USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. IV > Part 37
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Father Keefe's genial ways, his fine character, and his marked abilities have already won for him the enthusiastic support and cooperation of his new parishioners, and he is already beginning in the Church of the Assumption the splendid type of service he rendered at St. James' in Arctic Center.
JAMES J. DUNN-A native and lifelong resi- dent of Providence, Mr. Dunn has been for more than a quarter of a century one of the leading plumbing and heating contractors of Rhode Is- land's capital. His standing in the community is of the highest and he enjoys a very fine reputation as an able and reliable business man. For many years he has taken a prominent part in politics and several times he has very ably represented his home community, Riverside, in the State Legis- lature. He is also prominently active in fraternal affairs and takes a helpful interest in religious work, and, indeed, in every respect must be re- garded as one of the substantial and representative members of the community.
James J. Dunn was born in Providence, August 28, 1878, a son of the late Patrick and Mary (Conlin) Dunn. Both his parents, now deceased, were natives of Ireland. His father was a car- penter by trade and successfully followed his trade until his death. Mr. Dunn received his early edu- cation in the parochial schools of Providence, which he left at the age of thirteen years, to go to work. However, he continued his education by attending the Providence Evening High School. His first employment was in the local textile mills and in various local machines shops, in which type of work he continued until he had reached the age of nineteen years. At that time he decided to learn the plumbing trade. This he did to such good purpose, that only a comparatively few years later, in 1903, he found himself in a position to enter the plumbing and heating business on his own account. At that time he became associated in this business with Francis G. Merewether under the firm name of Merewether and Dunn, a partner- ship which has continued successfully ever since. The business has grown to large proportions, its success being largely the result of Mr. Dunn's ability and industry. For many years prominently active in fraternal affairs, he is a member of numerous fraternal organizations, including the following: Riverside Council, Knights of Colum- bus, of which he has served as treasurer and warden; Providence Lodge, No. 14, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; East Providence Lodge, No. 1216, Loyal Order of Moose, of which he is a Past Dictator ; and Modern Woodmen of America. Another field which has attracted Mr. Dunn, is that of politics. A staunch supporter of the Demo- cratic party, he has served for six years as treas- urer of the East Providence Fire District. For a similar period of years he has also represented
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the town of Riverside in the Rhode Island Legis- lature, where he proved himself a very able and conscientious legislator. For a number of years he has also served as treasurer of the Riverside Textile Company. His religious affiliations are with the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Dunn is fond of outdoor sports and especially of baseball.
Mr. Dunn married, in 1906, Frances M. Doyle, like himself a native of Providence. Mrs. Dunn died in 1911, leaving, besides her husband, one son, John P. Dunn, who is attending Mount St. Mary's College, Emmitsburg, Maryland. A daughter, Frances W. Dunn, died at three years of age.
REV. JAMES R. BARTLEY-The Church of St. John the Evangelist, on Federal Hill, of Prov- idence, which has as its pastor, Rev. James R. Bartley, is the second oldest church in Providence Diocese. The parish formed April 8, 1870, from parts of the Cathedral parish and of St. Mary's parish, of Olneyville. Rev. John McCabe came here in 1869 and helped organize the parish. He was appointed first pastor and immediately set about the task of building a suitable church edifice. The corner-stone was laid by Bishop McFarland in 1871, and the church was dedicated by Bishop Hendricken, September 19, 1875. Father McCabe worked faithfully to develop the newly organized parish, and from 1869 to the time of his death in 1907, a period of thirty-eight years, devoted his time and his splendid abilities to that task. When he came there was neither parish nor church. When death called him from the work he so much loved to go to his well-earned reward, he left a large parish, the church building which is still in use, a group of well organized parish societies, and a record of nearly forty years of untiring and faithful service. He is still remembered with deep- est affection and reverence by many who were the young people of his parish but are now the sea- soned burden bearers and able workers of the church. In 1907 Father James Ward succeeded Father McCabe. He carried on the work until 1914, when he was transferred to St. Mary's of Newport. Rev. John F. Barry, now of Pawtucket, was the next pastor, serving from 1914 to 1918, when Father O'Brien took charge. In 1922 Father O'Brien was transferred to St. Theresa's Church at Olneyville and Father Murray came to St. John's, where he remained to the time of his death in 1925. In July of that year the present pastor, Rev. James R. Bartley, took charge.
