The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Rhode Island, Part 41

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

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OOD, HON. JOSEPH, son of Major William, and Phebe (Goulding) Wood, was born in Hopkin- ton, Massachusetts, October 18, 1803. His father served in the Revolution, and was a farmer, a miller, and part owner in a cotton factory in the village of Woodville, Massachusetts. His mother was a woman of superior intelligence, ability and devotion to her children. Joseph was educated at home, and in the common schools. Entering a cotton factory, he soon won the confidence of his employers, and was placed in charge of one of the rooms before he was of age. In a few years he removed to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and acted as an overseer in the factory of French & Burbank. In

1828 he entered into partnership with Deacon Stephen Benedict, and managed the mill of Mr. Jabal Ingraham, in Bellingham, Massachusetts, making cotton-cloth by the yard. In 1829 they hired a factory in Albion village, Rhode Island, and made cloth for Mr. George Wilkin- son. In 1831, they removed to Central Falls, Lincoln, Rhode Island, and purchased a part of the Thread Com- pany's mill of Mr. Dwight Ingraham, and began busi- ness for themselves. This establishment was long known as the " Benedict & Wood Mill." They prospered, built residences near together on High Street, and lived, as they toiled together, like brothers, in closest intimacy, for thirty-seven years, till parted by death. In 1847, Mr. Wood also formed a partnership with Mr. John A. Adams and his own brother, Samuel Wood, known as Wood, Ad- ams & Co., and engaged in manufacturing cotton-thread. The company was known, finally, as the Central Falls Thread Company. In 1851, with his brother Samuel, he purchased the Richards Mill, and, under the firm- name of J. & S. Wood, engaged in manufacturing cotton- cloth. This firm was dissolved by the death of Samuel, in 1853, who was killed by machinery in the mill. Sam- uel's interest being sold to Mr. John A. Adams, the mill was run by Wood & Adams till 1863, when it was sold to the Pawtucket Haircloth Company, and Wood & Adams became connected with the Stafford Manufacturing Com- pany, Mr. Adams as Agent, and Mr. Wood as Treas- urer. In this position Mr. Wood remained till his death. A man of great integrity, conscientiousness, industry and perseverance, he acquired a large estate, and an enviable reputation. He and his wife were consistent members of the Central Falls Congregational Church, and he gave largely of his time and money for the support of that body. For more than twenty-five years he was the Super- intendent of the Sabbath-school. Indeed, no good cause was neglected by him, and his name was a synonym for honor in all business circles. Politically he was a Whig, till that party became the Republican, when he heartily accepted the new situation, and was strongly opposed to slavery. During the Rebellion he lent his voice, strength, and purse, to the nation. After long refusing official hon- ors, he finally consented, in 1872, to accept the nomination of Senator from Lincoln, and was unanimously elected by both parties. He graced the State Senate as he had adorned every other circle of life. He married, August 9, 1830, Phila T. Freeman, daughter of Edward and Sarah (Thayer) Freeman, of Mendon, Massachusetts; a woman of great excellencies of character. They had three sons and two daughters; one of the latter, Sarah F., married Rev. Jo- seph Ward, a Congregational minister. Mr. Wood died at his residence, in Central Falls, February 10, 1873, in his seventieth year His brother, SAMUEL WOOD, was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, April 27, 1813. He received excellent home and school education, and, in 1840, removed to Central Falls, Rhode Island, where he engaged in busi-

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ness with Benjamin F. Greene and Thomas Benedict, and afterwards with his brother Joseph. He was killed by the machinery of the mill, April 22, 1853. He married, January 11, 1840, Sarah A. Arnold, of Coventry, Rhode Island, and had four children,-one son and three daugh- ters. Ilis abilitics and virtues won for him a large place in the hearts of the people.

