USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. IV > Part 31
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Sacred to the memory of the worthy and learned Francis Anthony, Dr. of physick.
There needs no verse to beauty thy praise Or keep in memory thy spotless name ; Religion, virtue and thy skill did raise
A threefold pillar to thy lasting fame, Though pois'nous envey ever sought to blame Or hide the fruits of thy intention; Yet shall they commend that high design Of purest gold to make a medicine, That feel thy help by that thy rare invention.
His son, John Anthony, born in 1607, in Ham- stead, England, sailed for America in the barque "Hercules" on April 16, 1644, and was living in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, in 1650, becoming a freeman on July 14 of that year; he married Susanna Potter, who, like himself, died in 1675. Their son, Abraham, born at Portsmouth in 1650, was Speaker of the House of Assembly of Rhode Island; he married, December 26, 1671, Alice Woodell, born February 10, 1650, daughter of Wil- liam and Mary Woodell. Their son, William, born at Portsmouth on October 31, 1675, removed to Swansea, Massachusetts, where he died December 28, 1744; he married Mary Coggeshall, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Timberlake) Coggeshall. Their son, Benjamin, was born June 10, 1716, lived on a farm near Somerset, Massachusetts; he mar- ried Martha Luther, daughter of Hezekiah Luther. Their son, David, grandfather of the man whose name heads this review, was born August 3, 1760, at Somerset, was a farmer, and married Submit Wheeler, born February 17, 1760. Their son, David Anthony, father of John B. Anthony, was born January 9, 1786, at Somerset, was active in business in early boyhood, taught for a time, and later was engaged in the crockery establishment of J. P. Hellen, in Providence. In 1808, going to Pawtucket, he was engaged by Samuel Slater as a hand in the Slater cotton spinning mill. Afterward he was known as the "father of the cotton manu- facturing business in this. country." Later he removed to Rehoboth, and then to Fall River, Massachusetts, where he operated a yarn manufac- turing plant and organized, with others, the Fall River Manufactory, of which he was agent and treasurer. He was a Congregationalist and a deacon in his church; he died July 6, 1867. David Anthony's third wife was Mary Borden, born April 7, 1797; and it is through this marriage that the line of descent passed to John B. and Mary B. Anthony.
John Brayton Anthony, their son, was born on October I, 1829, at Fall River, Massachusetts, and was educated in the local schools. Upon complet- ing his studies, he became a clerk in the offices of the Fall River Iron Works, at Providence, Rhode Island. For seven years he was with this company, until, in 1853, he left it to accept a post as treas-
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urer of the Providence Tool Company. An uncle, Richard Borden, was president of this organiza- tion; and after twenty-one years of active service, Mr. Anthony succeeded him to this office. In 1882 the Providence Tool Company was disbanded, and Mr. Anthony then became general manager of the Household Sewing Machine Company, a post that he filled efficiently for seven years. He then became associated with the Cranston Print Works, of which he was treasurer from then until his death in 1904.
Along with his business activities, Mr. Anthony was a leader in the public affairs of Providence, having been a member of the city council in 1869 and 1870, as well as alderman in 1875 and 1876. Keenly interested in the history of his region of New England, he was an active member of the Rhode Island Historical Society. His religious faith was that of the Protestant Episcopal Church, his parish having been Grace Church, of Provi- dence, in which he was vestryman and junior or senior warden for nearly a half century. He also belonged to the Churchman's Club, and was a leader in religious affairs.
John Brayton Anthony married, on June 20, 1854, Ellen De Forest Miller, born April 3, 1831, in Providence, daughter of Dr. Lewis Leprilete Miller. By this union there were the following children : I. Lewis Miller, born November 25, 1856, died January 15, 1860. 2. David, born March 4, 1862, died April 12, 1862. 3. Mary Borden, of further mention. 4. Anne Alwood, born September 22, 1864, who became the wife of Frederick H. Perkins, of Brookline, Massachusetts, on June 13, 1893. 5. Ellen Miller, born December 10, 1865. 6. Jane Leprilete, born July 12, 1868. 7. Louise Darwin Miller, born July 16, 1871, and died No- vember 29, 1919, became the wife of Mayburry Brooks Mellor, of Plainfield, New Jersey, on Feb- ruary I, 1893.
