USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. IV > Part 43
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Tillinghast was first minister of the church. In 17II he deeded the property and building to the congregation. It was later sold and the money used to build the present First Baptist Church which was erected in 1775. Of him it was justly said: "He was as liberal a preacher as could be asked for, since he preached for nothing, and gave a meetinghouse and lot into the Church Treasury."
In 1679 Pardon Tillinghast was granted the privilege of building a wharf, which was the first to be built in the town of Providence. In connec- tion with his store he did a big business with it. Pardon Tillinghast was indeed a busy man, filling a place of large importance in the religious, com- mercial and political life during the early history of the Providence Plantations. When his death occurred he was in the ninety-sixth year of his age. Pardon Tillinghast was twice married. The first name of his first wife has been lost, but her surname was Butterworth. She died and he mar- ried (second) Lydia Taber. By his first marriage he had three and by his second marriage nine children: I. Sarah. 2. John. 3. Mary. 4. Lydia. 5. Pardon, of whom further. 6. Philip. 7. Ben- jamin. 8. Abigail. 9. Joseph. 10. Mercy. II. Hannah. 12. Elizabeth.
Pardon Tillinghast, son of the Rev. Pardon and Lydia (Taber) Tillinghast, was born February 16, 1668, and married (first) Mary Keech, daugh- ter of George Keech. His second wife's name was Sarah. His children were: I. Mary. 2. Philip. 3. John, of whom further. 4. Joseph. 5. Mercy. 6. Pardon.
John Tillinghast, son of Pardon Tillinghast, was a farmer of West Greenwich, Rhode Island. He married (first), April 8, 1714, Anne. About 1719, he married (second) Phebe Greene. He married (third) Anne, and died in West Green- wich in October, 1770. Children of the first mar- riage were: I. Amey. 2. Mary. 3. Pardon. Of the second: I. John. 2. Ann. 3. Welthia. 4. Lydia. 5. Benjamin. 6. Charles, of whom further. Of the third: I. Thomas. 2. Joseph.
Charles Tillinghast, son of John and Phebe (Greene) Tillinghast, was born on April 5, 1729, at East Greenwich, Rhode Island, and married (first) Mercy Greene. He married (second) Abigail Allen. Charles Tillinghast lived in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, at the time of the War for Independence. He was appointed by the Gen- eral Assembly as an officer to secure soldiers and arms for Washington's army, and died in No-
vember, 1775, of wounds received from Tories who had marked him for capture or death.
Deacon Pardon Tillinghast, son of Charles and Abigail (Allen) Tillinghast was born at North Kingstown, June 8, 1765, and died November 20, 1816, at West Greenwich. He was a farmer, and as deacon of the Plains Baptist Church, con- ducted services there for many years. On De- cember 18, 1785, he married Mary Sweet, daugh- ter of Sylvester Sweet.
Sylvester Tillinghast, son of Deacon Pardon and Mary (Sweet) Tillinghast, was born July 24, 1792. He was a farmer of West Greenwich and married Mary Johnson, daughter of Benedict and Rebecca (Talbot) Johnson.
Daniel Tillinghast, their son and the father of Mrs. Emma (Tillinghast) Ripley, was born Octo- ber 29, 1815, at Voluntown, Connecticut. Much of his early life was spent in West Greenwich. By occupation he was a dealer in lumber, center- ing his operations in various parts of Rhode Is- land and Eastern Connecticut. At one time, to- gether with Oliver Waterman and Emanuel Rice, he had a contract with the Hartford, Providence & Fishkill Railroad Company for five thousand cords of wood yearly. He was the first station agent at Greene, Rhode Island, and in every way was a most active and enterprising man-a lead- ing spirit and prominent figure in civic and busi- ness enterprises of his time. For some eighteen years he was one of the moderators of the town of West Greenwich, Rhode Island. He was a strong Baptist, attending the Plains Meeting House.
