USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. IV > Part 45
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Mr. Phillips maintains his residence at No. 25 Orchard Avenue, Providence, and has been prom- inently active in many phases of the community's life, both civic and social. For many years he has taken an active part in Masonic affairs. He is a member of What-Cheer Lodge, No. 21, Free and Accepted Masons; Thomas Smith Webb Lodge, No. 43, Free and Accepted Masons; Gibbs Chap- ter, No. 13, Royal Arch Masons, of which he is a Past High Priest; Adoniram Council, No. 8, Royal and Select Masters, of which he is one of the youngest Past Thrice Illustrious Masters; Calvary Commandery, No. 13, Knights Templar, of which he is a Past Commander; and all bodies of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, including
the Consistory, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree. He has also held the office of Sovereign Prince and is a Past Potentate of Palestine Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, to which office he was elected in January, 1929. Mr. Phillips holds membership in Bela Grotto, Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm, of Springfield, Massa- chusetts. He is also a member of several other clubs and associations, including the Friars Club of New York City, the Town Criers Club of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Golf Association, the Rhode Island Country Club, the Wannamoi- sett Country Club, the Misquarrientt Country Club at Watch Hill, Rhode Island, the Wina- paug Country Club at Westerly, Rhode Island, the Turks Head Club of Providence, the Jester's Country Club of Lowell, Massachusetts, and Lodge No. 14, of Providence, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. He has given his hearty support to every worthy movement for advance and progress in the State, never failing in his civic duty, or in his customary generous contributions to benevolent enterprises.
On September 8, 1909, George E. Phillips mar- ried Clara G. Hohler, who died in October, 1922. They became the parents of one daughter, Lucy M., a graduate, in the class of 1929, at Howe Morat School, of Thompson, Connecticut, and, in the class of 1931, Babson's Financial Institution.
FRANK FULLER OLNEY-The Rhode Is- land family of Olney is directly descended from Roger Williams, founder of the colony, and has been for generations distinguished in the profes- sions and the industries of the State. Thomas Olney was one of the early ministers of the First Baptist Church and others were large land owners and progressive business men. High intellect and characters of impeccable rectitude characterized the men and women of the race and service to their fellowmen and to their country was the code upon which they conducted all their affairs.
Frank Fuller Olney, descendant of these pio- neers, was born at Elizabeth, New Jersey, March 12, 1851, a son of Elam Olney, and was educated in the city of his birth. He was nine years of age when he came to Providence, where his father died in 1862, whereupon he was taken into the home of his uncle, Stephen T. Olney, and became one of the family. Here he attended the public
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schools and the University Grammar School, from which he was graduated in 1867. His uncle was one of the founders of the Wanskuck Company and the young man began his business career as a clerk there when he was seventeen years of age. In his early years he had displayed a leaning to- ward the law as a profession, but the death of his uncle took him from the law offices of W. W. and S. T. Douglas, and called upon him to take charge of the interests, to which he had succeeded in the Wanskuck Company and other industries. This may have deprived the legal profession of a poten- tially great member but it surely added valuably to the commercial activities of the community. Had he not been primarily equipped with a bril- liant mind, that absorbed business details and re- tained them, it would have been impossible for him to have carried to successful results the multi- plicity of interests that had been given him to look after. His versatility was one of his most astonishing traits, for he was equally at home in the industrial world, in social relaxation and in public activities. In his charities he acted with common sense, giving always wisely but with gen- erous hand. His patriotism was boundless and his membership in military organizations he took as earnestly as he did his business operations, while in his recreational moments he was never so happy as when aboard his yacht, with a stiff breeze, rac- ing against worthy competitors. In political affil- iations he was registered with the Republican party and in 1889 was honored with the chairman- ship of the city committee of that organization. In the same year he was elected to the common council from the First Ward and served during 1890-91-92, in the last noted year being elected alderman. Still rising in the political field, he was elected mayor in 1893 and reelected in 1894 and 1895. True to his heritage, he honored the highest office within the gift of the city by an administra- tion that was a credit to himself and to the judg- ment and faith in him of those whose votes had placed him in the chair at the city hall. From 1893 to 1898 he served as chairman of the State Board of Charities and Corrections, a position requiring great tact, as well as executive ability, and in January, 1901, was again appointed by the General Assembly, to serve six years. In that year also Governor Kimball appointed him chairman of the board of police commissioners, his work in that office resulting in a great improvement in the department. He was also a member of the board of park commissioners from January, 1895, until
1901, when he served as chairman of the board until his death, October 24, 1903.
