The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Rhode Island, Part 48

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

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quent Buckminster, of Boston ; Dr. Charles Lowell, father of James Russell, the poet and United States Minister to England ; and Judge Lemuel Shaw, of Massachusetts. A detailed account of the life of Allston beyond this point cannot well be given, as it would occupy too much space. It must suffice to say that after a brief residence in Charles- ton, South Carolina, he embarked, in May, 1801, for Eng- land, with his friend Malbone, and devoted himself with great zeal to the study of art in England, France, and Italy, spending four years in the latter country, a large part of the time in Rome, where he had for most congenial companions Washington Irving and Samuel Taylor Cole- ridge. He returned to America in 1809, and in 1811 was married to Miss Ann Channing. Soon after his marriage he returned to Europe, where he remained until 1818, his wife dying in 1815. When he returned to his native land in 1818, he took up his residence in Boston, his studio being near the northwest corner of High and Pearl streets. While in Europe he had painted between forty and fifty pictures, of which, we are told, the greater part has dis- appeared. Having married a second wife in 1831, he removed to Cambridgeport, where he had built a stu- dio, his house being at the corner of Magazine and Auburn strects. Here he lived the last ten years of his life, dying July 9, 1843. The best known of the paintings of Washington Allston are his Belshazzar's Feast, The Dead Man Revived by Elisha's Bones, and The Angel Uriel Standing in the Sun. Some of his pictures were destroyed by fire and others disappeared during the great Civil War, so that it is now impossible to tell what or how many were the productions of his pencil. They are counted by scores, and many of them are among the choicest gems of modern art.

NIGHT, HON. NEHEMIAH RICE, Governor of Rhode Island and United States Senator, son of the Hon. Nehemiah Knight, was born at Knights- ville, Cranston, Rhode Island, December 31, 1780. His father was a farmer and politician of promi- nence of the Anti-Federal party, who represented the State of Rhode Island in Congress from 1803 to 1808. Nehemiah Rice spent his youth at home on the farm, and received the ordinary schooling of his times, which was neither extensive nor of a superior grade. But he must have made the most of such advantages as he did have, for in after years his career shows that his attainments in the practical and useful branches of learning compared fa- vorably with those of his cotemporaries who had enjoyed larger opportunities for culture. At the age of twenty-two he was chosen to represent the town of Cranston in the State legislature, in which capacity he served with ability ; but before the next election occurred he had removed to Providence, where he continued to reside until his death. In 1805 he was elected Clerk of the Court of Common

Ruc Waterman

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Pleas for the County of Providence, which position he held until 1811, when the Federal party got into power. From June, 1812, to 1817, he was Clerk of the Circuit Court for the District of Rhode Island, and acceptably performed the duties of that office. In 1817 he was elected Presi- dent of the Roger Williams Bank of Providence, which position he continued to fill until the time of his death. That year he was elected Governor of the State after a very severe political contest, resulting in the defeat of the Federalist party which had been long in power. To this office he was successively re-elected until 1821. While Chief Executive of the State he repeatedly recommended measures to the legislature for the establishing of public schools throughout the State, and urged the necessity of a common-school education. Many of his suggestions were subsequently adopted, and proved to be eminently wise and good. For some time during the War of 1812 with Great Britain he served as Collector of Internal Rev- enues for the district of Rhode Island, having been nomi- nated by President Madison and confirmed by the Senate before he had even an intimation that his appointment was talked of. This position he filled with efficiency, and re- signed the same on his election as Governor. In January, 1821, he was unanimously elected by the legislature to the United States Senate from Rhode Island, to fill the vacancy caused by the decease of the Hon. James Burrill, who had served four years of his term. In January, 1823, he was re-elected for a full term of six years, and in Octo- ber 1828 was unanimously chosen for another term, and again, in 1835, he was elected to the same position hy the National Republican party, with which he became identi- fied in the reorganization which followed Monroe's ad- ministration. During the long period of more than twenty years which he served in the United States Senate he ful- filled the duties of his position with great satisfaction to his constituents, and with honor to himself and his State. In 184I he retired to private life, though in the summer of 1843 he was called by the people of Providence to repre- sent them in the convention at which the present constitu- tion of Rhode Island was framed, in which convention he was an active and influential member. From that time to the close of his life, April 18, 1854, he was occupied with his own private interests. He was married early in life to Lydia Waterman, with whom he lived happily more than fifty years. She died in Providence, December 4, 1854. Governor Knight was mild as a partisan, firm in his friend- ships, and true to his convictions of duty.

