The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Rhode Island, Part 39

Author: National biographical publishing co., pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Providence, National biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 868

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RISWOLD, RIGHT REV. ALEXANDER VIETS, D.D., the son of Elisha and Eunice ( Viets) Griswold, was born in Simsbury, Connecticut, April 22, 1766. On his father's side he was descended from Matthew 6 . Griswold, one of the early settlers of New England. His mother's ancestor was Alexander Viets, an eminent and wealthy Dutch physician, who had come from Europe and settled in New York, and had removed from that city to Simsbury. About the year 1740 an Episcopal church was established at Simsbury, and the Rev. Roger Viets, the uncle of the mother of Mrs. Griswold, was its second Rector. Of the early life of the subject of this sketch we have this record, as made by himself: "I recollect nothing in my childhood and youth more remarkable than the rapidity with which I learned the lessons given me. When about four or five years old, I remember being often required to read before strangers, who, at that day, viewed my forward- ness as a great wonderment. In about three days after the Greek grammar was first put into my hands, I had, with- out any other teaching, written in Greek characters the first chapter in John's Gospel, interlined with a liberal and ver- bal translation into Latin. The facility with which I ob- tained a knowledge of the Greek language much surprised my teacher." It had been the cherished wish of his father, and his uncle, Roger Viet, who had charge of his studies, that he should go through Yale College, but circumstances

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prevented. That young Griswold gave up the expectation of pursuing a course of collegiate study, is evident from the circumstance that in 1785, before he was twenty years of age, he was married to Elizabeth Mitchelson, a young lady who resided not far from his father's house. For two or three years he was in a state of indecision as to what his future profession should be. For purposes of general im- provement he studied law for a time, without the intention of being admitted to the bar, but to fit himself for any po- sition of public trust to which he might hereafter be called. At the age of twenty he became a communicant in the Episcopal Church, and was confirmed by Bishop Seabury. In the spring of 1794 he decided to offer himself as a can- didate for Orders in the Episcopal Church, and was ordained as a Deacon June 3, 1795, and a Priest on the Ist of October following. For ten years he had charge of three parishes, in the three towns of Plymouth, Harwinton, and Litchfield, all in Connecticut, and was engaged a part of the time as a teacher of a district school in the winter, and in the summer working as a day-laborer among his parishioners. His connection with the parishes which he had served for ten years was brought to an end by his acceptance of an invi- tation to take charge of the parish in Bristol, to which vil- lage he removed in May, 1804. His ministry began at once to be successful, and the character of his preaching was so satisfactory to Christians of other communions, that his congregation rapidly increased, and it became necessary to enlarge the place of worship. His labors had overtaxed his strength, and in 1809 he debated the question, whether justice to himself and his family did not require that he should change the field of his ministerial labor. The ques- tion, which was before his mind for several months, he de- cided in the affirmative. He accepted an invitation to the Rectorship of St. Michael's Church, in Litchfield, Connec- ticut, and was preparing to remove his family when all his plans were changed by his election as Bishop of a newly- formed diocese, the Eastern, so called. This election took place May 31, 1810. He was disposed to decline the office, believing, with the modesty that was so characteristic of him, that he did not have the proper qualifications to fit him for the discharge of its grave duties. At length, however, his objections were overruled, and he was consecrated in Trinity Church, New York, in May, 1811, by Bishop White, assisted by Bishops Provoost and Jarvis. This renewed dedication of himself to the service of Christ seems to have been followed by a more earnest and spiritual preach- ing of the gospel to the congregation to which he con- tinued to minister in Bristol; and in 1812 there was a most remarkable revival of religion, not only in his own parish, but it seemed to pervade the whole town, and as the result all the churches received accessions to their membership. His relation with the church continued not far from thirty years, commencing in the spring of 1804, and ending in the winter of 1830, when he became Rector of St. Peter's, in Salem, Massachusetts, where he remained