Being a scion of an old and honorable family, he naturally sought the company of similar men and found it by his membership in various mili- tary and social organizations. He was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts, the National Lancers, of Bos- ton; the Boston Light Infantry Corps, in which he was a captain, and the Continental Guards of New Orleans. He gave his greatest devotion, how- ever, to the First Light Infantry Regiment of Providence, with which he was connected for more than twenty years. On January 2, 1882, he joined Company D and on August 6, 1884, he became a member of the Veteran Association of the regiment. He was elected commissary, May 3, 1886, and continued in that position until May 13, 1889, when he was elected colonel of the regi- ment. He served in that position for four years. In 1897, when the Provisional Company E was organized, to fill the vacancy caused by the de- flection of Company D, he was one of the first to join. Through his activities the new company was an outstanding success. At the first election of officers, April 19, 1897, he was chosen a second lieutenant and on June 14, upon the death of Cap- tain Thornton, he was made first lieutenant. In the following year Captain Kendrick died and on April 18, 1898, he was elected by unanimous vote to command the company. His only fraternal membership was with Corinthian Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. He belonged, however, to all the leading clubs and societies in the city, among them being the Pomham Club, Squantum Association, Providence Central Club, the Hope Club, Providence Athletic Club, the West Side Club, Providence Art Club, Providence Whist Club, Rhode Island Philatelic Society, Rhode Is- land Temperance League, Rhode Island Veteran Citizens' Historical Association, Rhode Island School of Design, the Home Market Club of Boston and the Rhode Island Yacht Club. He also belonged to the New York Yacht Club and to the Bristol Yacht Club. He served as Com- modore of the Rhode Island Yacht Club and made a name and reputation for the club and for himself that was known and respected by yachts- men along the entire North Atlantic Coast. He gave many handsome cups and other trophies and entertained lavishly. His first yacht was the steamer "L Pli Cita," the second was the fast cruiser and racer "Amy," with which he won a
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number of prizes. In 1898 he became the owner of the fine schooner yacht "Rusalka," and later of the "Ingomar," a magnificently fitted schooner, which he renamed "Esperanza." He was a Unitarian in religion and attended the First Congregational Church. His death occurred in Providence, Octo- ber 24, 1903.
Frank Fuller Olney married, in Providence, Lizzie F. Dow, daughter of George Smith and Abigail (Livermore) Dow, of very ancient Eng- lish origin. Their children were: I. Lizzie Flor- ence, born January 4, 1873; married Robert Blakely Crawford, a physician, of Houston, Texas, and Keswick, Virginia; and they are the parents of twin sons: Robert Blakely Greenough and Thomas Olney Greenough, born August 18, 1910. Robert Blakely Greenough is a graduate of Phil- lips Academy at Andover and is now a student at Amherst College. Thomas Olney Greenough is also a graduate of Phillips Academy and is a fel- low student with his brother at Amherst. Follow- ing the death of their father the mother married (second) Henry W. Greenough. 2. Elam Ward, born June 30, 1874, died August 31, 1874. 3. Elam Ward, born November 28, 1875, formerly a mem- ber of the firm of Congdon and Olney, of Provi- dence, now engaged in business in New York City; married Ada Blackford and they are the parents of two children: Elam W., died in infancy, and Elam W., born February 23, 1907.
Among the expressions of regard that followed the death of Commodore Olney the following ap- peared in the Providence "Journal" at the time:
It is almost, if not entirely, possible to say of Colonel Olney that he did not possess an enemy in the world. If he had enemies, they were men who did not know him personally, for all animosity would disappear upon contact with the man. He was of an unusually lovable disposition, kind- hearted and generous to a fault and with an ex- uberant and happy spirit of a boy only half con- cealed behind the manner of a man of the world. It seemed his delight to afford happiness to others; he was a charming companion and as a host his bountiful hospitality, dispensed with the manner of sincere enjoyment, was not a matter easily to be forgotten. His philanthropic disposition found continuous exercise; his gifts to various charities were not small; and never ending little acts of kindness to poor people won for him a host of humble friends who sincerely mourn him.
