USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. IV > Part 4
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tist Church, of which he is a deacon, holding also the office of vice-president of the Pawtuxet Bap- tist Society. Throughout his entire life Mr. Lee has been very fond of books, and many of his leisure hours have been spent happily in reading.
Mr. Lee married, June 6, 1889, Mary Frances Arnold, a native of Newark, New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Lee are the parents of two children : Jessie Arnold and Mildred Taft Lee.
ARTHUR G. JOHNSON-Manager of the East Providence Branch of the Industrial Trust Company of Providence, Arthur G. Johnson has devoted his entire active career to the field of bank- ing and finance. He was born at East Greenwich, Rhode Island, on October 16, 1892, a son of G. Andrew and Selma C. Johnson, both natives of Sweden. Following the completion of his prelimi- nary education in the public schools of Provi- dence, he attended Bryant and Stratton Business College and the American Institute of Banking, having already decided upon a banking career.
Beginning his active business life, Mr. Johnson entered the employ of Blanchard, Young and Com- pany of Providence, with whom he remained for seven years. Subsequently, for one year, he was connected with the F. C. Henderson Company, of Boston, and in 1916 became associated with the Industrial Trust Company of Providence, with which he has since remained. Beginning as a book- keeper, he advanced gradually to positions of greater importance and responsibility as he demon- strated the merits of his services. In 1921 he was transferred to the East Providence branch of this bank as assistant manager and in 1924 succeeded to the office of manager, which position he has since retained. Mr. Johnson was thoroughly quali- fied by experience and native ability for the duties which he assumed and his record in office has been one of continued success. He is a member of Providence Chapter, American Institute of Bank- ing, and of the East Providence Business Men's Association, while apart from his business and pro- fessional connections, he is a member of the Craftsman's Club of Newport, the Craftsman's Club of East Providence and the Lions Club of this city. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Free and Accepted Masons, in which order he has been very active. He is a member of Doric Lodge, No. 38, and of many higher bodies, including Gibbs Chapter, No. 13, Royal Arch Masons; Adoniram Council, No. 8, Royal and Select Masters; Rhode
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Island Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite ; and Palestine Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
Following the entrance of the United States into the World War, Mr. Johnson enlisted in the navy in the spring of 1918, and was attached to the executive department of the Naval Training Sta- tion at Newport. He received his honorable dis- charge after the signing of the Armistice, with the rank of yeoman, second-class. In politics, Mr. Johnson is a consistent Republican, while with his family he worships in the Protestant Episcopal faith, attending Grace Church of this denomination at East Providence. He is fond of outdoor life, especially hunting and fishing, and in his leisure moments turns to these sports for relaxation and recreation.
In 1918, Arthur G. Johnson married Julia May Goozey, who was born at Johnson, Vermont. They are the parents of one daughter, June.
GEORGE M. HULL-Having become con- nected in his youth with the Union Oil Company of Providence, Mr. Hull continued to be identified with this concern in various positions of ever- creasing importance and responsibility for more than three decades and until its local plant was dis- continued, some ten years ago. Since then he has served with great efficiency and faithfulness as town treasurer of East Providence. Even prior to his election to this important office, he had been prominently active for many years in civic affairs and had held various important public offices. His patriotism found expression by several years' serv- ice in one of the units of the State Militia, while during the World War he held the difficult and responsible office of Fuel Commissioner for East Providence. These varied activities are rounded off by active membership in numerous fraternal, civic and social organizations, and by active par- ticipation in religious work, thus making Mr. Hull one of the most representative and most useful members of the community.
George M. Hull was born in Providence, Sep- tember 10, 1869, a son of the late George B. and Emily (Smith) Hull. His father, likewise a na- tive of Providence, was for many years a well- known master mariner. For several years he served as manager of the Providence and New York Steamship Company. At other times in his long career, ended only by his death in 1912, he
was captain of many well-known steamships sail- ing from Providence and New York. During the Civil War he served as a blockade runner, carrying foodstuffs for the Union Forces. Mr. Hull's mother, also now deceased, was a native of Fall River.