Rev. James R. Bartley was born in St. Mary's parish, Providence, Rhode Island, where his father was one of the trustees of the church and took a prominent part in the work of the parish for many years. Father Bartley attended the public schools, graduating with the second graduating class of this school, in 1892. The following fall he entered La Salle Academy, and after completing his course there he entered Manhattan College, in 1897, where he remained until 1899, when he left to continue his studies in the American Col- lege at Rome, Italy, and there, among other pro- fessors, he came under the instruction of the pres- ent Cardinal O'Connell, of Boston, under whom he studied for nearly three years. He was or- dained in March, 1904, and returned to this coun- try, where for more than five years he was asso- ciated with a Mission Band. In 1909 he was as- signed to Holy Trinity Church, Central Falls, Rhode Island, as an assistant, and remained until 1921 when he was made a pastor and assigned to Narragansett Pier, where he remained until July, 1925, when he came to his present charge as pastor of the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Prov- idence. Here he has accomplished much. At a cost of nearly $50,000 he has thoroughly renovated the church building and repaired the old church which is now used as a hall; he has strengthened the parish organizations, deepened the spiritual in- terests of the parish membership, and has greatly developed the range of the intellectual interests of his people. The Holy Name Society, the Taber- nacle Society, and the Children of Mary Society are strong and active, and all departments of the work are going forward successfully. The coming of the Italians to Federal Hill and the formation of the parish of the Blessed Sacrament, in 1889, somewhat lessened the numerical membership of the parish in those years, but in spite of changing conditions the parish of St. John's has remained one of the important ones of the city. The church building, which originally cost about $100,000, is of brick and attractively designed. Two beautiful towers rise to a height of ninety feet, and one of these is surmounted by a cross sixteen feet high, making a total height of one hundred and six feet. The interior, too, is beautiful and artistic. The roof rises seventy-five feet above the center aisle, supported by eight arches resting on sixteen pillars. There are three altars, a magnificent central one, richly carved, and two smaller ones, one on each side. A gallery with seating capacity for three hundred extends around the church, and the main body of the church provides seating for about 1,200.
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Fourteen stained glass windows, seven on either side, placed above the balcony, three windows in the rear of the central altar, and three more beau- tiful windows in the rear of the choir loft, provide a good supply of light. The choir loft seats about one hundred singers and is equipped with a fine organ. Altogether, both inside and out, the church is an admirable one and well calculated to furnish the atmosphere of reverence and worship appro- priate to its services.
The parish of St. John's is fortunate in its present pastor. A man of wide culture and deep religious faith, but human, withal, endowed by nature with a genial disposition, with a keen per- ception, and with sympathies sensitive to the needs of those with whom he is associated. Possessing in rich measure those lighter graces which make him a gifted and magnetic entertainer, as well as a forcible speaker, he has the firmness and steadi- ness of purpose and the deep devotion to his work which enable him to use all his natural tal- ents for the furtherance of the work to which he has devoted his life.
RIGHT REV. MONSIGNOR PETER E. BLESSING, LL. D., D. D., V. G .- Right Rev. Monsignor Peter E. Blessing has been pastor of St. Joseph's Church of Providence since May, 1916. Previous to his present charge, he served as pas- tor of St. Edward's, Providence, and SS. Peter and Paul's Cathedral.
The parish of St. Joseph's was formed by Bishop O'Reilly in 1850. As early as 1811 Bishop Cheverus is said to have celebrated Mass in an old school- house on Sheldon Street, near Benefit. When the Boston & Providence Railroad was built in the 1830's, laborers settled on land near the terminus of the road, and a group of Catholics settled on Fox's Hill. In 1841 Fox Point became a part of St. Patrick's parish, but by 1850 the number of Catholics living there had become so great that it seemed wise to organize the district into a separate parish. Bishop O'Reilly encouraged the people of the new parish to build a church, and on January 24, 1851, two lots, on the corner of Hope and Arnold streets, were purchased for $1,500. Rev. Joseph Stokes was appointed the first pastor, March 31, 1851, and he was directed by the Bishop to build a chapel at a cost of $4,000. Father Stokes, however, secured permission to build a much more expensive church and had the plans drawn by Keely. The corner-stone was laid, Au-
gust 3, 1851, but Father Stokes found that he could not collect for so large an undertaking and finally abandoned the parish.