until 1835, and then resigned that he might devote himself to the duties of the Episcopate. He suffered so much from an attack of bronchitis in the winter of 1837, that it was with difficulty he could conduct the public services which devolved on him as Bishop. He was relieved in a year or two by the election of Rev. Manton Eastburn, D.D., as an assistant, at whose consecration he was present and took an important part, the services being performed in Trinity Church, in Boston, on the 29th of December, 1842. In a few weeks his manifold and most useful labors were brought to an end suddenly, with not a moment's warning ; towards the close of the day, on the 15th of February, 1843, an er .. rand called him to the house of his assistant, Dr. Eastburn, and he walked thither with his usually firm step; when he reached the door he fell, and in an instant ceased to breathe, his death being occasioned by a disease of the heart. Bishop Griswold was twice married, and was the father of fourteen children, one of whom, George, became an Episcopal min- ister, but died before his father; only one son survived him. Brown University conferred upon him in 1810 the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity, and the College of New Jersey also did the same that year. Two years later, in 1812, Har- vard College followed the example of her sister colleges. Bishop Griswold was a Trustee of Brown University from 1815 to 1828. During all this time he was Chancellor of the University. Extended and beautiful tributes to the char- acter of Bishop Griswold fromn President Heman Humphrey, Dr. Stephen H. Tyng, and Bishop Clark may be found in Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit, vol. v., pp. 420, 425.

BROWN, SYLVANUS, was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, in 1747. His father, Philip Brown, was for many years engaged in iron manufacturing on a tributary of the Blackstone, a short distance above Pawtucket Falls. When Sylvanus was but ten years of age his father died, and he was intrusted to the care of his great-uncle, with whom he learned the trade of a mill- wright. At the age of twenty-one he engaged in business as a millwright on his own account, in which he continued until 1775, when he enlisted in the Colonial navy, under Esek Hopkins. He became Master of Arms aboard Hopkins's ship the Alfred. After serving here for a while he went to Providence, and worked at stocking guns in a shop owned by the State. Soon after the close of the Revolutionary War he was engaged by the Governor of the Eastern British Provinces to build several mills in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Taking fifty men with him from Rhode Island, he spent two years in those provinces, and built seven saw-mills and two grist-mills. After this he went to Europe for a short time, and then returned to Pawtucket. Employed as a road surveyor, he laid out what was long called Quaker Lanc, but is now the begin-

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ning of East Avenue. While living on this lanc, where he had built a dwelling-house and a shop, he was accosted one afternoon, near the close of 1789, by the well-known Friend, Moses Brown, who was accompanied by a young Englishman. "Sylvanus," said he, " I have brought thee I

a young man who says he knows how to spin cotton. want thee to keep him to-night and talk with him, and see what he can do." That young man was Samuel Slater, and that interview led to Sylvanus Brown being hired by Moses Brown to assist the young stranger to reproduce the Arkwright patents. Slater had no models, drawings, or plans. The English government would not allow any such helps to be borne to foreign lands. Slater therefore had to depend on his memory. He chalked out his outlines and plans, and Sylvanus Brown, who had been put under bonds neither to steal the patterns nor reveal the plans, made the machines. They worked for months in a secluded shop, with doors fastened and shutters closed, till the machines were reproduced. Everything worked well but the cards ; but these, which had been obtained from a manufacturer, refused to throw off the rolls. Slater was almost in de- spair. Fearing that he would be denounced as an im- poster, he meditated running away, but his fellow-worker dissuaded him from so rash an act. On taking up a pair of cards which his wife had been using, Mr. Brown dis- covered that the teeth inclined at a slight angle, and it oc- curred to him that it was because the teeth in the machine were perpendicular that it would not work. On returning to his shop he inserted a thin piece of wood between the cards and rollers, and the machine operated. But for the encouragement he thus gave young Slater, many years might have elapsed before the introduction of cotton-spin- ning into this country. Mr. Brown possessed an ingenious mind, and in 1792 invented and used the first slide lathes for turning rolls, whereby they were made straight and of uniform size. He also built a machine for fluting rolls, which secured great economy at that early day. After re- maining in the employ of Brown & Almy until 1796, he left their service, and was engaged by Mr. John Brown, a cannon manufacturer. By him he was hired to superintend furnaces and boring-mills at Scituate, Rhode Island, and Easton, Massachusetts. In 1801 he resumed business as a millwright, and continued it until his death in 1824.