Mr. Hull himself was educated in the public grammar and high schools of East Providence and then attended the Rhode Island Technical School. Having completed his education, he served as pur- ser on various excursion steamers in Narragansett Bay for some five years. In 1889 he became con- nected with the Union Oil Company of Providence. His first position with this well-known concern was that of a clerk. In 1893 he was made superin- tendent, continuing in that capacity until 1917, when he was made plant manager. In this position he served until the plant was closed in 1921. At that time he was elected town treasurer of East Providence, which important office he has con- tinued to fill with great ability and success ever since. Since 1916 he has also been a member of the Rhode Island State Harbor Commission. Prior to that, during 1907-12, he served on the East Providence Town Council, of which he was presi- dent for four years, and during these four years he was also a member of the Metropolitan Park Com- mission and of its executive committee. Ever since the East Providence Branch of the Industrial Trust Company has been organized, Mr. Hull has been a member of its board of managers. During his youth, from 1888 until 1895, he was a member of the Ist Light Infantry, Rhode Island State Militia. For many years prominently active in Masonic affairs, he is a member of numerous Ma- sonic bodies, including the following: What Cheer Lodge, No. 21, Free and Accepted Masons; Rising Sun Lodge, No. 30, Free and Accepted Masons; Gibbs Chapter, No. 13, Royal Arch Masons; Cal- vary Commandery, No. 13, Knights Templar ; Pal- estine Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Craftsman's Club, as well as of the Barrington Yacht Club, of which he is a life-member and a past commodore; and of the East Providence Business Men's Association, of which he is a past president. In politics, he is a supporter of the Re- publican party, while his religious affiliations are with the First Universalist Church of Providence, of which he is a trustee. His favorite form of recreation is yachting.
Mr. Hull married, in 1893, Josephine Mayno, like himself a native of Providence. Mr. and Mrs. Hull
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are the parents of two sons: I. Thomas M., a veteran of the World War, during which he served overseas in France with the American Expedi- tionary Forces as a member of Battery C, 103d Regiment, 26th Division, popularly known as the Yankee Division. He was wounded in action and invalided home. 2. George C., also a veteran of the World War, during which he served with the same unit as his older brother, seeing eighteen months of overseas' service in France. He is now a member of the editorial staff of the Providence "Journal."
JOSEPH H. WHITE, Commissioner of Pub- lic Works of the city of Woonsocket, Rhode Is- land, is a man well known in that city.
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He was born at Union, Maine, April 1, 1872, a son of Jonathan and Mary A. (Burkett) White. Both his parents are natives of Maine and have always resided in that State. Mr. Joseph H. White was educated in the public schools of Union, Maine, and at the Colburn Classical Institute at Water- ville, Maine. He acquired his technical education by practical experience; while yet in school he took a position on the St. Georges Valley Railroad in engineering, which he followed for a time and then returned to school. After leaving school, he began his career in 1895 in Watertown, Massachu- setts, where he was first assistant engineer and later town engineer of that town until 1912. He then was engaged in the general contracting busi- ness which he carried on until 1916, when he came to Woonsocket to accept the position of assistant engineer in that city. He continued in this posi- tion until February 12, 1929, when he was elected city engineer. On March 21, 1929, Governor Case signed a bill creating the office of Commissioner of Public Works of the city of Woonsocket, and Mr. White was elected to this office by the city council for a term of four years. He immediately qualified for the office and assumed its duties ; these include jurisdiction over the engineering, water, highway, sewer, parks, and playgrounds depart- ments. The grouping of these various departments, all engaged in public work under one executive, has greatly increased their effectivness. The new commissioner was well qualified by virtue of his long experience of nearly thirty years, to fill this position. And in the year that has since elapsed, the wisdom of the choice of the citizens of Woon- socket has been thoroughly demonstrated and the grouping under one head of the different offices has been the means of doing the work far more
effectively and also in a large saving financially. For many years Mr. White has been a member of the following Masonic organizations : the Blue Lodge; the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons; the Commandery, Knights Templar; and the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, all of Boston. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In politics he is a supporter of the Republican party.
Mr. White married Bessie Bell Shurtleff, a native of Watertown, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. White are the parents of a daughter, Cynthia White, a member of the class of 1929, Water- town High School. The family residence is located : No. 100 Social Street, Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
HAROLD T. LOWE-Teacher, educator and veteran of the World War, Harold T. Lowe is now superintendent of schools of the town of North Providence, Rhode Island. His career has been one of success in both military and civil life.
Mr. Lowe was born at Buffalo, New York, on July 19, 1891, son of George and Caroline (Wil- liam) Lowe. The father born in England, is an iron moulder by occupation. The mother is a na- tive of Wales. Harold T. Lowe was educated in the public schools of his birthplace. He attended the Central and Technical high schools, and in 1917 was graduated from Hobart College with the Bachelor of Science degree. In the meantime, he had also completed the course at the Buffalo Normal School, and had taken post-graduate work at Columbia University.