Mass was said in a temporary chapel on Benefit Street until other provision could be made. In January, 1852, Rev. James O'Reilly was made pas- tor. He tried to continue the building of the church, but in two years he collected only $1,200, and the Bishop, displeased, took over the super- vision of the work, in August, 1853, and carried it to completion. Additional land had been pur- chased, so that when the church, providing seat- ing for 1,600 people, was consecrated December 19, 1853, the total cost of building and lands was $30,000. Father O'Reilly resigned before the church was opened, went abroad, and was drowned while bathing in the sulphur waters of Tivoli.
Rev. Hugh Carmody, the next pastor, took charge in March, 1854. Shortly after his appoint- ment he opened a parochial schoolhouse, building and furniture costing $4,000, but the parish was not able to support it and it had to be closed. The church was formally dedicated by Bishop O'Reilly, July 15, 1855. In June, 1857, Rev. Peter Brown was made pastor. Shortly after he took charge the unused school building was converted into a rec- tory. In 1858 the estimated value of the church property was $37,000, on which there was an in- debtedness of $28,000. Expenditures for that year exceeded the revenue by $1,500. There were 2,500 souls in the parish and two hundred children in the day school.
The fifth pastor was Rev. Peter Kelly, who suc- ceeded Father Brown in July, 1862. From 1862 to 1866, he worked faithfully, reducing the church indebtedness, rousing the spirit of the parishioners, and enforcing authority among the lawless young men of his parish. In 1866 he was succeeded by Rev. Daniel Kelly, who wiped out the church debt, collected funds for a new school, and had the building nearly completed when he died, in Sep- tember, 1879. He left the parish the residue of his estate, amounting to $12,000, thus continuing even after his death his service to St. Joseph's. After the death of Father Kelly the parish was placed in charge of the Jesuits, who hoped to found a college in Providence. They took charge in April, 1877, and Father Pabst was the first Superior. He was followed by Father Cleary, who built the parochial residence and added a large sacristy to the church. He died in 1884, and was succeeded by Rev. William Gockeln, who died in 1885. Father Toner, the next pastor, lived but a short time, and was succeeeded by Rev. Patrick
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K. J. Brennan, who improved the interior of the church by cutting off part of the galleries and erecting two side altars. He also procured a chime of bells for the tower, the gift of Mr. Joseph Banigan. Then came Rev. William Haugh, Rev. James Noonan, and Rev. James Bric. A large addition was made to the school in 1898, and it was opened in the spring of 1899; in January, the Jesuit Fathers, seeing no likelihood of building a college in Providence, withdrew from the parish.
The Very Rev. Thomas F. Doran, V. G., took charge of the parish at the beginning of the year 1899, and remained here up to the time of his death in January, 1916.
Right Rev. Monsignor Peter E. Blessing, LL. D., D. D., V. G., is a native of Providence, where he attended the parish schools of the cathedral parish and La Salle Academy. Having finished his pre- paratory studies he entered Mount St. Mary's Col- lege, Emmitsburg, Maryland. Upon the completion of his collegiate courses, he entered the American College, Rome, Italy, where he spent five years in preparation for ordination to the priesthood. He took his doctorate in Sacred Theology at the Propaganda University and was ordained in the cathedral of St. John Lateran in 1899.
Upon his return to the United States he was assigned for a brief period as assistant at St. Theresa's Church, Providence, and later became a member of the Providence Apostolate, a body of diocesan clergy who gave missions to Catholics and non-Catholics in the diocese of Providence. Upon the appointment of Dr. Stang as bishop of Fall River who had been head of the Providence Apos- tolate from the beginning, Monsignor Blessing suc- ceeded him as superior. In 1904 Monsignor Bles- sing was appointed pastor of St. Edward's parish where he remained until March, 1912. During his pastorate of St. Edward's the present school and convent were built and the exterior of the church and rectory renovated. While serving as pastor of St. Edward's Monsignor Blessing was for five years editor and manager of the "Providence Visitor," a Catholic weekly newspaper having a wide circulation in Rhode Island. In March, 1912, Monsignor Blessing was assigned to the cathedral as rector and remained there until he was trans- ferred to St. Joseph's in May, 1916. Pope Bene- dict XV conferred the title Prothonotary Apostolic upon him in June, 1917. He has served as Vicar General of the diocese under two bishops, Bishop Harkins and Bishop Hickey, having been appointed first to this office in January, 1916.