Of these children, Mary Borden Anthony, now a resident and an active citizen of Providence, Rhode Island, was born in this city on June 19, 1863, daughter of John Brayton and Ellen De Forest (Miller) Anthony. Attending school in private institutions of learning in Providence, she was graduated from Miss Abbott's School, of this city ; and afterward she became engaged in philanthropic work, which since has occupied her attentions unceasingly. She organized, on January 26, 1889, the Girls' Friendly Society at Grace Church, and for twenty-three years was the leader of the Grace Church branch of this society, as well as the president of the Girls' Friendly Societies of the
diocese from 1902 to 1918. From 1910 to 1923 she served as national treasurer of the National Board of Girls' Friendly Societies. She has been con- stantly active in all of the work of her parish and of the Episcopal Church generally, and was instrumental, in 1915, in obtaining the privilege of women to be members of the Rhode Island diocesan convention. She also secured for women the right to serve as members of the corporation of Grace Church, as well as eligibility to membership in the vestry.
In other fields, too, Miss Anthony has long been an ardent worker in the direction of upholding the privileges of her sex. She served, in 1918, as president of the Rhode Island State Equal Suf- frage Association, succeeding, in that position, Mrs. Burton P. Jenks. She was also one of the original promoters and organizers of the State League of Women Voters, of which organization she was for five years vice-president and for one year treasurer. She was also active in promoting and making possible the Girls' Friendly Holiday House, which was organized in 1890 at Diamond Hill, this State, and later at Saunderstown, Rhode Island. In building up these houses, Miss Anthony helped to establish a more commodious and effi- cient vacation house for girls.
Her political alignment has been consistently with the Progressive party, and she has endeavored always to support those projects that might be deemed in every respect progressive and useful to the great body of citizenry. Her motive, in all of her labors with women's organizations, has been ever to promote the best interests of members of her sex and to increase their opportunities for helpful participation in public life. Miss Anthony is chairman of the Memorial Honor Roll Com- mittee, and from 1918 to 1921 was president of the Rhode Island League of Women Voters. At the end of March, 1930, there was held the cele- bration of the tenth anniversary of the National League of Women Voters, in the Narragansett Hotel, Providence, by the Rhode Island League of Women Voters, and in this celebration Miss Anthony was one of those who took an important part.
D. W. BELLOWS & SON-The oldest busi- ness firm of its kind in Rhode Island is that of D. W. Bellows & Son, funeral directors, located at No. 85 Park Place, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, owned and operated by Dexter W. Bellows and his son, Dana R. Bellows.
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Mr. Bellows was born in New London, Con- necticut, and received his education in public and private schools of that city. For a number of years he was occupied with duties on the farm which his father had managed after retiring from a sea-faring life. In 1880 he purchased a straw hat factory which he successfully operated for ten years after which he removed to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and became the assistant of his brother-in- law, Daniel A. Clark, a native of Pawtucket and also a well-known funeral director in that city. In 1903 Mr. Clark retired from business and re- moved to Berkeley, California, where he resided until his death in 1912. Mr. Bellows became owner of this business on July 1, 1903, at which time it was located at No. 13 Park Place. In 1906 when an addition was made to the Boston Store building, it became necessary for Mr. Bellows to acquire new quarters for his steadily increasing business. At that time he purchased the large residence at No. 85 Park Place which has since served as one of the most modern and well-equipped mortuaries in the State.
This business had its actual beginning in April, 1822, at which time Daniel R. Clark opened a small cabinet shop on the corner of Main Street and Park Place where the Boston Store is now located. In addition to cabinet work Mr. Clark frequently received an order to make a coffin ac- cording to measurements brought in by the per- son giving the order. As time went on he was asked to take over the entire direction of the ceremonies. Within a few years the business had increased to such an extent that it was necessary for Mr. Clark to devote full time to funeral work and in 1855 he called upon his son, Daniel A. Clark to assist him. In the course of time the son succeeded his father and carried on the business until his retirement in 1903.