The year 1907 saw the beginning of Mr. Lowe's active career. He became associated with the Otis Elevator Company at Buffalo, filling the position of service and constructing engineer and assistant sales manager at the Buffalo office for seven years. At the time he was attending college, he was em- ployed by the International Electric Railway Com- pany, and after his graduation, in 1917, he went into the United States Army.
Mr. Lowe's military record is one of great dis- tinction. He was commissioned first lieutenant in the United States Army Infantry Corps in August, 1917, and promoted to captain in August, 1918, serving overseas with the American Expeditionary Forces in France from August, 1917, to September, 1918. He was returned to the United States to train the 9th Division of the Regular Army, and received his honorable discharge in December, 1918, with the rank of captain. Mr. Lowe took
Joseph H. White
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part in the following . engagements: the Oise- Aisne defensive, the Aisne-Marne offensive, the Soissons defensive, the St. Mihiel offensive, the Toul Sector defensive, and the Champaign de- fensive. He was wounded in action on April 13, 1918, and gassed in action on July 20, 1918. For extreme gallantry in action he was cited with the Croix de Guerre. Mr. Lowe was also cited by General Pershing and General Holbrook for serv- ice in training the 46th: Regiment of Infantry, of the 9th Division.
Returning to the pursuits of peace after he was mustered out of the service, Mr. Lowe took a po- sition as teacher of the ungraded classes in the school at Hamburg, New York. After six months he was appointed principal of the Hamburg High School, which he occupied for one year. At the end of this time he came to Rhode Island as prin- cipal of the Ashaway High School, and in 1920 was appointed superintendent of schools for Charlestown and Hopkinton, Rhode Island. In 1923 the town of Richmond was taken into this school district, and Mr. Lowe continued as superin- tendent until 1926. In September of that year he accepted the position of superintendent of schools of the town of North Providence, which he has filled very ably and efficiently since that time.
Many other phases of life have occupied Mr. Lowe's attenton. Music has always been one of his principal diversions. He is a violin soloist, was formerly a member of a Buffalo orchestra, and has been a director of many community choruses and orchestras. Mr. Lowe is also fond of hiking and woodcraft, and is an active sup- porter of the Boy Scout movement. He is chair- man of the Court of Honor of the Tri-Town District, Boy Scouts of America, chairman of the District Executive Committee, and a member of the Greater Providence Executive Council of the Boy Scouts. Mr. Lowe attends the Episcopal Church at North Centerdale, where the family residence is maintained. He is a vestryman, and secretary for religious education in the Rhode Island diocese.
Among the various associations of the men of his profession, Mr. Lowe is a member of the Na- tional Education Association, the Department of Superintendents of the National Education Asso- ciation, and the New England Association, School Department. Fraternally, he is affiliated with Charity Lodge, No. 23, of the Free and Accepted Masons; Mechanics Lodge, No. 14, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Niantic Encampment; and a patron of Rhoda Lodge, Daughters of Rebekah.
He is also a member of Gordon Green Post of the American Legion, and Darnborough Parkin Camp of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Mr. Lowe is an independent voter in politics. He is a member of the Barnard Club, and the Centerdale Business Men's Association.
In 1917, Harold T. Lowe married Anna Haig, who was born in Buffalo, New York. They are the parents of the following children: Lucia Amy, Harold Ward, and Ellen Jean.
GARDNER TABER SWARTS, M. D .- Founder of the first municipal health laboratory in the United States, the late Dr. Gardner T. Swarts, of Providence, by his accomplishments in the field of public health, left a marked effect on the history of the country. He was among the first American physicians to make a specialty of bacteriology, and made an exhaustive study of dis- ease germs. Dr. Swarts was secretary and later president of the American Public Health Associa- tion, and was president of the Conference of State and Provincial Boards of Health of North America. His contributions to the civic welfare of his native city of Providence are beyond estima- tion in value and influence.
Gardner Taber Swarts, M. D., was born in Providence, December 13, 1857, son of Gardner T. and Harriet A. (Wood) Swarts. From attendance at the public schools of Providence he passed to Harvard University, from whose medical school he was graduated Doctor of Medicine in the class of 1879. He took two years of post-graduate work at the great medical centers of Vienna, Paris, and London.