UNTER, HON. WILLIAM, LL.D., only son of Dr. William Hunter, was born in Newport, November 26, 1774. His father was an eminent Scotch physician, who came to this country about the year 1752, soon after the famous battle of Culloden, in which as a friend of the " Pretender " he held a professional position. He settled in Newport, where he gave the first course of anatomical lectures ever given in this country. These lectures were delivered in the Court-house, in two seasons in succession, by cards of invitation, and gave great satisfaction. He married a daughter of Godfrey Malbone, a wealthy merchant in Newport. She was a descendant of Edward Wanton, the earliest ancestor of the Wanton family in this country. The subject of this sketch pursued his preparatory studies under the tuition of Robert Rogers, who had charge of a school of a high order in his native place. He graduated from Brown University, with the Salutatory Oration, in the class of 1791. Hon. Jonathan Russell, LL.D., was his classmate. On completing his college studies he went to England, and was a student for a time with the celebrated Dr. John Hunter, a first cousin of his father. Finding that his tastes did not incline him to enter the medical profession he abandoned the idea of fitting himself to be a physician, and turned his attention to the study of law. He pursued his law studies in the Inner Temple, London, under the direction of eminent teachers, among whom were Chitty and Arthur Murphy, the accomplished translator of Tacitus, whom he aided in this scholarly work. It is said that when Murphy took to Burke his dedication of that work Hunter accompanicd him. They found Burke playing at jackstraws with his son. Mr. IIunter was often present at the debates in Par- liament, and enjoyed the rare privilege of listening to the eloquence of the bar in the courts of England. Some of the ablest statesmen were then in the theatre of action, men like Erskine, Pitt, and Fox. It is easy to see what influence such men would have in moulding the character and form- ing the style of a susceptible young man engaged in pro- fessional study. Returning to this country in 1793 he con- tinued his preparatory studies until he was admitted to the bar, November, 1795, at the age of twenty-one years. Such was his reputation after a few years' practice that in 1799 he was sent by the citizens of Newport to represent

them in the General Assembly, and was re-elected cach successive year to the ycar 1812. During the session com- mencing May, 1811, he was Speaker of the House. The llon. C. G. Champlin, who was a Senator in Congress from Rhode Island, having resigned his office, Mr. Hunter was chosen in 1812 to fill out the remaining years of his term of service, and in 1814 was elected for six years. As an orator Mr. Hunter took a high rank in Congress. Among his most famous speeches while in the Senate are those on the acquisition of Florida and on the Missouri Compromise The former of these was delivered in secret session of the Senate of the United States, February 2, 1813. It was made on the proposition for seizing and occupying the province of East Florida by the troops of the United States. As there were no reporters to take down the speech it was dictated to an amanuensis by Mr. Hunter after its delivery, and printed in Newport. It has been justly said of this speech that " it shows comprehensive views of the subject, expressed in a style unusually dignified and elevated, and contains passages of a high order of eloquence." The course which Mr. Hunter took with regard to the Missouri Compromise not proving satisfactory to his constituents, he failed of a re-election to the Senate of the United States. He resumed the practice of his profession, and again rep- resented his native town for several years in the General Assembly of the State. In 1834 he was appointed by General Jackson Chargé d'Affaires to Brazil, and subse- quently, at the request of the young Emperor, Dom Pedro, was elevated to the position of Minister Plenipotentiary. While living in Brazil, he was a most diligent student, gathering from the various libraries of that country, and from every reliable source, vast stores of information on many subjects, which he would doubtless have turned to a good use had his life been spared. His term of service in Brazil expired in 1845, when he returned to this coun- try, and spent the four remaining years of his life in New- port, where he died December 3, 1849. Mr. Hunter was one of the most accomplished men of his time. His per- sonal appearance attracted attention. He was tall, com- manding, and graceful in his figure. As an orator he had few superiors. There was a rare depth and melody in his voice, while his address was distinct and full of dignity. He was a fine linguist, familiar with the best classic writers of antiquity, and was well versed in the modern languages, speaking the French with almost the ease and correctness of a native. Wit and humor were marked characteristics in his composition. While in Congress, on a certain oc- casion Mr. Little, of Maryland, was indulging in remarks of a personal character upon Mr. Law, of North Carolina, in the House of Representatives. Mr. Hunter happened to be among the auditors, and a gentleman asked him if he thought Law would answer Little in the same strain. "No, indeed," said Mr. Hunter, " de minimis non curat lex"-the law does not care about littles. The wife of Mr. Hunter was Mary, daughter of William and Sarah

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(Franklin) Robinson, of New York. He had eight chil- dren, two of whom died in youth. Of the others, Wil- liam Hunter, Esq., of Washington, Assistant Secretary of State, and the oldest child, is an honored officer under the Government. Eliza was married at Rio de Janeiro, to James Birchead, formerly of Baltimore, and now lives in Newport. The third child, Thomas R., lives in Middletown. The fourth, Mary R., became the wife of Edward Pierse, of the British Navy. She died near Lon- don, a few years since. The fifth child was Charles. He received a commission as Captain in the United States Navy. In 1873, he, with his wife and daughter, was lost on his way to Havre. Catharine was the sixth child. She married at Rio, John Greenway, a merchant, then in busi- ness at Montevideo, at which place she died.