At the present time (1931) the firm of D. W. Bellows & Son and their predecessors have been continuously serving the residents of Pawtucket and the Blackstone Valley for a period of one hundred and nine years and rank as the second oldest business of its kind in New England and one of the few in the United States that have served for over one hundred years in this line of endeavor. This firm has always been foremost in using modern equipment and progressive meth- ods in the conduct of their business. Thoughtful- ness, skill, and reputation for fair dealing are bringing to this concern an enlarged field of opera- tions and the appreciation of an increasing num- ber of patrons.
Mr. Bellows is a member of all Masonic bodies including the Consistory; a member of Odd Fel- lows Lodge, the Business Men's Association, the Pawtucket Lions Club, and many other organiza- tions. He is also a director of the Young Men's Christian Association. His religious connection is with the First Baptist Church which he has served for many years as deacon.
Mr. Bellows married Abbie Parmenter Read, who was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, daugh- ter of a well-known Pawtucket merchant and member of one of the old families of this section. Mr. and Mrs. Bellows became the parents of four children : Myra Evelyn, who married Robert Kyle of Pawtucket; Earl Dexter, who died in 1895; Dana R., of further mention; and Charlotte Read, who is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College, and who resides with her parents.
Dana Read Bellows, son of Dexter W. and Abbie P. (Read) Bellows, attended the Pawtucket public schools and after graduating from Paw- tucket High School became associated with his father in funeral work. Later he continued his education by taking one year at Brown Univer- sity in 1920 and since that time has been an active partner in the business which operates under the name of D. W. Bellows & Son. He married Letitia Elizabeth Price of Syracuse, New York, a graduate of Syracuse University and daughter of Dr. George M. and Nettie (Reese) Price, her father being a prominent surgeon of Syracuse. Mr. and Mrs. Dana R. Bellows have three children : William Merriman; Allan Reese; and Emily Read Bellows.
Dana Bellows is also a member of all Masonic bodies, Odd Fellows, Business Men's Association; Pawtucket Rotary Club; and other organizations. In 1927 he served Barney Merry Lodge, No. 29, Free and Accepted Masters as Master and at present is holding office in Pawtucket Royal Arch Chapter. He is a member of the First Baptist Church and is president of the Men's Brotherhood connected with the church.
REV. PETER SWITALA-Since 1920 Rev. Peter Switala has been the loved and respected pastor of the Polish Church of St. Adalbert, in Providence, Rhode Island. He is a very able man, and much revered by his people.
St. Adalbert's parish was organized in February, 1902, with Rev. Adalbert Duczmal as the first pastor. There was then no church building and
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until 1908 the congregation worshipped in an old chapel on Ridge Street. In 1908 they built a com- bination building for school and church, a modest structure in harmony with the limited means of the parish, and there they set about the task of strengthening and developing the religious life of St. Adalbert's. Honest, hard-working, and sincere in their religious convictions, the people were ably lead by their pastor and the congregation steadily grew. In 1920, when Father Switala succeeded Father Duczmal, the time seemed ripe for the erection of a new and larger church edifice. In that first year of his pastorate Father Switala prepared for building by purchasing nearly a block of land on Atwell Avenue, the center of the Polish colony. The dwelling house located on the land was remodelled as a parochial residence, and in 1922 Father Switala sold the old church to the Italians. The congregation set about the task of raising funds with energy and enthusiasm, and in June, 1924, ground was broken for the new church. The corner-stone was laid in May, 1925, and by September, 1926, the dream of pastor and people had become a beautiful reality.
St. Adalbert's Church is built of brick, in Italian Romanesque style, and the characteristic Italian color scheme is carried out in the combination of red and white brick, in which, in different sections decorated with terra cotta set in blue memorials, it makes in all, a unique and charming contrast of color. The building provides seating for about six hundred, and the interior is very beau- tiful, though not elaborate in design. The walls are of white stucco, and the ceiling is supported by six arches resting on twelve pillars, all of which are of brown stucco. At the head of the center aisle a beautiful altar, exquisitely designed in marble, gold-tipped, is approached by three steps. Two exquisitely designed side altars, one on each side, add beauty to the middle distances of the church, and there is a well designed choir loft which seats about one hundred singers. The church was built at a cost of about $160,000, and the property is one of which the parish may well be proud.