CLAUDE RAYMOND BRANCH, of Provi- dence, is Special Assistant to the Attorney Gen- eral of the United States, with offices in the De-
partment of Justice, Washington, District of Columbia. He acts as First Assistant to the Solicitor General, and during the last two years has argued many cases in behalf of the govern- ment in the Supreme Court of the United States.
He was born in Providence, January 9, 1886, his parents being John B. and Fannie W. (Mowry) Branch. He graduated from Brown University in 1907 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and from the Harvard Law School in 19II, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws cum laude. He was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island in IgII and in that year entered the office of Edwards and An- gell, with which he was connected until 1929. He became a member of that firm in 1916. For a lit- tle over a year, 1915 to 1916, he served as an Assistant Attorney General of the State of Rhode Island, and for three years served as a member of the Committee on Complaints appointed by the Supreme Court of Rhode Island. For a year he was chairman of that committee.
Before Mr. Branch assumed his duties in Washington he was president and director of the Providence & Worcester Railroad Company and president of the Rhode Island Historical Society.
At college Mr. Branch belonged to Alpha Delta Phi and Phi Beta Kappa, and he is a member of the Agawam Hunt Club, Hope Club and Squan- tum Association in Rhode Island, Jacobs Hill Hunt Club in Massachusetts, University Club and Lawyers Club in New York, and the Metro- politan Club and Congressional Country Club in Washington.
LEROY F. MEREDITH-A resident of Jamestown for almost a quarter of a century, Mr. Meredith, after having been engaged here for a number of years in the carpenter and later in the poultry business, became identified, some ten years ago, with the real estate business and since 1925 has been a partner in one of Jamestown's best known and most successful real estate and insurance establishments. He is regarded as one of the leading business men of the city, is a mem- ber of numerous Masonic and other fraternal or- ganizations, takes an active part in civic affairs and in every respect represents a fine type of use- ful, vigorous and public-spirited citizenship.
LeRoy F. Meredith was born at Elizabeth, West Virginia, August 8, 1883, a son of the late William E. and Rachel (Roberts) Meredith, both natives of West Virginia. His father was for
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many years successfully engaged in the contract- ing and building business and was a veteran of the Civil War, during which he served as a fifer with a West Virginia Volunteer Regiment. Mr. Meredith received his early education in the pub- lic schools of Elizabeth and then attended the Parkersburg, West Virginia, High School. Hav- ing completed his education, he went to work for the Westinghouse Electric Company of Pitts- burgh, with which he remained until 1908. Three years of this period, however, he served, during 1903-06, in the regular army with the 72d Regi- ment, Coast Artillery Corps, in which he held the rank of sergeant. In 1908 he came to Jamestown and engaged in the poultry business, following at the same time also the carpenter's trade. He con- tinued in these activities until 1920, when he be- came manager of the Severance Real Estate Company, continuing in this capacity until 1925. In that year, in association with Mr. Archibald M. Clarke, Mr. Meredith purchased the business and ever since then the latter has been con- ducted under the firm name of Meredith and Clarke. The firm is extensively engaged in the general real estate and insurance business and much of its steady growth and success must bc attributed to Mr. Meredith. Its headquarters are located on Ferry Wharf, Jamestown. In politics a staunch supporter of the Republican party, Mr. Meredith has taken an active part in public af- fairs for many years and since 1913 has been tax collector of the town of Jamestown. Hc is a member of numerous Masonic bodies, including the following : St. John's Lodge, No. I, Free and Accepted Masons; Newport Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Washington Commandery, Knights Templar; De Blois Council, Royal and Select Masters; Rhode Island Consistory, Ancient Ac- cepted Scottish Rite. He is also a member of Excelsior Lodge, No. 49, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; the Royal Arcanum, of which he is a Past Regent; and St. George's Club, of New- port. His religious affiliations are with the Prot- estant Episcopal Church. He finds his recreation chiefly in motoring.
Mr. Meredith married, in 1906, Alice Louise Mac Donald, a native of New Bedford, Massa- chusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Meredith have one son, LeRoy F. Meredith, Jr.