The church and rectory of St. Joseph's are built
of granite and, with their grounds, occupy the entire block on Hope and Arnold streets. In front of the church, a stone tablet, resting upon four pillars, has been erected to the memory of Rev. Daniel Kelly, who placed the parish on a firm financial foundation and, upon his death, in Feb- ruary, 1877, left a large bequest to the church. The interior of the church has been entirely re- modelled and redecorated by Monsignor Blessing, and is now one of the beautiful and artistic in- teriors of the city. The body of the church pro- vides seating for about nine hundred persons, there are two galleries, or balconies, seating about two hundred each, and the choir loft seats about one hundred singers. The ceiling of the church is supported by six arches resting on twelve pillars, and the building is lighted by sixteen beautiful stained glass windows, six on each side, one over the main altar and by three more placed over the choir loft. The floors are of marble, and there are three altars, a large and beautiful central altar, and two smaller ones, one on each side of the church. There is a commodious and well-equipped parish school of brick and granite which accommodates all the children of primary, grammar and junior high school grades in the parish. The parish is well organized having the Holy Name Society, St. Vincent de Paul Conference, Holy Rosary and Altar Society, Blessed Virgin Mary Sodality, League of the Sacred Heart, as well as the usual children's sodalities, all of which are in a vigorous and prosperous condition.
MASON FREEMAN COCROFT-In the commercial affairs of Rhode Island, one of the State's native sons who was for many years active was Mason Freeman Cocroft, who, for his achieve- ments and for his excellent qualities of mind and heart, won the lasting esteem of his fellowmen. Through practically his whole business career, he was associated with Henry W. Cooke and Com- pany, of which he was secretary at the time of his passing; and his labors in this company's behalf did much, indeed, toward advancing its interests in the city of Providence, where it was situated, and making it a really useful enterprise in Rhode Island life. Keenly interested in land development in Providence, he was recognized as an expert in this field; and was active in the organization of the Providence Real Estate Exchange, of which he was elected treasurer. In his own personal characteristics, he was kindly and generous of
Mtruman Groft.
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impulse, eager ever to help others, and warmly sympathetic in his attitude toward mankind. His life was useful to his community, and went far toward increasing the happiness of his friends and those with whom he was associated. It was his own desire to try to make life a little more livable for those around him; and he did not live in vain if he succeeded, in some measure, in furthering his aims in this direction.
Mr. Cocroft was born in Crompton, Rhode Is- land, on February 21, 1880, son of the late Rev. Thomas H. and Ellen (Freeman) Cocroft. His father, the Rev. Thomas H. Cocroft, was for a number of years rector of St. Philip's Protestant Episcopal Church, at Crompton, Rhode Island, and later served as rector of the Church of the Mes- siah, at Providence, for about fifteen years. M. Freeman Cocroft, of whom this is a record, re- ceived his early education in the public schools of Providence, and attended the Messier Street School, and later the University Grammar School. After he had attended high school for two years, he entered the employ of Henry W. Cooke and Com- pany. In 1904, when this company was incor- porated, he was made its assistant secretary; and two years later he was made its secretary. In that office he continued until death, rendering valuable service to the company and winning hosts of friends for both it and himself.
Nor did Mr. Cocroft confine his activities to his labors in the business world. For he was also a leader in social and civic organizations. He was a member of several clubs, including the Hope Club, the Agawam Club, and the Providence Art Club. He belonged, too, to the Sons of the Amer- ican Revolution. His religious affiliation was with Grace Protestant Episcopal Church. Into these or- ganizations and their work, Mr. Cocroft regularly put his best energies; and among their members, as among the people of the business world, he was regarded as a leader and a man of rare insight and vision. When not engaged with one or an- other of his numerous social duties, he enjoyed what came to be perhaps his favorite pastime, gardening ; and he was fond of all types of clean, healthful outdoor recreation, especially fishing. So it was that he spent as much time as possible at his beautiful summer home, at Matunuck Beach, in Wakefield, Rhode Island, where his contacts with nature were both invigorating and inspiring.