TAYLOR, CAPTAIN WILLIAM VIGNERON, was born at Newport, Rhode Island, April 11, 1780. His parents, James and Mary ( Vigneron) Taylor, were worthy members of the Society of Friends. His education was only such as the schools of that day could afford; but his opportunities were well improved,

and with the aid of the library of his uncle, William Vign- eron, a successful seaman and merchant, his mind was well stored, particularly in regard to maritime affairs. It was the wish of his parents that he should become a mer- chant, but his reading had developed a love for the sea, and at about eighteen years of age he made his first voyage. His advancement was rapid, and for some years prior to the breaking out of the War of 1812 he was in command of a ship. Up to this time Taylor had been employed wholly in the merchant service ; but when the flotilla built at Newport was placed under the command of Lieutenant Oliver Hazard Perry, he joined the navy as sailing master. Under Perry he was employed on board of one of the gun- boats until he was selected by that officer, with others at Newport, to accompany him to Lake Erie. The work that was accomplished at Erie is a matter of history. The duty of superintending the rigging, equipping and arming the fleet built there, was assigned to Taylor and Lieutenant Daniel Turner, who in the battle commanded the Caledonia, and who was also from Newport. Taylor was appointed sail- ing master of the Lawrence, and he remained on her deck during the action. In the engagement he was slightly wounded. For gallant service he was made a Lieutenant, from which position he rose to the rank of Post Captain. With Perry, he was on board the Java during his cruise in the Mediterranean. In 1831 he was made Master Com- mandant, and commanded successively the receiving-ship Columbus, and sloops-of-war Warren, Erie, and Concord. In 1846 Captain Taylor was ordered to the line-of-battle ship Ohio, in which ship he sailed for the Pacific, where he was engaged on the coast of Mexico in the war be- tween the United States and that country, until impaired health made it necessary for him to resign his command. In 1855 he was honorably retired from active service, and died February 11, 1858, at Newport, where he was interred with military and Masonic honors. In 1810 he married Miss Abby White, of Newport. Of the children by that marriage but two survive : a son, Rear-Admiral William Rogers Taylor, United States Navy, and a daughter.

BATERMAN, JOHN, manufacturer, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, March 22, 1786, and was a descendant, in the seventh generation, of Richard Waterman, the friend and companion of Roger Williams. His grandfather, John Water- man, was at one time a ship-master, and also one of the earliest manufacturers in New England, having erected one of the first paper mills in this country, and operated a mill for fulling and finishing woollen cloth, and a choco- late mill. In 1769 he engaged in printing and publishing. He died in 1787, leaving one son and three daughters. His son, John Olney, who was born in 1760, married Sallie Franklin, daughter of Asa Franklin, of Providence, and had a family of four sons and two daughters. He died in

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1796. His eldest son, the subject of this sketch, at the time of his father's death was but ten years of age. He received such an education as the country schools of that day afforded, and was early apprenticed to the trade of house-carpenter, with a Mr. Williams, of Providence. After working at his trade for a few months, he was employed by his uncle, Henry P. Franklin, who was engaged in the business of cotton manufacturing. He learned every de- partment of this business thoroughly, and became an ex- pert in building and running machinery. In 1808 he formed a partnership with Daniel Wilde, and contracted to run a cotton-mill in Canton, Massachusetts, owned by Richard Wheatley, a wholesale merchant of Boston, who agreed to furnish material and take the goods, paying a certain priee per yard for manufacturing. Connected with the mill was a machine-shop, in which they made their repairs and manufactured machinery for themselves and others. The chief responsibility of the business devolved upon Mr. Waterman, who managed it economically and efficiently. At the end of three years the partnership was dissolved and the profits divided, after which, for about six months, Mr. Waterman continued to manufacture ma- chinery alone. In 1812, in company with Henry P. Frank- lin, he built and put into operation a mill at Johnston, with a capacity of fifteen hundred spindles. This was called the " Merino Mill." Mr. Franklin was the financial man- ager, and Mr. Waterman the manufacturing agent. At the end of seven years, in consequence of losses sustained during that period, Mr. Waterman was compelled to en- gage in business elsewhere. He therefore leased the Union Mills, owned by Brown & Ives, where he learned the business. He obtained a credit of $20,000 from Pitcher & Gay of Pawtucket, fitted the mill with new machinery and operated it for a term of four years, and so profitably that at the end of that time he had a handsome balance in his favor, after paying all his indebtedness. On the expiration of his lease, for the term above-men- tioned, he became the resident agent of the Blackstone Manufacturing Company, of which Brown & Ives were the largest stockholders, and removed to Blackstone. He served in this capacity successfully for three years, during which time the business of the mills largely increased. On account of ill health, he was then obliged to go South. During his absence the Blackstone Company continued his salary, and he purchased cotton for them and others, and sold their goods. On regaining his health he estab- lished a permanent business in New Orleans, where, for ten years, he was engaged in purchasing cotton for north- ern manufacturers, his partner, part of the time, being IIon. Thomas M. Burgess, who was Mayor of Providence from 1840 to 1852. After leaving New Orleans he returned to Providence, and built the Eagle Mills at Olneyville, in 1829. He started mill No. I in the spring of 1830, and operated it until 1836, when he built mill No. 2, which he operated until 1848, and soon afterward retired from

