member of the honorary scholastic society of Phi Kappa Phi, and of the Congregational Church.
A. Edward Stene married Edith Kennison, of Waterville, Maine, and they are the parents of four children: Ruth Mary, John Kennison, Ed- ward Lincoln and Edith Harriet.
REVEREND ARTHUR F. FOURNIER- Since March 22, 1924, Rev Arthur F. Fournier has been the able and successful pastor of the Church of Our Lady of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin, of Marieville, Rhode Island.
The parish of Our Lady of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin was originally a part of St. John's Church, of Pawtucket. In December, 1912, it was made a separate parish, with Rev. Henry De Foy as first pastor, and the first Mass was said in the local firehouse. Father De Foy at once set about the task of organizing the new parish and securing adequate housing for church and school. His able leadership secured the hearty co- operation of his people, and by May, 1913, a build- ing which could serve as both church and school was completed. The three stories and basement made ample provision for the immediate needs of the new parish, with space to spare for future growth, and Father De Foy worked faithfully to stimulate the spiritual life of the parish, as well as to build up its material resources. His labors continued to the time of his death, which occurred December 17, 1917. During the five years of his pastorate he won the sincere love and reverence of his parishioners and the respect of the com- munity in general, regardless of religious faith, and, in memory of his noble Christian character and recognition of his devoted service, a monu- ment has been erected on the lawn in front of the church which he served so well.
Father De Foy was succeeded by Father R. Archambault, who took charge December 19, 1917, and worked for the advancement of the welfare of the parish until he, too, was called to his reward, March 16, 1924. He purchased land upon which was a dwelling house, for use as a rectory and greatly strengthened all departments of the parish activities. On March 22, 1924, the present pastor, Rev. Arthur F. Fournier, took charge.
Rev. Arthur F. Fournier was born in Canada, June 10, 1880. He came to Woonsocket, Rhode Island, as a child and here he received his early education. Later he entered the Grand Seminary, at Montreal, Canada, for his theological courses, and upon the completion of his studies there he was ordained a priest, December 17, 1904. His first appointment was at Providence, Rhode Island, where he served as chaplain of St. Joseph's Hos- pital until January 29, 1910. He was then trans- ferred to St. John's Church, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, as assistant. In that capacity he served until March, 1924, when he was made a pastor.
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On March 22, 1924, he came to his present charge as pastor of the Church of Our Lady of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin, of Marieville, Rhode Island, and here he is still (1931) working steadily for the good of the parish. The original church building is still meeting the needs of the parish. The two upper stories of the building are used for church, giving seating to three hundred and forty people, and for Sunday school. On Sep- tember 16, 1929, a parochial school was opened, on the second and third floors, that is, basement and ground floors, with an enrollment of only ninety-six pupils. Eight months later the enroll- ment had increased to one hundred and sixty-five pupils, who are taught by the Sisters of the Presentation. The parish is steadily growing and, under Father Fournier's wise leadership there is every prospect of increasing membership and greatly developed activities. Father Fournier has won the entire confidence of his people and is greatly beloved by them and sincerely respected by all who come in contact with him, whether of his own religious faith or of other creeds.
RICHARD BORDEN COMSTOCK-For forty-five years the late Richard Borden Comstock, of Providence, Rhode Island, was one of the lead- ing lawyers of his part of the country. He was a member of the widely known firm of Comstock and Gardner, and later of the equally notable Com- stock & Canning. Nor was his fame based merely on his large and important legal practice, for he participated energetically in forward-looking pub- lic activities and contributed much toward raising the standard of his profession in the State.
Richard Borden Comstock was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, February 15, 1854, youngest son of Captain Joseph Jesse Comstock and of an old and distinguished family descended from Roger Williams. His mother was Maria S. (Taber) Comstock. The progenitor was William Comstock, who resided at Wethersfield, Connecticut, in 1641. The line of descent is through his son, Samuel Comstock, of Hartford, Connecticut and Provi- dence, Rhode Island; his son, Captain Samuel Comstock, of Providence; his son, Captain John Comstock, of Providence; his son, Samuel Com- stock, of Providence, who married a great-grand- daughter of Chad Brown; his son, Benjamin Com- stock, of Providence; his son, Captain Jesse Com- stock, whose youngest son, Jesse Comstock, was
lost in the burning of the ship "Lexington," Jan- uary 13, 1840; his son, Captain Joseph Jesse Com- stock, father of the subject of this record. His uncle, Captain William Comstock, was captain of the "Fulton" and built the "Massachusetts," which he later commanded, as he did other boats plying between Providence and New York. He was for a time president of both the Merchants' Insurance Company and the Commercial National Bank.