RIDGHAM, HON. SAMUEL WILLARD, the first Mayor of Providence, was born in Providence in 1774, and was a graduate of Brown University in the class of 1794. Amnong his classmates were Na- thanael Searle, LL.D., and Judge Solomon Sibley, of Michigan. The two years following his graduation were devoted to the study of law, and he was admitted to the bar in September, 1796. He represented Provi- dence in the General Assembly, and was Speaker of the House from May, 1826, to October, 1826. He was at- torney-General of Rhode Island from 1814 to 1818. In 1821 he was elected a Trustee of Brown University, and continued in office until his decease. He was chosen Chancellor of the University in 1828, and remained in this office until his death. When Providence became a city, in 1832, he was chosen the first Mayor, and held the office, by the suffrages of his fellow-citizens, for eight years. He was married to Elizabeth Paine, October 20, 1798. Their children were Elizabeth W., born September 13, 1799; Abby C., born May 26, 1803; Samuel F., born November 3, 1805, and died July 6, 1807; Julia B., born November 17, 1810 (she married George Curtis, April 3, 1834) ; Sam- uel W., born September 24, 1813; and Joseph, born Au- gust 15, 1815. Mr. Bridgham died December 28, 1840. Few citizens of Providence have occupied more conspicu- ous positions than the subject of this sketch. So long as he practiced his profession he stood high as a lawyer. As the first Mayor of Providence, his eight years' administra- tion of the municipal government will ever be regarded as having contributed not a little to the laying the founda- tions of the prosperity of the city. At the time of his de- cease resolutions of the most commendatory character were passed by the city government and by the Corporation of Brown University. His memory will long be cherished, and he will be regarded as one of the inost eminent and public-spirited citizens of Providence.

B URGES, TRISTAM, an eminent American statesman, son of John and Abigail Burges, was born in Rochester, Massachusetts, February 26, 1770, and was the youngest of three sons. His earliest associations were the events and experiences of the Revolutionary War. He kept in remembrance the alarm of the battle of Lexington, and the return of. his sick father from the army. His father's business was that of a cooper and farmer. It was to the fact of his father's occu- pation that John Randolph referred when he cast it as a reproach on Burges that he was a cooper's son. The re- tort was a keen one, to wit, that if he (Randolph) had been a cooper's son, he would never have been anything else. The facilities for acquiring an education at the period and place where young Burges lived were of the inost stinted character. He never attended a school until he was fifteen years of age, and until he was twenty-one the whole time of his public instruction was not much more than three months. He was, however, passionately fond of books, buying, begging, or borrowing all he could get. After the toils of the day were over his favorite vol- umes were read far into the late hours of the night. With all the disadvantages under which he labored for mental culture, he was a busy and constant writer, the letters which he wrote between the ages of sixteen and twenty being enough in number to make a good-sized volume. When he had reached his majority he determined to get an education. He pursued his preparatory studies in the academy at Wrentham, under the instruction of Rev. Wil- liam Williams, and was a graduate of Brown University, in the class of 1796, with the highest honors of his class. Already his oratorical powers were remarkably developed, and his fellow-students predicted a brilliant future for him as a public speaker. After his graduation he taught school for a brief period, and continued the study of law in Providence, which he had while in college commenced under the instruction of Judge Barnes. About this time a lottery ticket was pressed upon him, for the payment of which-five dollars-he gave his note. The ticket drew a prize of two thousand dollars. The school was given up, and he devoted his whole attention to the study of his chosen profession, and was admitted to the bar of Rhode Island in 1799. He found himself competing with some of the most eminent lawyers of the State. But it was not long before he was in the midst of an extensive practice, and there were few important cases in which he was not engaged. In 1811 he was elected a member of the Gen- eral Assembly, and in May, 1815, was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State, holding the office for a single year, when he resumed the practice of his profession. The Corporation of Brown University elected him, in 1815, Professor of Oratory and Belles- Lettres, which chair he filled with distinguished success from 1815 to 1828. He was chosen to represent Rhode Island in Congress in 1825, and held that position for ten