ILKINSON, WILLIAM, was born in Thompson, Connecticut, in the year 1760. His parents, who were originally from Rhode Island, re- moved to Scituate when he was thirteen years of age. The following year, 1774, he entered the Freshman class of Rhode Island College, now Brown University. This institution, then in its infancy, was pre- sided over by the eloquent and accomplished Dr. Manning, one of the best educators of his time, and one of the most remarkable men that has ever graced the annals of the city

or State. Under the guidance of so able a President, young Wilkinson made commendable proficiency in his studies, until interrupted by the stern realities of war. On Satur- day, December 7, 1776, Sir Peter Parker, the British com- mander, with seventy sail of men-of-war, anchored, says the record, in Newport harbor, landed a body of troops, and took possession of the place. Providence was at once in confusion. Troops were massed throughout the town, martial law was proclaimed, college studies were suspended, and the students were dismissed to their re- spective homes. The first commencement of the college after the war was held on the first Wednesday in Septem- ber, 1783, when the subject of this sketch, with five others, took the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Immediately after graduating he was appointed Principal of the Grammar or Latin School, which had been established by Manning in 1764, as an auxiliary to the College, and which is con- tinued to the present time, as the " University Grammar School," under the efficient management of Messrs. Mer- rick and Emory Lyon. In this position he remained eleven years, preparing young men for a collegiate course, and fitting them for the responsible and active duties of life. Among his pupils may be mentioned the Hon. Judge Eddy, Secretary of State; the Hon. Judge Burrill, United States Senator; the late Governor Fenner, and his Honor, Samuel W. Bridgham, first Mayor of Providence. In connection with his duties as Instructor, he was for several years Librarian of the College. During the administration of Washington he was appointed Postmaster of Providence, and, like most of Washington's appointees, was removed from office by his successor, Thomas Jefferson. About this time he opened, in connection with John Carter, the first bookstore in Providence, in an old building at the corner of what is now Market Square and Canal Street. This store he retained until the year 1817, carrying on the busi- ness of bookbinding, bookselling and printing. Much of his stock was lost during the great gale of September, 1815. His successor in the business was Oliver Kendall. While Librarian Mr. Wilkinson resided in the College, several rooms on the first floor of the north part of the College building having been finished off for his use. Here two of his children were born. He afterwards resided in dif- ferent parts of the city. About the year 1807, he built a brick house on George Street, where he spent the remain- der of his days, and where his daughter, Mrs. Tibbitts, now lives. He was devotedly attached to the College, attend- ing every Commencement, regularly, for a period of sev- enty-eight years, and walking in the procession to the church. He was a member of the Town Council in 1824, and a Representative from Providence to the General As- sembly during the years 1813-18. As a member of the Masonic Fraternity, Mr. Wilkinson was especially active and useful. In the years 1806-7 he served as Master of St. John's Lodge, Providence, and again in 1813. He was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Rhode

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Island in 1815, and again in 1816, succeeding the distin- guished Thomas Smith Webb, his associate and intimate friend. He was also Grand Treasurer five years. He was an active and influential member of the Providence Royal Arch Chapter, contributing much to the efficiency of this body by his superior learning and skill, and by his wonder- fully retentive memory. He was Grand King of the Grand Chapter during the years 1811-13, Deputy-Grand High Priest during the years 1814-17, and Grand High Priest during the four years following. He was one of the early members of St. John's Commandery, and so skilful did he become in the work of a Templar Knight, that in 1818 he was elected Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, again succeeding his illustrious friend, Webb. In his religious belief he was a Unitarian Congregationalist, attending upon the ministry of the Rev. Dr. Hitchcock, the Rev. Dr. Edes, and the late Rev. Dr. Hall. He died on the 16th of May, 1852, in the ninety-second year of his age, having retained, until the last, his mental faculties. An excellent portrait of him, taken when in the prime and vigor of life, adorns the parlor-wall of his house on George Street. Mr. Wilkinson was twice married. By his first wife, Chloe Learned, of Killingly, Connecticut, he had two sons and four daughters, none of whom are now living. By his second wife, Marcy Wilkinson, of Pawtucket, he had eight children,-four sons and four daughters. Two of his daughters survive him, viz., Mrs. Mary R. Tibbitts, to whom we have already referred, and Mrs. Goodwin, of Bristol, widow of the late Rev. Daniel Le Baron Goodwin.