manufacturing. The remainder of his life was spent on his farm in Johnston, Rhode Island. Mr. Waterman was not a church member, but his religious views were in sym- pathy with the Baptists, and he was largely instrumental in building the Baptist church in Olneyville. For many years he was a prominent member of the Masonic order. In 1809 he married Miss Sally Williams, daughter of Stephen Williams of Providence, and a lineal deseendant of Roger Williams. They had seven children, John O., Albert, Andrew S., Sarah A., Mary Frances, Sarah A., and Henry. Of these only one is now living, Sarah A. Mr. Waterman survived all of his early associates. He died, October 26, 1879, at the advanced age of ninety- three years.

ANDOLPH, HON. RICHARD KIDDER, was a native of Virginia. The family residence of his father, who was a wealthy tobacco planter, was at Wil- ton, on the James River, about six miles from Rich- mond. Alarmed by the invasion of Lord Corn- wallis, the family retreated to another plantation of which Mr. Randolph was the owner, and here the subject of this sketch was born on the memorable 19th of October, 1781, the day of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. After a time the family returned to the homestead at Wil- ton. Having completed his preparatory studies, young Randolph was sent to Cambridge, and entered Harvard College in 1798. In his elass were such men as President William Allen, of Bowdoin College, Rev. Dr. John Cod- man, Rev. Dr. N. B. Croeker, Hon. Samuel Hoar, Gov- ernor Levi Lineoln, Hon. Leverett Saltonstall, and other eminent men of their times. Mr. Randolph was in the habit of passing his college vaeations in Newport. He married Miss Lyman, daughter of Judge Daniel Lyman, and subsequently removed to Virginia, where he studied law with the distinguished Hon. Edward Randolph, and in due time was admitted to the bar, but did not devote himself to the practice of his profession in his native State. In 1810 he removed to Newport, where he resided the re- mainder of his life. For some time he was law-partner with Hon. Benjamin Hazard, and then practiced his pro- fession for a number of years by himself. One of the most memorable trials in which he was engaged was that of Rev. Ephraim K. Avery, who retained him as one of his counsel, and to whom he was largely indebted for his acquittal. For several years Mr. Randolph represented Newport in the General Assembly. He was also one of the commissioners to adjust the boundaries between Massa- chusetts and Rhode Island. In the " Dorr War" he oc- eupied an important position as one of Governor King's counsel. Although brought up in the Episcopal Church, he did not in his mature life accept the creed and form of government of that church, but adopted the views of the Unitarians, and was among the earliest friends and

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supporters of the church of that denomination in Newport. He was distinguished for his great integrity of character, and commanded the homage and respect of his fellow- citizens wherever he was known. In his profession he stood among the foremost lawyers of the State, and not unfrequently practiced in the United States Supreme Court at Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Randolph were the parents of ten children, all of whom arrived to years of maturity except one, who died in childhood in Virginia. Mrs. Randolph survived her husband many years, dying at the advanced age of ninety-four. Mr. Randolph's death oc- curred at Newport March, 1849, being within a few months of sixty-eight years of age. In 1840 he received from Harvard College the honorary degree of Master of Arts.