In 1881, Dr. Swarts became a general practi- tioner in the city of Providence, and was appointed city bacteriologist. In association with Dr. Charles V. Chapin he established the original municipal health laboratory to be put into operation in this country. This laboratory was outfitted mostly at his own expense. He was early drawn to the sub- ject of bacteriology, and too great praise cannot be accorded him for his courage in espousing and practicing that then new phase of medicine. He became an enthusiast on the subject, and was in the van of American physicians who, with like courage and a true sense of the advance step being taken, became specialists in bacteriology. His deep and long continued researches into the study of the subject took a great deal of his time in the de- velopment of cultures.
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Dr. Swarts' bacteriological studies on sand fil- tration were the first conducted in this country. He was easily one of the leading national authori- ties on public health work in the United States, and served as an inspector in the Health Depart- ment of Providence many years. For a consider- able period also he was an active member of the Common Council of that city.
In 1894, Dr. Swarts was appointed secretary of the State Board of Health, State bacteriologist, and State registrar of vital statistics, in which ca- pacities he served for twenty-three years. He was secretary of the American Public Health Associa- tion for several years, and from that office was elevated to president, serving as such in 1908-09. His services as president of the Conference of State and Provincial Boards of Health of North America were conducive to the promotion of the affairs of that body. He was a member of the State Medical Examining and Licensing boards. In 1917 he retired from public health work, and thereafter devoted himself to specialization in der- matology.
During the World War period, Dr. Swarts per- formed a signal service as a member of the Rhode Island Executive Committee of the Volunteer Medical Service Corps under the Council of Na- tional Defense. For thirty-five years he was at- tending surgeon of the dermatology department of the Rhode Island Hospital, and consulting surgeon of the Providence City Hospital and the Memorial Hospital of Pawtucket. He wrote many interesting and instructive articles, on the subject of health for magazines. His professional affiliations in- cluded the Providence Medical Association, of which he was president in 1896-97; the Boston Bacteriological Club, the Massachusetts Associa- tion of Boards of Health, which he had served also as president; a charter member of the Providence Clinical Club; and the Rhode Island Medical Asso- ciation, which he served as president.
Dr. Swarts was interested in many private busi- ness enterprises, and especially in real estate de- velopment. He was a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite member of the Free and Accepted Masons; affiliated also with Adelphoi Lodge of that order, and with St. John's Commandery, Knights Tem- plar ; a charter member of the University Club, the Providence Art Club, and the Players Club; in addition he belonged to the Town Criers, the Provi- dence Engineering Society, the Rhode Island His- torical Society, and a past president of the Har- vard Club of Rhode Island.
Dr. Gardner Taber Swarts married Fannie May
Stinson, of Portland, Maine. Two children were born to them: I. Gardner Taber, Jr. 2. Gertrude Blanchard, now Mrs. Raymer B. Weeden, of Providence.
The death of Dr. Swarts, which occurred on May 12, 1925, removed a man and physician who had given his life for the health and happiness of the community.
REV. JOHN F. DOWNING-Since March, 1922, Rev. John F. Downing has been the efficient and successful pastor of St. Joseph's Church of Pascoag, Rhode Island.
The history of the parish of St. Joseph of Pas- coag reaches back to the early 'fifties, but owning to changing local conditions influencing population its early promise of separate organization was long deferred and its early history is a checkered one. Catholics in the town of Burrillville were few and scattered previous to 1850 and those few attended the nearest church, which was in Woonsocket. When, in the early 'fifties, the Catholic Church be- gan to develop the country parishes Pascoag was one of the first to receive a pastor. By Pascoag was meant the entire district, and on March 15, 1851, Bishop O'Reilly appointed Rev. Christopher Moore, a young priest ordained only two months earlier, pastor of that district. Rev. P. J. Lenihan went there in 1852 and stayed until September, 1853. Having determined to build a church there he en- gaged Keely, the noted architect, to draw the plans. In July, 1853, Bishop O'Reilly went to Pascoag and preached to the people concerning the purchase of a church lot. When Father Ber- nard Tully succeeded Father Lenihan in 1853, however, the plan of building in Pascoag was abandoned because of its lack of central location and Harrisville became the headquarters of the mission. There the church was built. When Har- risville was made a separate parish, in 1858, under the patronage of St. Patrick, Pascoag, with its congregation of English-speaking Catholics, be- came a mission of Harrisville, and it was not until 1880, when the Village of Pascoag had grown in population and prosperity, that it was deemed ex- pedient to build a church there. Rev. John Ma- guire was then pastor of St. Patrick's of Harris- ville, of which Pascoag was still a mission, and Father Maguire undertook to satisfy the desire of Pascoag for a church of their own. Accordingly, the corner-stone of the Church of St. Joseph of Pascoag was laid March 17, 1880, and the com-
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pleted edifice was dedicated September 20, of the same year, having been erected at a cost of $13,000. Pascoag remained a mission of Harris- ville until 1884, when Rev. Daniel Driscoll was appointed its first pastor ; but in 1886 he resigned and Pascoag again was attached to Harrisville. In May, 1893, Rev. James Mahon was appointed pastor and Pascoag again became a separate par- ish. Father Mahon, who was a native of Provi- dence, Rhode Island, where he attended the paro- chial schools and then worked in a factory before going to St. Laureant College and to Grand Semi- nary, in Montreal, Canada, built a comfortable rectory in Pascoag, installed a fine church bell, and made many improvements in and around the church. His fervid eloquence, sometimes inclined to fiery outbursts of scathing denunciation of vice and abuses, together with his gentle and persuasive zeal in the confessional, enabled him to exert a strong influence over his people, and for more than ten years, until July, 1905, he served the par- ish of St. Joseph faithfully and well. He was then transferred to St. Joseph's at Newport, Rhode Island, and was succeeded at Pascoag by Rev. Ber- nard F. Redihan, another native of Providence, who was reared in Pawtucket and educated in Toronto and Montreal, Canada, where he was or- dained December 17, 1892.