Rev. Peter Switala was born in Poland and received his early education in the German schools. Later, he entered the University of Louvain, and in 1908 he was ordained a priest of the Holy Church. After his ordination by the late Bishop Harkins of the Providence Diocese, he left his native land and came immediately to the United States, where he was at once assigned to Warren, Rhode Island, to grapple with the task of found-
ing a parish and building a church. The first church which he built was destroyed by fire, but with unflagging courage Father Switala again un- dertook the arduous work of collecting funds and supervising the building of a church. He remained in Warren until 1918, when he was transferred to Woonsocket, Rhode Island. There he accomplished a great work in a short time by clearing his church of a $10,000 debt, in two years. In 1920 he came to his present charge as pastor of St. Adalbert's Church in Providence, and here he has most ably accomplished the great work recounted above. In 1926 Father Switala visited his home land, Poland, and made an extended tour of Europe.
Father Switala has in a high degree those qual- ities of leadership which win confidence, and with those traits he unites the sterling qualities of char- acter which make him a safe leader. He has the entire confidence of his parishioners and the re- spect and esteem of the community in which his parish is located.
REV. LORENZO C. MCCARTHY, O. P., Ph. D., LL. D .- Providence College has the distinction of being the only college in Rhode Island which at the present time has a native son as its president. Rev. Lorenzo C. McCarthy, the son of James M. and Mary (Prosser) McCarthy, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, June 19, 1888. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Woonsocket, Rhode Island, where the father opened a department store which he continues to direct.
Lorenzo received his early education, including that of the first two years of high school, in the public schools of Woonsocket. After completing his high school course at La Salle Academy, Prov- idence, he matriculated at Holy Cross College, Worcester, Massachusetts, and was graduated in June, 1909. The following year, he acted as prin- cipal of the Harrisville Grammar School. In the fall of 1910, he entered the ecclesiastical seminary of St. Mary's College, Baltimore, where he re- mained four years.
Desirous of engaging in more specialized work than that afforded by the secular priesthood, he enrolled in the religious Order of St. Dominic. The subsequent four years he devoted to study at the Immaculate Conception Convent and at the Catholic University of America at Washington, District of Columbia. His first assignment was to the faculty of Providence College in the fall of 1919. After teaching for five years, he pursued
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special studies in contemporary thought at L'Insti- tut Superieure de Philosophie de Louvain founded by the late Cardinal Mercier. Returning to Amer- ica, he resumed his professorial career at St. Thomas Aquinas College, Chicago, Illinois. But he was shortly to assume an administrative office.
The corporation of Providence College, presided over by Rt. Rev. William A. Hickey, D. D., at its annual meeting in June, 1927, elected him pres- ident of the college, as successor to Rev. William A. Noon, O. P., S. T. M., who had resigned after a fruitful term of six years. During the four years of his administration, the college has made notable progress both materially and scholasti- cally. In recognition of his work in the field of education, Holy Cross College conferred upon him, at its commencement exercises in June, 1930, the degree of Doctor of Laws.
In addition to his scholastic achievements as is evidenced by his various degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Holy Cross, 1909; Master of Arts, St. Mary's, 1911; S. T. Lr., Immaculate Conception College, 1918, and Doctor of Philosophy, Univer- sity of Louvain, 1926, he has engaged extensively in preaching and lecturing on social and philosophi- cal topics.
Providence College is the youngest of Rhode Island's institutions of higher learning. It owes its inception to the vision and beneficence of the late Right Rev. Matthew Harkins, D. D., and its present flourishing condition to the generous as- sistance of his successor, Right Rev. William A. Hickey, D. D. Its character is defined by the charter granted to it by the State Legislature at the January session 1917, which states that it has been organized "for the promotion of virtue and piety and learning in such of the languages and liberal arts and sciences as shall be recommended from time to time by the corporation."
The college property is located at the junction of Eaton Street and River Avenue, seven min- utes' ride from the centre of the city. Originally it comprised seventeen acres; but, as a result of the acquisition of the adjoining Bradley Estate and seven other lots in 1926 and of the more recent purchase of lots on Wardlaw Avenue, it now em- braces forty-five acres. The college buildings are two in number : Guzman Hall and Harkins Hall. The former serves as a dormitory for ecclesiastical students. The latter, enlarged to approximately twice its original size, now affords classroom, lec- ture hall and laboratory accommodations for eight hundred students. The students have been for the most part native sons of Rhode Island, though in
recent years many other States are represented. In 1919-20, the enrollment was eighty; the enrollment for the scholastic years 1930-31 is seven hundred.