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years with marked ability. Very soon he made his mark in the halls of legislation by his speech on the Judiciary, respecting which a veteran member of Congress said, " That speech is one of the greatest displays of eloquence ever made in this hall." It established Mr. Burges's repu- tation as an orator. A bill was presented by him propos- ing to pay a more generous pension to the surviving sol- diers of the Revolution, the passage of which he advo- cated in a speech of great power. He made also able speeches in favor of a protective tariff. His encounters with the eccentric, sarcastic John Randolph form an inter- esting part of the history of Congressional debates. Mr. Randolph had the most intense prejudice against New England, and when anything was proposed like the tariff, he embraced the opportunity to vent his spite on the East- ern States. On one occasion he had said, " New England -what is she? Sir, do you remember that appropriate exclamation, 'Delenda est Carthago?'" The reply of Mr. Burges was, " Does the gentleman mean to say, sir, New England must be destroyed ? If so, I will remind him that the fall of Carthage was the precursor of the fall of Rome. Permit me to suggest to him to carry out the parallel. Further, sir, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I am not bound by any rule to argue against Bedlam ; but when I hear anything rational in the hallucinations of the gentleman, I will answer them." The next day he resumed his speech, and poured forth such a torrent of sarcasm that Randolph quailed under it, left the hall, and his voice was never raised there afterwards. Although in the party which was opposed to President Jackson, Mr. Burges warmly indorsed the course which he pursued with reference to nullification in South Carolina. He would not accept the compromise which Mr. Clay pre- sented on the matter of the tariff, and the result was that he failed to secure his re-election to Congress. On leav- ing Washington, in 1835, he returned to his adopted State and spent the larger part of the last twenty years of his life on his estate in East Providence, where he died Octo- ber 13, 1853. In 1801 he married the daughter of Mr. Welcome Arnold, an eminent merchant of Providence. Three of his daughters died-one in 1826 and two in 1827. The following year, 1828, his eldest son, Welcome Arnold Burges, one of the most accomplished young men of his time, was also removed by death. Thus, within the brief period of fourteen months, he was called to hury four of his children. Of no citizen of Rhode Island has his adopted State better reason to be proud than of Ilon. Tristam Burges.

BILKINSON, HON. ISAAC, son of David and Lydia (Spear) Wilkinson, was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island, October 1, 1776. His ancestors were the distinguished Wilkinsons of Eastern Rhode Island, some of whom are elsewhere

sketched in this volume. IIis grandfather, Israel, was the son of Samuel, who was the son of Samuel, who was the son of Lawrence, one of the signers of the original civil compact of the founders of the colony planted by Roger Williams. That compact was dated " 19th of 11th month, 1645." Isaac's brother, Eliab), was a superior scholar in the natural sciences and in mathematics, and kept in his native town a sort of High School for advanced scholars, teaching, also, surveying and navigation. In connection with Elisha Thornton he published almanacs for a number of years. He was the first Cashier of the old Smithfield Union Bank, a position that he held till his death, at the age of thirty-seven. Isaac received the plain country edu- cation common to his day, but had some special advantages from the excellent family to which he belonged. For his calling he chose that of a farmer, and became known as a model agriculturist. He was born and died on the farm that was inherited in a direct line from Lawrence, the founder of the family in Rhode Island. He was first chosen Deputy Sheriff of the county of Providence. In 1809 he was elected Delegate to the General Assembly, and in this representative office served at intervals for many years. In 1833 he was chosen State Senator, and to this office was annually re-elected for several years. In 1842, in the year of the "Dorr troubles," though in his sixty-seventh year, he was elected Representative by Smith- field, and was also elected Senator on the State ticket (chosen by the State at large), but he declined the Sena- torship and served as Representative. He voted at every Presidential election from the first of Jefferson down to his death, and was an old-school Democrat. He was one of the four in his town who voted for Andrew Jackson in 1824. For twenty-eight successive years he was chosen town Treasurer of Smithfield, and served most acceptably. His kindness was remarkable, and endeared him to all who knew him. The failings of men he could forgive, but he despised hypocrisy. In 1819 he married Hannah Streeter, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, a descendant of the Masons of that town. IIer father's family removed to Vermont, and thence to New Hampshire, in which latter State she was born, but returned to Rhode Island when about twenty years of age. Isaac Wilkinson had three children : David Spear, Hannah M., and Isaac R. The latter now resides in Pawtucket. The two former still re- side on the old homestead, which has been in the family some two hundred years. Mr. Wilkinson died, full of honors, February 25, 1863, in his eighty-seventh year.