M. Freeman Cocroft married, in May, 1905, Mary Dockray Watson, daughter of Colonel Arthur Hamilton Watson and his wife, Anna Potter (Sprague) Watson. Her grandparents on her
father's side of the house were Elisha Freeman and Mary (Dockray) Watson; and, on her mother's side, her grandfather was Colonel Byron Sprague. The Watson family, an old and honored one in Rhode Island, is on record early in the history of the Narragansett country. Colonel Ar- thur Hamilton Watson, father of Mrs. Cocroft, was born in Lonsdale, Rhode Island, on Septem- ber 20, 1849, attended the public schools of South Kingstown and a private school in Kingstown, and was graduated from Brown University in 1870 with the degreee of Bachelor of Philosophy. He began his business career with a clerkship in the boot and shoe house of Greene, Anthony and Company, of Providence, in which he became a partner on Jan- uary 1, 1873. The years that followed brought him to a high position in his industry as head of the largest organization of its kind in Rhode Island. He also acquired other business interests, including a share in the Nicholson File Company, of which he was vice-president. He was vice-president of the Narragansett Electric Lighting Company; a director of the Globe National Bank, the Union Railroad Company and the American National Bank. In this last-named corporation he was a director for fifteen years, until it was absorbed by the Rhode Island Hospital Trust Company. He also served as president of the Commercial Bank until its absorption by the Union Trust Company, of which he became a director. He also was con- nected with the Providence, Fall River and New- port Steamboat Company as president; was vice- president of the Providence Board of Trade; and was likewise vice-president of the board of man- agers of the World's Columbian Exposition from Rhode Island. He was a director, too, in the Rhode Island Insurance Company; for three years was aide-de-camp on the staff of Governor Bourn, with the rank of colonel; was a Republican in his political alignment, having been elected on his party's ticket in 1883 as a member of the common council of Providence from the Second Ward, and in 1892 having been nominated for the mayoralty of his city, only to be defeated at the polls, after which, in 1894 he became president of the board of aldermen and so continued until his retirement from that office in 1896. While a common coun- cil member, he was chairman of the special com- mittee on the investigation of the municipal court in 1884; and he also served on the joint special committee on the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the town of Providence. His marriage to Anna Potter Sprague took place on February 20, 1873. Their
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children were: I. Harriet, born January 25, 1874, married, January 3, 1899, John Bosworth Lewis; their children were John B., Jr., born January 29, 1900, and Arthur H. Watson, born May 18, 1904. 2. Byron Sprague, born May 26, 1876, married, October 31, 1899, Isabel Loomis; their children were Isabel Loomis, born December 19, 1903, and Annie Potter Sprague, born November 30, 1905. 3. Mary Dockray, who became the wife of Mr. Cocroft. 4. Annie Hamilton, born December 16, 1887.
Mrs. Watson, mother of this family, was a prominent member of the Daughters of the Amer- ican Revolution and a director in the Society of Colonial Dames; she died on February 22, 1904. Mrs. Cocroft, who is today one of the highly esteemed and respected women of Providence, was born on November 2, 1881. The death of her hus- band, M. Freeman Cocroft, of whom this is chiefly a record, took place on March 23, 1918, and was a cause of widespread sorrow in his community and State. His had been a most useful life; and he is remembered today as an individual whose labors in behalf of the interests of Rhode Island were worth while, and as a man of delightful spirit and companionability.
M. Freeman and Mary Dockray (Watson) Cocroft became the parents of three children: I. Frances Freeman, who was born in 1906. 2. Mason Freeman, Jr., born in 1910. 3. Arthur Watson, born in 1914.
GEORGE C. CLINTON-Since 1920 George C. Clinton has been prominently engaged in the practice of law in the city of Providence, Rhode Island, although before that time he served as court clerk and in different capacities connected with the municipal government. In his legal work he has been eminently successful, while his use- fulness to his community is enhanced by the fact that he is a native New Englander and has ac- quired a wealth of experience both in this country and abroad.
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