In response to an appeal from various religious communities in the vicinity, the college authorities inaugurated a summer school in 1925 with an en- rollment of sixty-eight. In 1930 the number has increased to two hundred and twelve. Saturday morning extension courses, intended to supplement the work of the summer school, were begun in 1926 with a registration of eighty-nine. At pres- ent one hundred and forty-four are enrolled. While the summer school and the extension courses were instituted primarily for the purpose of enabling teaching Sisters to obtain scholastic degrees, many of the laity have been represented on the roster. The course of studies is arranged in programs leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bach- elor of Letters, Bachelor of Philosophy, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Pre-Medical). The course in the freshman year in the several programs is prescribed, and in the nature of required subjects for all candidates. In the suc- ceeding years deviation from the prescribed sched- ule is permitted, if the acumen and application of the students warrant. On account of the increas- ing difficulty which students who have not a de- gree experience in gaining admission to the best medical schools, the college authorities decided to discontinue the two-year pre-medical course. A four-year course leading to the degree of Bach- elor of Science (Pre-Medical) is now offered to those preparing for medical careers. Providence College graduates have been admitted to and suc- cessfully completed post-graduate work at Har- vard, Yale, Columbia and other leading univer- sities and seminaries.
Fifteen units of standard high school work are required for entrance. English, Latin, Mathema- tics, History, Modern Languages, and Science must be presented by all candidates, the number of units varying according to the program of studies elected. Admission is by examinations, or on pre- sentation of diploma and certificates from a stand- ard, approved high school. The faculty of the col- lege is constituted exclusively of members of the Order of Preachers, more popularly known as the Order of St. Dominic. In addition to the prescribed course of studies contained in their constitution which course of studies extends over a period of seven years, the professors make special prepara- tory studies for their collegiate work at Catholic University, Columbia, Yale and other American and European universities. At present there are
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twenty-three professors and seventeen assistants at the college. The officers of the corporation elected at its annual meeting held at the close of the scholastic year, June 12, 1930, are: President, Right Rev. William A. Hickey, D. D .; treasurer, Very Rev. Lorenzo C. McCarthy, O. P., Ph. D .; secretary, Patrick P. Curran, Esq. The officers of administration and instruction are : President, Very Rev. Lorenzo C. McCarthy, O. P., Ph. D .; vice- president, Rev. M. S. Welsh, O. P., J. C. D .; treas- urer, Rev. G. I. Smith, O. P., S. T. Lr .; dean, Rev. A. H. Chandler, O. P., LL. D.
REV. ANTONIO P. REBELLO-From 1918 to the present writing (1930), Rev. Antonio P. Rebello has been ably and devotedly ministering to the parish and church of Our Lady of the Rosary, of Providence, Rhode Island.
The parish of Our Lady of the Rosary was organized in 1885. For many years the Portuguese Catholics of Providence had been attending St. Joseph's Church and for some years there was also a special service conducted for them by Father Freitas, on the third Sunday of each month. The need of a church and parish of their own became apparent, and in 1885, when Bishop Hendricken organized the new parish under the protection of Our Lady of the Rosary, he pur- chased an old skating rink on Wickenden Street and made such alterations as were necessary. The remodelled building was dedicated on March 22, 1885, and Rev. Thomas Elliott was made the first pastor. In order that the new church might be of service to all the Portuguese of the locality, it was made a national church without parish lines, and with a mission for all Portuguese living in Providence and vicinity. In 1887 Father Elliott was succeeded by Rev. Anthony Serpa, and in 1892 Father Serpa purchased land for a new church on the corner of Benefit and Pike streets. A new church building was begun, and on March 6, 1898, the completed basement was dedicated. For twelve years the lower church or basement served the place of worship. Father Serpa worked faithfully among his people of the parish and those others to whom the church had a mission, but the development of their spiritual life was his first care, and his people were not rich in this world's goods. A new parochial resi- dence was erected in 1899, and in that same year the old property on Wickenden Street was sold.
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