YER, ELISHA, merchant and manufacturer, son of Anthony and Sarah (Bishop) Dyer, was born in Glocester, Rhode Island, January 5, 1772. At the age of ten years he was apprenticed to John Fitton, a Scotchman, a general drygoods merchant, whose place of business was on Westminster Street, Provi-

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dence. After completing his apprenticeship he continued in the employ of Mr. Fitton, who was so much pleased with his industry, faithfulness, and manly qualities, that he made provision in his will that on his decease Mr. Dyer should come into possession of his estate and business by purchase. Mr. Dyer availed himself of this opportunity, and continued the business in the same place on his own account, and with Charles Potter, a former clerk, as co- partner, under the firm-name of Dyer & Potter, until 1825, when Mr. Dyer formed a copartnership with Mr. Cary Dunn, for the transaction of a general commission busi- ness, on West Water Street, under the firm-name of Elisha Dyer & Co. In 1830, Mr. Dunn retired, and April 1, 1831, Mr. Dyer received his son Elisha into the firm, which partnership continued until about 1835, when, on account of increased facilities for travel and transportation, the commission business was almost suspended. In 1835, Mr. Dyer built the Dyerville Mill, in North Providence, and with his son Elisha began the manufacture of cotton cloth. He continued in that business until his death, Feb- ruary II, 1854, and became one of the largest real estate owners then in the city of Providence. He bought the Rockland Mill in South Scituate in 1814, in company with others, and was one of the founders of the Providence Dyeing, Bleaching and Calendering Company, in which his heirs are still interested. He was one of the founders of the Union Bank of Providence, and for many years its President. He was noted for his sterling integrity, un- tiring industry, and business sagacity. It is said of him that he would never give nor receive more than six per cent. for money, and made it a rule never to accept any political office. He married, October 15, 1801, Frances Jones, daughter of Thomas and Esther (Dunn) Jones. They had five children,-Caroline, Frances Jones, Elisha, Esther Dunn, and George Rathbone. Mr. Dyer was of a social, benevolent disposition, and possessed of strong re- ligious feelings. Late in life he became a member of the Beneficent Congregational Church of Providence, and died in the full belief of the principles of Christianity. As was said of him at the time of his death, " he was un- ostentatious and unobtrusive in his habits, affectionate to his family, kind to his dependents, and in his dealings scrupulously just."

SIXON, HON. NATHAN FELLOWS, son of William and Priscilla (Denison) Dixon, was born in Plainfield, Connecticut, December 13, 1774. His father was a conspicuous public man. His mother was the daughter of Dr. William Denison, of Stonington, Connecticut. The name of Fellows was from Nathan Fel- lows, his maternal great-grandfather, of Killingly, Connec- ticut. Nathan F. enjoyed the superior educational advan- tages which were then found in the Plainfield Academy, under Dr. Eliphalet Mott. He entered Williams College,

but finally passed to Brown University, where he graduated with honor in the class of 1799. Having pursued the re- quired course of law studies, he was admitted to the bar in 1802, and commenced his professional practice in Wes- terly, Rhode Island. He soon became widely known in Rhode Island and Connecticut as an able counsellor and advocate. For many years he was a director in Washing- ton Bank, and was President of that institution from 1829 to his death. His predecessors in that office were Rowse Babcock, 2d, Colonel Thomas Noyes, and Hon. Jeremiah Thurston; and his successor was his son, Hon. Nathan F. Dixon, Jr. He was a gentleman of the old school in man- ners and dress, genial and affable, always ready to serve the people of all classes and conditions. By his kindness and counsel young men were especially encouraged in their educational endeavors. Elected to the Rhode Island Gene- ral Assembly from Westerly, in 1813, he continued to serve the town and State in that position till 1830, and was inti- mately associated with such men as William Hunter, James Burrill, Jr., Nehemiah R. Knight, James De Wolf, Asher - Robbins, William Sprague, Elisha R. Potter, Wilkins Up- dike, Job Durfee, and Tristam Burges. By the Whig party he was chosen Senator to Congress in 1838. He imme- diately rose to prominence in Washington, and for a time was President of the Senate. Mr. Dixon died suddenly, January 29, 1842, while in the discharge of his duties in Washington. He married, January, 1804, Elizabeth Palmer, daughter of Captain Amos Palmer, of Stonington, and had seven children : William P., Eliza, Fanny, Nathan F., Priscilla D., Courtland P., and Sarah R. His widow died March 30, 1859, in her eighty-first year.

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The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Rhode Island, Part 41

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