ANTON, COLONEL JEREMIAH, son of Captain Daniel and Patience (Eddy) Manton, was born in Johnston, Rhode Island, February 13, 1763. He was a descendant of Edward Manton, one of the associates of Roger Williams. His father was a captain in the Revolution, and a conspicuous man civilly and religiously in his native town. He had several dis- tinguished sons, Hon. Edward, Colonel Jeremiah, Elisha, Olney, Daniel, John, William, and Thomas. Edward was actively engaged in public affairs and served in the State Senate. Jeremiah came into possession of a portion of the extensive Manton lands in Johnston, and was married, June 16, 1782, to Mary Anstris Borden, by whom he had ten children, Joseph, Sarah, Charles, Shadrach, Seril, George A., Salma, Elisha, Mary A., and Jeremiah. He served in the State milltia, and rose to the rank of Colonel. For his services in the Revolution he received a pension. He and his wife were members of the Beneficent Congre- gational Church in Providence, and were active in all public interests. Both labored for the religious welfare of their town. Their children attained positions of usefulness and honor. Joseph, born August 1, 1783, married, first,

Mary Whipple, May 6, 1812, second, Ann F. Dyer, and had by his first wife several children, one of whom, Lieu- tenant Walter B., died in the Civil War, at Hilton Head, South Carolina. Joseph became a distinguished cotton merchant and a model citizen. He died in Providence, January 17, 1872. Shadrach, born October 19, 1789, be- came a druggist and physician. He married, August 17, 1817, Amey Randall, and left a large family. He died on the old Manton estate, in Johnston, December 28, 1849. Salma, born March 12, 1798, married, August 14, 1822, Austis P. Dyer, and had seven children. He was a cot- ton merchant in both the North and the South, successful and honored. He died January 12, 1837. Jeremiah's son Elisha, born April 21, 1800, married, September 4, 1823, Louisa Pope, and had eight children. He too was an en- terprising and successful cotton merchant in Providence and in Southern cities. He died, while on a voyage at sea for his health, near Madeira, October 21, 1838. Colonel Jeremiah died in the old Manton mansion in Johnston, December 26, 1843, lamented by all who knew him.

HURSTON, HON. JEREMIAH, son of George and Dolly (Cottrell) Thurston, was born in Hopkin- ton, Rhode Island, May 29, 1768. He descended from Edward and Elizabeth ( Mott) Thurston. Ed- ward was the first of the Thurstons to settle in Rhode Island, and died at Newport in 1707 at the age of ninety. Jeremiah's father, George, was a prominent man in the western part of the State, a stanch patriot and an efficient officer in the Revolution. Talent and wealth gave him wide influence. He was a member of the State Con- vention, and voted for the adoption of the Constitution of the United States in 1790. He was one of the founders of Washington Bank in Westerly in 1800. He was born in 1741, and died November 30, 1827, aged eighty-six years. Jere- miah was educated in the stormy period of the Revolu- tion. He possessed great self-reliance and energy. He married, March 1, 1801, Sarah Babcock, daughter of Rowse Babcock, 2d, of Westerly, the first President of Washington Bank. Besides being a large landholder, he was engaged extensively in mercantile business in Hopkinton. His mansion and store were near the then important inn where stopped the numerous stages running between New London and Providence, on the route between New York and Boston. Politically he was of the Jeffersonian school, and took an active interest in all matters pertaining to the public welfare. Religiously, like his parents, he was a Baptist. His connection with the State was large and in- fluential. He was elected Lieutenant-Governor in 1816, and again in 1817, in which office he was preceded by Simeon Martin and followed by Edward Wilcox. His especial business associates were the Babcocks, Clarkes, Denisons, Hazards, Miners, Pendletons, Potters, and Stan-

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tons. His abilities, character, and means gave him great prominence and influence in the business and social life of Hopkinton. His children were Eliza R., Benjamin B., Horace, Mary A., Caroline, and twin sons, Franklin and Horace. Mr. Thurston died March 21, 1830, aged sixty- two.years. His wife died February 27, 1841, aged fifty- nine years.