Captain Joseph Jesse Comstock was born in Providence, February 12, 18II, and died in New York City, August 16, 1868. He was captain of a sound steamer for a time and later of the "Baltic" and "Adriatic," transatlantic steamers. The "Baltic" was in the government transport service during the Civil War, and Captain Com- stock was often in the war zone, being present at the capture of Port Royal, New Orleans, and Charleston. His youngest child, Richard Borden Comstock, made many voyages on the "Baltic" and witnessed the downfall of the Confederate ports above mentioned. Most of his boyhood days were spent in school, however, for he was thoroughly educated. He attended boarding schools at Ridge- field, Connecticut, Yonkers, New York, and Law- renceville, New Jersey, and prepared for college at Mowry and Goff's English and Classical School at Providence. Entering Brown University, he took the classical course and was graduated in 1876 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and scholarship of so high a type that he was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Society. He also belonged to the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity. In June, 1914, in recognition of his legal attainments and his public service, he was given the honorary degree of Master of Arts by his alma mater.
After reading law in the office of the Hon. E. C. Mowry, Mr. Comstock was admitted to the Rhode Island bar in 1878, and to practice before the United States Courts in 1881. He practiced law from the date of his admission to the end of his life, a period of forty-five years. From 1892 to 1905 he was a partner of Rathbone Gardner in the firm of Comstock & Gardner, and later he formed that of Comstock & Canning. Not only was he a member of the various bar associations of his city and State, but he was an enthusiastic and unwearying worker for upholding the high standards of the Rhode Island judiciary. He was president of the Rhode Island Bar Association from 1914 until his death, except for a recess of four years, in which he declined to serve. His leadership brought about the formation of the
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Legal Aid Society of Rhode Island, of which he was an officer.
A Democrat in politics, he represented Provi- dence in the State Legislature for a term. He helped place the public safety campaign on a per- manent basis, took a leading part in campaigns to raise funds for the new Homeopathic Hospital and for the Lying-in Hospital, and was a member of the committee which accomplished the reorganiza- tion of the old Board of Trade into the Providence Chamber of Commerce in 1915. He was a director of the Chamber for three years, its vice-president from 1918 to 1921, and always its counsellor. Dur- ing the World War he was an eloquent "four- minute speaker" and contributed much toward rais- ing the funds for war loans, for the Red Cross, the Young Men's Christian Association and other charities. He was generous both with his own funds and with his time and energy. He was a delegate to the Democratic Convention in Chicago in 1892 and chairman of the delegation to the convention there in 1896. His response to a private or public demand for his services was prompt and enthusiastic, and his discharge of his responsibilities capable and constructive. His clubs were the Hope, University, Turks Head, Providence Art, Wanna- moisett Country, and Rhode Island Country clubs.
Richard Borden Comstock married, July 19, 1883, Alice Greene, daughter of Professor Samuel Still- man Greene, of Brown University, well known as the author of Greene's Grammar. His subjects were Mathematics and Astronomy. Mr. and Mrs. Comstock were the parents of three daughters: I. Marjorie Stuart, born May 4, 1884, a graduate of Smith College in 1907, wife of Henry C. Hart, United States Commissioner. 2. Louise Howard, born September 28, 1886, a graduate of Smith Col- lege in 1909, wife of Langford T. Alden. 3. Alice May, born June 21, 1890, graduate of Smith Col- lege in 1912, a Young Men's Christian Association worker in Europe during the World War.