Daniel Tillinghast married (first), in 1835, Alma Waite, daughter of Silas Waite. He mar- ried (second) Cynthia A. Johnson. His children, all of the first marriage, were: I. Rhoda A., who married (first) Benjamin Barber; (second) Fran- cis Blanding; and (third) Marcus Conners. She died, April 12, 1905, at West Greenwich. 2. Henry C., who married (first) Elizabeth James, and (second) Mrs. Annie E. (Lewis) Valentine. He was a farmer at West Greenwich for many years, but later moved to Chartley, Massachu- setts. 3. Sylvester, who married Mary Ann Potter, of Greene, Rhode Island. He died in August, 1903. 4. Abel G., who married Sarah E. Stone, of Edgewood, Rhode Island. 5. Mason W., a record of whose life appears elsewhere in this volume. 6. Susan H., who married Gardner Wilcox, of Greene. 7. Aurilla Jane, who married (first) James Tillinghast, and (second) Moses G. Leon-
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ard, of Putnam, Connecticut. 8. Lloyd A., who married (first) Sarah L. Corey, and (second) Laura M. Carr. 9. Emma, the widow of Joseph J. Ripley, the subject of this article.
On his farm in West Greenwich, Joseph J. Ripley died, June 21, 1900. Though his death, at the age of seventy years, was, of course, the natural conclusion of a long and busy life, it nevertheless came as a great shock to his family and to his many friends. Affable in disposition, he found it easy to make friends, while his up- right character and his loyalty made it just as easy for him to hold these friends. His passing was generally regretted, both in East Greenwich and West Greenwich and in Providence, and it brought to his family many expressions of regret and sympathy, as well as of admiration for his fine character. He will long be remembered.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN HENRY WETHERELL-A native and lifelong resident of Newport, the late General John Henry Wethe- rell rose from modest beginnings to a position of prominence and influence in his native town and State. His success was entirely the result of his own unaided efforts, his unflagging energy and thrift, his ambitions, and sterling integrity. Start- ing in a small way in his youth as a carriage builder, he developed his business into one of the most successful in Rhode Island. For thirty-seven years he was also prominently identified with the Rhode Island State Militia, in which he rose to the rank of brigadier-general. Several successive gov- ernors appointed him on their personal staffs and also to other public positions of importance and responsibility, the duties of which he invariably discharged with much credit to himself and to the benefit of the State. He was also an important figure for many years of numerous fraternal organ- izations and social and civic clubs, in all of which he had many sincere friends, who loved and ad- mired him for his pleasant, genial and kindly nature and many fine quailties.
John Henry Wetherell was born at Newport, May 19, 1856, a son of Daniel and Hannah S. (Murphy) Wetherell. His father, also a native of Newport, was a lifelong resident of this city. Gen- eral Wetherell was educated in the public schools of Newport. At the age of seventeen he began to learn the trade of a carriage maker under the expert instruction of Olney Read of Providence, by whom he was employed for two years. He then
spent another year with Mr. McFarland, a well- known carriage maker of Taunton, Massachusetts. In 1876, not yet twenty-one years of age he began business for himself at No. 7 Sherman Street, Newport, in which he continued actively and suc- cessfully until his death in 1924, almost a half century. As the result of his reputation for thor- oughness and excellent workmanship as a car- riage builder and repairer, his patronage increased steadily from the beginning. Progressive in his ideas, he was one of the first to take up automo- bile painting and body work, when the automobile made its appearance. With an honorable record of almost half a century of success in business, few men in Newport, or in fact in Rhode Island excel him in this respect.
Next to his business, military affairs received more of General Wetherell's time and attention than anything else. His military career began Jan- uary 12, 1874, when he joined the Newport Light Infantry as a private for three years. Before his enlistment had expired, he was elected a member of the Newport Artillery Company and was shortly promoted to the rank of adjutant. As a result of his long career in the State Militia he had the distinction of being the oldest member in point of continuous service. He later served as inspector and paymaster general of the State troops. On May 31, 1892, he was commissioned colonel, and on February 8, 1901, he was made assistant ad- jutant general of Rhode Island, continuing to serve as such until May 1, 1909. In January, 1911, he was placed on the retired list with the rank of brigadier-general. Previously he had served as colonel and aide-de-camp on the personal staff of several governors, including that of Governor D. Russell Brown during 1892-95. By appointment from Governor Brown, General Wetherell served as a member of the commission in charge of the opening up and improving Salt Pond Harbor and Block Island, serving in that capacity until the work was finished. He also served on the staff of Governor Elisha Dyer during 1898-1900, and later on that of Governor William Gregory. The latter appointed him, June 13, 1900, police com- missioner of Newport, in which capacity he served very ably for four years, being re-appointed by the Rhode Island Senate in 1904. Governor Gregory also appointed him, in 1900, as commissioner to redistrict the city of Providence. At the inaugura- tion of President William Mckinley, March 4, 1897, General Wetherell, then holding the rank of colonel, was honored by a position on the staff of General Horace Porter, of New York City, and
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as such participated in the inaugural parade. He also participated in the inaugural parade of Pres- ident Theodore Roosevelt, March 4, 1905. In poli- tics General Wetherell was a strong supporter of the Republican party and represented Newport in the Rhode Island Legislature for several terms.