BATERMAN, HON. JOHN ROBINSON, son of Deacon John and Welthian (Greene) Waterman, was born at old Warwick, Rhode Island, February 19, 1783. His father was for nearly thirty years a deacon of the Old Warwick Baptist Church, and was for many years prominent as a public man, having served as Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, and in other official capacities. He was a descendant of Richard Waterman, who came from England in 1630; was an associate with Roger Williams in Salem, Massachusetts; and in 1638 came to Providence, where he joined his old friend, and was one of the twelve who bought, the same year, the land originally purchased of the Indians by Roger Williams in 1636. His son, Resolved Waterman, married Mercy, daughter of Roger Williams, and their son John inherited, by will, from his grandfather, Richard Water- man, all his real estate in " Shawomut," or Old Warwick, which was originally purchased of the Indians January 12, 1642, for 144 fathoms of wampum peage. John Waterman settled in Old Warwick about 1690; died August 26, 1728, and was buried on the " homestead," which is still owned by the family, having been inherited by John R. Waterman, who willed it to his eldest son, Richard Waterman, and Jonathan West, during the life of Richard Waterman, and afterward to his grandchildren, Abby M., wife of Jonathan West ; Elizabeth S., John, Thomas W., and Frank A. Waterman. Colonel Benoni Waterman, son of John and grandson of Resolved Waterman, was a Colonel of the Rhode Island Militia, and was for many years President of the Town Council of Warwick. His son, Colonel John Waterman, defended Old Warwick from invasion by the British during the Revolution while they had possession of Newport. He was also President of the Town Council for several years, and held other public offices. His son, deacon John Waterman, the father of John R. Waterman, and his brothers, Benjamin and William, were soldiers in the Revolution, and for their services received a pension from Congress. John R. Waterman had one sister, Mary Low, who married Captain William Harrison, of Apponaug,

Rhode Island. She died October 16, 1870, at eighty-one years of age. Mr. Waterman received a good common- school education in his native town, and early engaged in farming, in which he continued during the most of his life, and for many years also carried on a large tannery. He entered upon his political career at an early age, and throughout his life exerted a wide influence. In the spring of 1810 he was elected a Republican Representative to the General Assembly of Rhode Island from Warwick, and served acceptably as a member of that body. During the stirring scenes of the war with England in 1812 he took a prominent part in moulding puhlic sentiment in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war. He was elected to the State Senate in 1821, and served as a member of that body until May, 1826. He was next elected to the House, of which he was a memher until 1828. During his first term in the Senate in June, 1821, he introduced a resolution to establish and maintain free schools in Rhode Island, which made it necessary to revise the laws of the State; and, accordingly, in 1822, he secured a revision of the laws in conformity with the system he had matured. He was the first mover in behalf of a bank tax, and it was through the most per- sistent efforts that he secured the passage of the bill. The Constitution had to be amended, and while serving as a member of a joint committee of the Senate and House he was compelled personally to draft the necessary amend- ments. After forcing the passage of the revenue bills in the House, he immediately reported on the bank bills in the Senate, which was concurred in without any alteration and sent to the House. A large number of the members of both Houses called at his home to congratulate him on his success in causing the passage of a measure of such great importance to the people of the State. The revenue system brought to the treasury of the State more money than was anticipated by its warmest friends ; sufficient to meet all demands on it, and to furnish large appropriations for the public schools and State prison. From 1829 to 1841 Mr. Waterman lived in Providence, having been appointed Weigher and Measurer in the Custom House. Here he continued to take a prominent part as a member of the Democratic party. By and with the support of others he secured the distribution of the public money under the administration of President Jackson for the support of pub- lic schools in Rhode Island, thus firmly establishing the present school system of the State. He was a warm per- sonal friend of Thomas W. Dorr, and also of the free suf- frage cause, which he advocated from principle. In early life Mr. Waterman served for five years in the Rhode Island Militia, first as Lieutenant, next as Captain, and was appointed Major, but did not accept his commission. He was a man of recognized ability, and one of the most suc- cessful, popular, and influential politicians of his day. He was twice married; first, November 3, 1805, to Isabel Warner, daughter of Captain Thomas and Mary Warner, of Old Warwick, Rhode Island. She died January 24,

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1832, aged forty-eight years. IIc married, second, January I, 1833, Phebe Slade, widow of Elder Philip Slade, of Swansea, Massachusetts, daughter of Jonathan and Mary Slade, of Somerset, Massachusetts. She dicd November 4, 1867, in the eighty-third year of her age. By the first marriage there were thirteen children, of whom eight lived to maturity, four sons and four daughters. Except his twelve years residence in Providence Mr. Waterman occu- pied the " homestead," where he died June 23, 1876, aged ninety-three years and four months. As a neighbor and friend he was highly esteemed for his kindness, courtesy, and strict integrity; and as a public servant was always actuated by an earnest desire to promote the welfare and happiness of the people.