The full and honorable career of Mr. Com- stock came to an end when he died at the age of sixty-nine, March 17, 1923. He had the respect and admiration of his professional colleagues and the esteem of the city and State toward whose advancement he made so signal a contribution. Those who knew him best loved him for his generosity, his kindliness, his keen and incisive mind, his warm affections. He was throughout his life a leader in his community, always the first to be approached by promoters of worthy causes, and always the last to abandon a good work.
FRANK O. BERGSTROM-At the time of his death August 3, 1930, twenty years of civic activities in Rhode Island had brought Frank O. Bergstrom, of East Greenwich, prominently into the public eye and carried him into important pub- lic office, where he functioned with credit to him- self and the advantage of the people of his town and State. He was identified with numerous proj- ects and organizations and was one of the progres- sive men of the community. In his private business, from which he retired some half dozen years prior to his death, he had been successful and was one of the leading merchants of his city. Devoted to the success of all worthy enterprises in which his fellow-citizens were interested, he was ever in the vanguard of workers and through his sincere efforts to advance the general welfare won the admiration of all.
He was born in East Greenwich on December 29, 1875, a son of John and Mary Bergstrom. He attended the public schools and afterward grad- uated from East Greenwich Academy. Entering business as a grocer, he was so engaged for many years. In the political field he served as a mem- ber of the East Greenwich Town Council from 1912 to 1918 and in 1920 was elected to the Gen- eral Assembly, filling this office until 1927, when he was elected to the State Senate and continued in that office until his death. He was town treas- urer from 1917 until his resignation a few months before he died. He was also a member of the school committee from 1920 to 1928 and in 1921 was appointed a member of the sewer commission, and served on this board until his death. For a number of years he held the office of treasurer of the Swedish Lutheran Church in East Greenwich and was also a member of its board of trustees and for a long time was treasurer of the East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce. His death occurred in East Greenwich, August 3, 1930.
Frank O. Bergstrom married in May, 1899, Anna M. Findberg, and they were the parents of two children : 1. Raymond Albert, born May 31, 1901, a bond salesman associated with Henry Forbes of New York City. He resides in Princeton, New Jersey ; he married Mary Elizabeth Lang, and they are the parents of two children: Betty Ann, born April 28, 1927, Raymond Albert, Jr., born No- vember 17, 1929. 2. Norman Alfred, twin of Ray- mond Albert; born May 31, 1901, now in the tele- phone business in Princeton, New Jersey.
Mr. Bergstrom was a useful citizen, an engag- ing companion and a force in political circles. He
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contributed largely to the progress of Rhode Is- land and left a large circle of sincere friends to mourn his untimely passing.
JOHN BRAYTON ANTHONY-One of the families of Rhode Island that has long taken an active part in the affairs of this State is that of Anthony. Among its leading members who have participated prominently in the life of this Com- monwealth in recent times are John Brayton Anthony (1829-1904), and his daughter, Mary Borden Anthony, who is now a resident of Prov- idence. Of these two, the father was for many years an outstanding figure in public and business matters; and the daughter has long been a leader in political activities and in the furtherance of women's interests.
The family itself is an old and honored one, whose ancestry has been traced back to the Eliz- abethan age in England. The progenitor in that period was Dr. Francis Anthony, born in London, England, April 16, 1550, son of a goldsmith of that city who held a responsible position in the jewel office in Queen Elizabeth's reign. Francis Anthony studied at home, entered Cambridge Uni- versity in 1569 at the age of nineteen, and prac- ticed medicine. In 1598 he published a treatise set- ting forth the value of a certain medicine prepared by him, as he claimed, from gold; in 1600 he was disbarred from practice, as he had no regular license, and, disregarding the order of the Col- lege of Physicians, was fined five pounds and com- mitted to prison. Having a friend at court, he received a warrant from the Lord Chief Justice releasing him from duress. Afterward he was said to have performed some remarkable cures upon noted personages. His remedy, known as "Aurum Potabile" or "Potable Gold," he claimed to be a cure for all diseases, although he never made pub- lic its formula. It must be remembered that med- ical knowledge was very primitive in those days, however; and there is reason to believe that he was an individual of learning and high character. He was buried in the Church of St. Bartholomew the Great, in London, where the following inscrip- tion appears on a monument erected over his re- mains :
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