ELWOOD TAYLOR WYMAN-An educator of distinguished record and important standing among the members of his profession in Rhode
Island, Elwood Taylor Wyman devoted his en- tire active career to the field of his chosen occupa- tion. As superintendent of the Warwick public schools, he exercised an important influence in the life of this community, building up a school system which ranked among the finest for towns of this size throughout the East.
Mr. Wyman was born at Sidney, Maine, on October 22, 1863, a son of Howard Bean and Maria B. (Aikinson) Wyman, both now de- ceased. The father was a farmer by occupation, and was long a resident of Maine. Elwood Taylor Wyman was educated in Maine schools, attend- ing the Little Blue School at Farmington, Maine, Farmington Normal School, Coburn Institute, at Waterville, Maine, and Colby College, also at Waterville. He early decided upon a career in the educational field, and planned his studies ac- cordingly. His scholastic record was one of con- siderable brilliance, winning him election to the honorary society, Phi Beta Kappa. The Board of Education of the Town of Warwick considered that Mr. Wyman's services would be of value to the town, and their confidence was not misplaced. Immediately upon his acceptance of the position of superintendent of public schools, he inaugurated and put into effective execution many progressive reforms. He served as Superintendent of Schools in Waterville, Maine, until 1905; in Warwick, Rhode Island, 1905-14; Whitman, Massachusetts, 1914-22; and again in Warwick, Rhode Island, 1922-30. He held this latter office until the time of his death, January 27, 1930, and during these many years consistently gave his best efforts for the advancement of his work.
Mr. Wyman was a member of the National Education Association, and was affiliated with the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. He was also a member of the Rhode Island Association of School Superintendents, the Boston Colby Alumni Association, the Schoolmasters Club, and the Waterville Country Club. With his family he worshipped in the Quaker faith.
On June 22, 1892, at Waterville, Maine. Elwood Taylor Wyman married Aubigne Ellen Drum- mond, daughter of Everett Richard and Aubigne Margelia (Bean) Drummond. Mr. and Mrs. Wy- man became the parents of four children: I. Everett Lindley, born on August 6, 1893. 2. El- wood Arthur, born on July 20, 1896. 3. Sidney Preble, born on June 17, 1898. 4. Howard Robert, born on June 29, 1903.
Mr. Wyman's death occurred as noted above on January 27, 1930, at the age of sixty-six. His
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loss was a serious one to the town in which his activities had centered for so many years, and was widely mourned by a large circle of friends.
COLONEL G. EDWARD BUXTON has been associated with many enterprises in this State. He is now president of the B. B. and R. Knight Corporation, cotton manufacturers at Providence.
Colonel Buxton was born at Kansas City, Mis- souri, on May 13, 1880, a son of G. Edward Bux- ton, Sr., a physician, and of Sarah A. (Harring- ton) Buxton. He received his preparatory educa- tion at Highland Military Academy, Worcester, Massachusetts, which he attended from 1895 to 1898, and thereafter entered Brown University, from which he was graduated in 1902 with the Bachelor of Philosophy degree. Later, in 1906, he took the Bachelor of Laws degree at Harvard University Law School upon the completion of the required course.
Beginning his active career, Colonel Buxton was employed as a reporter on the "Providence Journal" from 1902 to 1903. For the following four years he was busy with the study of law, and in 1907 was admitted to the Rhode Island bar. Meanwhile, in 1906, he had become manager of the Title Guarantee Company of Rhode Island, holding that office for five years thereafter. In IgII he became assistant to the trustee of the John Carter Brown Estate, and in the following year, treasurer of the Providence Journal Com- pany, which office he retained until 1920. Colonel Buxton served as a member of the Rhode Island National Guard from 1900 to 1903, and again from 1906 to 1916, advancing from second lieu- tenant to the rank of major. At the outbreak of the World War he went to Europe, and from August, 1914, to February, 1915, he was war cor- respondent in France, Germany, and Belgium for the "Providence Journal." When the United States entered the war, he was a major in the Officers' Reserve Corps, United States Army, and was at once ordered to active service. From 1917 to 1919 he served as major and lieutenant-colonel in the 328th Infantry, 82d Division, American Expeditionary Forces. For meritorious service he received three citations. Colonel Buxton is at this time (1931) a colonel in the United States Officers Reserve Corps.