In fraternal circles General Wetherell was a man of great popularity in the Masonic Order. He was a member of St. Paul Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Newport Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; De Blois Council, Royal and Select Masters; Washington Commandery, Knights Templar, of which he was Eminent Commander for two years; and Palestine Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Providence. He was a member of Redwood Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and of Davis Company, Uniform Rank, serving as the first captain of this company; Weenat Shassit Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, and which he drilled in military tactics, and of which he was the First Sachem; also Coronet Council, Royal Arcanum, of which he was a Past Regent. Socially General Wetherell was equally prominent, being a member of the Newport Country, Lawrence, and the Miantonomi clubs of all Newport (a charter member of the latter). He was also a member of the Newport Business Men's Association.
General Wetherell married (first), September 24, 1877, Lillian Auburn Gay, a daughter of Daniel R. and Hannah (Marker) Gay. He married (sec- ond) Mary L. McMillan, a daughter of John Mc- Millan, of Cincinnati, Ohio.
General John Henry Wetherell died at his home in Newport, November 4, 1924. Having won for himself a place in the front ranks of the busi- ness and social world of Newport, his death came as a distinct shock and represented a great loss to a large number of his fellow-citizens, who for many years had been his staunch friends and ad- mirers. His fine reputation as a business man of known probity and proven reliability and his long record of loyal service to his city and State, entitled him to the highest regard and confidence of his fellow-citizens, who frequently gave proof of their trust in him, and he is assured of a per- manent place in the annals of his native State and city and in the hearts of his many friends.
WALDO E. FRANKLIN-Engaged in dairy farining and the wholesale milk business in Rhode Island, Waldo E. Franklin operates an extensive and up-to-date farm of seventy acres on Abbott
Run Road, in the town of Cumberland, near the village of Arnold Mills. Here he has twenty-five head of Holstein and Guernsey cattle, selling their milk (about two hundred quarts) at wholesale.
Son of Henry and Nellie E. (Taft) Franklin, both natives of the town of Cumberland, he was born in this town on November 8, 1885. The farm that he operates has been in the family since 1857, and it was here that he spent his boyhood, attending the grammar schools and high school in Cumber- land. Upon leaving school he then took a position with the Bowen Ice Company of Cumberland with which concern he rose to be a foreman and re- mained three and one-half years. He then entered the employ of H. H. Howard in the grain business and remained here for one year, then returned to the farm, assisting his father with the farm work. Since that time he has continued to operate this farm, and has been successful. The milk from the herd is of high grade and is cooled by spring water, with the latest improved James equipment plant. In addition to this he does considerable general farming, raising hay, corn, etc.
Mr. Franklin has taken an active interest in civic affairs of his community. A supporter of the views and policies of Democracy, he has generally voted the Democratic party ticket, and at different times he has held town offices. For one term he served as a member of the Cumberland town council, and has also held other minor offices, in all of which he has rendered valuable service to his fellowmen and his constituents. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Franklin and his family are highly respected in the community.
Waldo E. Franklin married, October 30, 1920, Helen Schofield, a native of the town of Cumber- land, daughter of Daniel and Susan (Long) Scho- field, both of whom were born in Nova Scotia, Canada, and early in their lives came to the United States. They located in this town, where they still reside, and operate a large milk farm. Waldo E. and Helen (Schofield) Franklin are the parents of the following children: I. Henry H., born April 12, 1921. 2. Amy L., born February 13, 1923. 3. William R., born June 23, 1925. 4. Arnold T., born December 2, 1928.