ARLING, JOHN ADAMS, merchant and manufac- turer, son of Ziba and Vienna (Ballou) Darling, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, May 16, 1802. His father was a native of Bellingham, Mas- sachusetts, from which place he removed to Provi- dence, where for several years he was engaged in the market business, on Market Square, and died October 29, 1825. His mother, who died in January, 1807, was the daughter of Levi Ballou, of Cumberland, Rhode Island. Mr. Darling received a common-school education, and at the age of eighteen was employed by his brother-in-law, Thaddeus Curtis, who was then engaged in the manufac- ture of all kinds of brushes, on Weybosset Street, Provi- dence, where the Arcade now stands. On the 20th of September, 1822, he became associated with Mr. Curtis, under the firm-name of Thaddeus Curtis & Co. They continued on Weybosset Street, at different places, until 1869, when they removed to No. 10 Peck Street, where the business is still carried on, under the old firm-name, by George H. Darling, who. became a member of the firm January 1, 1850. Mr. Curtis sold his entire interest to his partners on the Ist of April, 1870, and John A. Darling continued in the business until his death, which occurred July 14, 1879, having been successfully engaged in the manufacture of brushes for more than fifty-eight years. Although closely devoted to his business, he ever took a deep interest in the public welfare, and filled various responsible positions. He served as a Director of the Jackson Bank for one year, 1854, but declined a re-election the following year. He was a Director of the Mechanics' Savings Bank from 1858 to 1867, of the Westminster Bank from 1858, and of the Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Company from 1854 until his death, being a trustee of the latter from 1866 to 1873. He represented the city of Provi- dence in the House of Representatives in 1854, in which capacity he served acceptably. For several years he was an active and influential member of the Mechanics' Associa- tion of Providence. In politics he was formerly a Whig, and afterward a Republican, from the formation of that party. He was a member of the First Universalist Society, and with his family was a regular attendant at the services of that communion. Mr. Darling was an energetic and enterprising citizen, whose liberal aid could always be re- lied on in furtherance of benevolent objects. He married, August 9, 1824, Eliza Potter, daughter of Henry Potter, of South Kingstown, Rhode Island. She died September

10, 1868, in the seventy-fourth year of her age. Their children were John Q. A., George H., and Mary Eliz- abeth, of whom only George HI. is now living. After the death of his father, George II. Darling succeeded to the business of Thaddeus Curtis & Co., which he has since carried on successfully. He married, June 3, 1850, Maria A., daughter of Oliver Swect, of Middletown, Rhode Island, and has six children.

AZARD, HON. BENJAMIN, of Newport. The follow- ing notice of Mr . Hazard was written by Professor Goddard, and was published in an appendix to his address delivered at Newport, in 1843, on the occasion of the adoption of the New Constitution. " Hon. Benjamin Hazard was born in Middletown, the town which adjoins Newport, September 18, 1770. He was graduated at Brown University, in 1792. After studying law with the late Hon. David Howell, at that time a dis- tinguished practitioner in Providence, he was admitted to the bar in the year 1796, and commenced the practice of his profession in the town of Newport. For several years Mr. Hazard did not occupy himself seriously with the busi- ness of the courts, but he failed not in the end to acquire, and he maintained to the last, a distinguished rank at the bar of his native State. At the August election, in 1809, he was first elected a Representative from the town of Newport, a vacancy having been created in the delegation by the election to the Senate of the United States of the late Hon. Christopher Grant Champlin. Mr. Hazard's col- leagues from Newport were, at that time, George Gibbs, William Hunter, John P. Man, John L. Boss, Stephen Cahoone, none of whom except Mr. Cahoone, the present General Treasurer, and Mr. Hunter, the American Ambas- sador at Brazil, are now among the living upon earth. The duties of this station he continued to discharge with eminent ability for the term of thirty-one successive years. From October, 1816, to May, 1818, he presided over the deliberations of the House. At the August election, in 1840, he declined a re-election, and retired from public life. In accordance with a provision of the Royal Charter, so democratic as to be without precedent, the election of Representatives to the General Assembly was required to be made twice in every year. Thus was Mr. Hazard sub- jected in the course of his public life to the ordeal of sixty- two popular elections. The confidence which his towns- men early reposed in him was never withdrawn. Amid all the fluctuations of party he was re-elected generally, though not in all cases without opposition. Rarely in New England is it the fortune of a public man to command from the same constituents, and under similar circumstances, a confidence so long and so uninterruptedly continued. Mr. Hazard felt himself at home in the General Assembly. There, and not in our courts or primary assemblies, did he put forth with the most effect the uncommon powers with

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The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Rhode Island, Part 39

Author: National biographical publishing co., pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Providence, National biographical publishing co. Number of Pages: 868

Author: National biographical publishing co., pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Providence, National biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 868