Returning after the termination of the war to the pursuits of peace, Colonel Buxton, in 1920,
became vice-president of the B. B. and R. Knight Corporation, at Providence, Rhode Island. This company are manufacturers of many well known cotton fabrics. He continued as vice-president of this corporation until 1926, in which year he suc- ceeded to the presidency, which position he still occupies. In addition Colonel Buxton is presi- dent of the Knight Finance Corporation, a direc- tor of the Blackstone Canal National Bank, a director of the U. S. Bobbin and Shuttle Com- pany, the Mill Associates, and the Fruit of the Loom Mills, Inc., of New York. He was presi- dent of the National Association of Cotton Manu- facturers, 1927-28.
Colonel Buxton is affiliated with the Free and Accepted Masons and the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. He is also a member of Brown Chapter of the Phi Delta Theta Fra- ternity, and of the American Legion, of which he was one of the founders in France. He was a delegate from Rhode Island to the Republican National Convention in 1928 at Kansas City, Missouri. He is associated in addition with va- rious civic and benevolent enterprises, including the Providence Council of the Boy Scouts of America, of which he is a member of the execu- tive committee, and the Providence Country Day School, of which he is trustee. Colonel Buxton is president of the 82d Division National Associa- tion, and is the author of the official history of that division in its war service. He is a member of the following clubs: the Hope Club, the Art Club, the Squantum Club, the Agawam Hunt Club, the Jacobs Hill Hunt Club, and the Man- hattan Club, of New York.
On January 19, 1910, at Louisville, Kentucky, G. Edward Buxton married Aline H. Armstrong, daughter of John A. Armstrong. They are the parents of one son, Coburn Allen, born on June 12, 1912.
JAMES ELLERY HUDSON-An important figure in Rhode Island life for many years, James Ellery Hudson has devoted himself to fields of useful service, and during his public career has done much for the advancement of the State. He was born September 23, 1850, at Natick, Rhode Island, a son of James Moore and Mary Ann (Buckley) Hudson, the father an overseer in a Rhode Island cotton factory. He attended the pub- lic schools of the State and later studied at Schol- field's Commercial College, in preparation for a business career. Beginning as a young man, Mr.
f. Ellery Hudsone
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Hudson was a printer for a period of twenty-nine years, serving in various capacities for several companies, and finally becoming manager of the Pawtuxet Valley "Gleaner." For the past thirty- four years he has been factory inspector for the State, being now (1931) the oldest in point of serv- ice in the United States to fill that position.
Always interested in public affairs and the suc- cessful solution of governmental problems, Mr. Hudson early became active in the political field and for many years was a member of the execu- tive committee of the Republican State Central Committee and chairman of the Coventry Town Committee. Apart from his connection with the Republican organization, he has served as repre- sentative in the General Assembly during 1897 and 1898, becoming factory inspector for the State in the latter year. This position he has since occu- pied with distinguished success. While a member of the General Assembly, Mr. Hudson introduced measures leading to the enactment of a law to promote uniform standard in the public schools of Rhode Island, carrying with it appropriations for the State support of the high schools and consoli- dated schools, and requiring the examination and certification of all public school teachers by the State Board of Education. As factory inspector he has insisted on strict enforcement of com- pulsory attendance laws and child labor laws, and has advocated the installation of safety devices in Rhode Island factories consistently. Although the arduous duties of this office have required much of Mr. Hudson's time, he has nevertheless taken an active part and interest in other affairs. He has been very active in Masonic circles of the State, having filled a number of offices, becoming, in 1901, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island. He is a member of the Republican Club of Rhode Island. He worships with his family in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
On September 23, 1872, at Harris, Rhode Is- land, James E. (J. Ellery) Hudson married Eliza Jane Pearce, daughter of Joseph Walling and Eliza (Powell) Pearce. She died in 1922, just before the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. They were the parents of the following children: I. Irv- ing Pearce (q. v.), born on August 5, 1873. 2. Charles Joseph, born on June 23, 1875. 3. Mary Eliza, born on July 29, 1877. 4. Ellery Emerson, born on July 9, 1879. 5. James Albert, died in infancy, born on September 9, 1881. 6. Laura Mabel, born on October 15, 1883. 7. John Buck- ley, born on April 3, 1887. 8. Marion Louise, born on January 27, 1889. 9. Archer Everett, born
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