SPENCER, HON. CHRISTOPHER, only son of William and Waite Spencer, was born in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, May 17, 1783. He was educated in the common district schools, and spent his early life on his father's farm, teaching school occasionally in winter. During his boyhood his parents removed to East Greenwich, and he afterwards engaged in farming in the town of Warwick. For many years he also kept a tavern and country store. He was a very energetic and industrious man, noted for his sound judgment and integ- rity. In 1822 he was elected to represent Warwick in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, and served so acceptably that he was re-elected for four successive years. He was afterwards elected to the State Senate for four con- secutive years. These elections were under the " old char- ter," when John Brown Francis was Governor. He was again elected a Member of the House of Representatives in 1856, under the present constitution. For fifteen years he was a member of the Town Council of Warwick, being President of that body a portion of the time, and held other offices. He was thrice married, his first wife being Celia Westcott, daughter of Captain Nathan Westcott, of War- wick, to whom he was married in November, 1813. She died in 1827. They had six children, two of whom are living. In 1828 he married Sarah C. Spencer, of Ira, Vermont, who died in 1831. On the 13th of May, 1833, he married Weltham Tiffany, of Warwick, who survived him. Mr. Spencer died May 11, 1870, at his residence in Old Warwick, where he had resided for forty-nine years.

BESTCOTT, IION. JOSIAH, the fifth son of Rev. John and Amy (Clarke) Westcott, was born in the town of Scituate, Rhode Island, October 5, 1781. His grandparents were Oliver Westcott and Susanna Wilkinson. He was a regular descendant of Stukely Westcott, one of the associates of

Roger Williams. Ile did not have the advantages of an early education, but by dint of hard labor and close ap- plication he attained a high degree of intellectual culture, and was early prepared for usefulness. He taught school during the winter and worked at earpentry in the summer, and thus seeured the twofold object, a knowledge of the common branches and the natural sciences, and the master of a useful trade. At the age of twenty-six he married Marcy Peckham, daughter of Seth and Marey (Smith) Peckham, of Glocester Rhode Island, by whom he had ten children, only two of whom are living, viz., Andrew J. and Josiah E. He was engaged in agriculture, and was the owner of a large farm, upon which he lived many years in his native town. From 1808 to 1850 he was called to fill various offices of trust, the duties of which he discharged with such promptness and fidelity as to com- mand the hearty approval of his constituents. He was Town-clerk during a period of thirty-one years, Associate Judge in the Court of Common Pleas, in the county of Providence, twenty-four years, Representative in the Gen- eral Assembly seven or eight years, and also Senator two or three years. He commanded a company of horse, with the rank of Colonel, eight years. The company was called the Captain-General's Cavaliers. They stood ready in the War of 1812, but were not called into active service. Judge Westcott was noted for his uprightness of conduct, directness of purpose, and energy and decision of charae- ter. He died June 19, 1867.

HIPPLE, JOHN, LL.D., son of Samuel and Deb- orah (Jenckes) Whipple, was born in Provi- dence, October 22, 1784. He sprang from a Welsh ancestry, and his progenitors were among the earliest settlers in Providence. Having pre- pared for college in the schools of his native town, he en- tered Brown University, and was graduated in the elass of 1802. When President Maxcy went to Schenectady as President of Union College, Mr. Whipple accompanied him, enjoying the benefit of his instructions while at the same time he was pursuing his law studies in the office of Henry Yates, Esq. He finished his law studies with Hon. Samuel W. Bridgham, and in 1805 was admitted to the Rhode Island bar. He entered upon his professional du- ties with great zeal, and soon rose to distinction as an ac- complished lawyer. The manufacture of cotton goods was at that period beginning to take that prominent rank in the industries of Rhode Island which it has ever since held, and Mr. Whipple was constantly employed in the various forms of litigation connected with the inauguration and progress of the large enterprise in which so many capitalists of the State were embarking. He was called upon, more- over, by manufacturers, to represent their interests before

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The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Rhode Island, Part 48

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