Father Redihan served in Pascoag for nearly ten years, doing excellent work, both spiritually and materially. His gentle ways and calm tempera- ment contrasted strongly with the ways of his predecessor and won for him a large place in the hearts of his parishioners. He made many im- provements about the church property, in the lawns and sidewalks, which were laid in granolithic pave- ment, while the hedges were kept neatly trimmed and the flowers carefully cultivated. Father Redi- han served until January, 1915, when he went to St. Augustine's at Newport, and was succeeded by Rev. John S. Dunn, S. T. L., a native of Fall River, Massachusetts, educated in Manhattan Col- lege, New York; in Grand Seminary, Montreal, Canada, and in the Catholic University at Wash- ington, District of Columbia. Father Dunn served with effective zeal and careful financial administra- tion. He made desirable improvements in the rec- tory, inside and out, and looked well to the general improvement of the property. He also brought the Sisters of the Divine Providence to teach the Catechism to the children and to teach them music and embroidery, but after a year more pressing duties of their order called them away. During Father Dunn's pastorate came a great misfortune.
The church was destroyed by fire, in October, 1919, the basement alone being saved. The basement, however, was soon converted into a cozy chapel which has proved sufficient for parish purposes for a number of years. In March, 1922, Father Dunn was succeeded by the present pastor.
Rev. John F. Downing was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and received his early education in the public schools of his birthplace and in LaSalle Academy. When his preparatory course was com- pleted, he entered Holy Cross College, from which he was graduated in 1887, and afterward entered the Sulpician Seminary, in Paris, where he was ordained a priest June 28, 1902. After serving as assistant in St. Mary's parish, Bristol, for a year or two, he was appointed assistant in St. Mary's parish, Providence. On January II, 1917, he was made a pastor and assigned to St. Michael's par- ish, Georgiaville, Rhode Island, and there he served ably until March, 1922, when he came to his present charge as pastor of St. Joseph's Church at Pas- coag. During the eight years of his pastorate here Father Downing has placed the parish upon a firm financial foundation, and he is now leading his people in the important task of building the long- hoped-for new church edifice. Since the burning of the old church in 1919 the congregation has worshipped in the chapel built on the old basement, waiting for the time when they might safely under- take the erection of a church in keeping with the dignity and requirements of this well-organized parish. It is expected that the new building will be ready for use by Easter Sunday, 1931. The building is to be of stone, and the interior trim and furnishings are to be of the most substantial char- acter and of first quality. The polished oak seats will provide for about six hundred people, while the choir loft will be equipped with a fine-toned organ and will seat one hundred singers. The par- ish numbers about one thousand and five hundred souls, both English-and French-speaking, and the sermons are delivered both in English and in French. In addition to the regular parish work, Father Downing ministers to the State Sanitarium, to which institution he goes every morning to talk to and cheer the inmates, all of whom have grown to be very fond of him and who look forward to his daily visits of cheer. The parish has a Sunday school with an enrollment of about two hundred and twenty-five, and the parochial school is taught by about twenty lay teachers, who assist Father Downing and his able helper, Father D. J. O'Con- nell. Special religious instruction is given on Mon- days and Fridays. The usual church societies are
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