JOHN A. BENNETT-Establishing himself in the practice of law in Providence immediately after he had completed his legal education and had been admitted to the bar in 1920, Mr. Bennett has
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continued to practice his profession here since then. Though one of the younger members of the legal fraternity in Providence, he is regarded as one of the most successful and is especially well known as a corporation lawyer. He is also actively identified with the management of several important financial and industrial enterprises and for a number of years has been prominently active in politics, stand- ing very high in the ranks of the Republican party. A member of several legal and social organizations, he has been much interested in Masonic affairs and belongs to numerous Masonic bodies.
John A. Bennett was born at Waltham, Massa- chusetts, on June 27, 1890, a son of John J. and Jane (O'Connell) Bennett. His parents, of whom the mother is now deceased, were likewise born in Waltham, Massachusetts, his father a pattern maker. Mr. Bennett received his education in the public schools of Providence and at the Morris Heights Preparatory School, whence he went to Boston University, there studying law and gradu- ating with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1920. Admitted to the bar in that year, he established himself in the practice of law in Providence, where he now maintains offices at No. 49 Westminster Street. Mr. Bennett has been especially active in the practice of corporation law, and is president and treasurer as well as a director of the Aetna Loan & Finance Company, and the Aetna Loan Company of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He is a member of the American Bar Association and of the Rhode Island Bar Association. In politics he is a supporter of the Republican party, and during 1925-27 served as chairman of the Republican City Committee of Providence. From January 1, 1925, until January 1, 1929, he was executive secretary to Governor Pothier of Rhode Island. His clubs in- clude the Town Criers, St. Andrew's Chapter Club and St. Andrew's Chapter Country Club. He is a member of the St. John Lodge, No. 1, Free and Accepted Masons, and of all the other Masonic bodies, of both the York and the Scottish Rite; also Palestine Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of which he is treasurer of the drum corps. Other organizations in which he maintains membership are the Tall Cedars of Leb- anon and Phi Delta Phi Fraternity. His religious affiliation is with the Protestant Episcopal Church. He finds his recreation chiefly in fishing.
Mr. Bennett married, in 1913, Mary Nisbet, a native of Glasgow, Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Ben- nett are the parents of three children: Laura C., Lillian E., and John Nisbet Bennett.
NORMAN STEPHEN TABER-An impor- tant and familiar figure in Providence life, Norman Stephen Taber has achieved a distinguished place in banking and financial circles of the city. Inter- nationally famous as an athlete in his college days, Mr. Taber has demonstrated the possession of versatile talents, and his rise to prominence has been thoroughly well merited by his own efforts and proved ability.
Mr. Taber was born at Providence, on Septem- ber 3, 1891, a son of Alfred Henry and Mary Abbie (Weeks) Taber, and in the public schools of this city received his preliminary education. Later he entered Brown University, from which he was graduated in 1913 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and from 1913 to 1915 was Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. In the latter year he set a new world's record of four minutes, twelve and three-fifths seconds for the mile-run, at Harvard Stadium.
Mr. Taber began his business career as clerk for the Rhode Island Hospital Trust Company at Providence in 1915, remaining in this connection for four years. He soon became thoroughly fami- liar with the details of successful business and financial operation, and from 1920-30 was trustee or manager of various private estates and trusts affiliated with John Nicholas Brown estate. He is now vice-president of Brookmire Investors, Incor- porated, and a director of the Old Colony Co- operative Bank, of which he is also a member of the executive committee. He is also a director of the Petroleum Industries, Inc., and in addition to these connections, is a trustee of Brown University, the Moses Brown School, a trustee and treasurer of the Lincoln school, a director of the Providence Young Men's Christian Association, the Providence Com- munity Fund, secretary of the Rhodes Scholarship Committee of Selection for Rhode Island, and chairman and treasurer of the board of managers of investments and permanent funds of the Yearly Meeting of Friends for New England.
In politics Mr. Taber is a member of the Re- publican party, while fraternally he is affiliated with the Alpha Delta Phi and Phi Beta Kappa fraternities. He is a member of several clubs, including the Providence Art Club, the Turks Head and the Agawam Hunt Club.
On December 2, 1916, Norman Stephen Taber married Ottilie Rose Metzger, and they are the parents of one daughter, Mary, born on November 2, 1918. Mr. Taber worships with his family in the Quaker faith. His home is situated at No. 56 Alumni Avenue, Providence, while his offices in this city are maintained at Turks Head Building.
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LAFAYETTE M. RODERICK-A native of New York, but throughout the greater part of his life a resident of Providence County, Mr. Roderick, after having spent more than three decades in busi- ness and railway work, became connected, almost a quarter of a century ago, with the county adminis- tration. Ever since then he has served with marked ability as deputy sheriff. His faithful and careful attention to his duties, his courtesy and his fair- ness have made him one of the best liked, most popular and most effective public officials in the county. He has also been prominently active in public affairs in East Providence, where he makes his home, is a member of several fraternal and social organizations and takes a helpful interest in religious work. Thus, through his various activ- ities, he exemplifies the best type of useful, vigor- ous and public-spirited citizenship.
Lafayette M. Roderick was born at Poughkeepsie, New York, August 14, 1859, a son of the late Anthony M. Roderick and Bridget (Finnegan) Roderick. His father, who was born in Boulogne, France, but spent the greater part of his life in this country, was for many years successfully en- gaged in the grocery and meat business and later was active in the liquor business. Mr. Roderick's mother was a native of Hartford, Connecticut. Mr. Roderick himself received his early education in the public schools of Providence and then at- tended Bryant and Stratton's Business College at Providence. Having completed his education he entered, as a young boy, the grocery and meat business, in which he continued during 1872-78. For the next seven years until 1885 he worked in various other business lines. In 1885 he became connected with the Union Railway Company, with which he remained until 1908. In that year he was appointed deputy sheriff of Providence County and was assigned to the Seventh District Court, con- tinuing there until 1917. Since then he has served with the Superior Court in Providence. In this position he has made for himself an enviable repu- tation and, of course, is widely known and as widely liked throughout Providence County. Dur- ing 1910-17 he also served as town sergeant of East Providence. In politics he is a staunch supporter of the Republican party, and political activities have always received a great share of his leisure time. For a number of years he was also in charge of the registration of voters in East Providence. He is a member of Providence Lodge, No. 14, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of the Massasoit Club of East Providence, as well as an honorary member of Watchewoket Fire Com-
pany, No. I. Ever since his early days he has been very fond of baseball and even today he still enjoys attending baseball games, whenever the opportunity is offered.
On the occasion of Mr. Roderick's seventieth birthday, August 14, 1929, he acted as host to two hundred children at an outing in Crescent Park, and as a result of the real joy which these chil- dren received from that day Mr. Roderick repeated this celebration on his seventy-first birthday.
Mr. Roderick is not married and makes his home in East Providence, where he possesses a host of friends and where he is very much liked and re- spected for his sterling qualities.
ELTON F. DURFEE-For many years a valued member of the city government of Cran- ston, Elton F. Durfee holds the important office of city engineer, a position he had previously filled until called into another association, from which the people of Cranston, through its accredited de- partment, invited him to return to accept the head- ship of the bureau in which he has performed such excellent service for the municipality. He is a past executive officer of two organizations to which the profession of civil engineer is related.
Born in Cranston, October 19, 1886, Elton F. Durfee is the son of Herbert U. and Adeline (Harry) Durfee, his father, a native of Fall River, Massachusetts, is a farmer, and formerly had charge of the Sockanocksett Reservoir, and his mother was born in England. From the grade and high schools of his native city, the son, Elton F., obtained his early education. He then went to Columbia University, New York, where he took a special night course, while pursuing a line of work in the daytime. His education completed, he became a member of a civil engineer's staff in New York and continued as a surveyor in that city for four years.
In 1910, Mr. Durfee was appointed city engi- neer of Cranston, filling that office until 1915. In the latter year he became associated with the asphalt sales department of the Texas Company of Rhode Island, with whom he remained until 1918. He then accepted the position of town engi- neer of Walpole, Massachusetts, which retained his services until 1920, in which year he returned to the Texas Company of Rhode Island, maintain- ing that connection until 1924. In that year he was again sought as the city engineer of Cranston, accepted the offer and has filled the office since,
I. F.NAywood,
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to the gratification of the authorities and the pub- lic generally. Mr. Durfee is a member of the Providence Engineering Society, and a past pres- ident of the municipal section of that organization; a member and former president of the Rhode Is- land Highway Association.
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