The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Rhode Island, Part 68

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

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GROSVENOR, WILLIAM, M.D., the youngest son of Dr. Robert and Mary (Beggs) Grosvenor, was born in Killingly, Connecticut, now known as Putnam Heights, April 30, 1810. He is a descend- ant of a distinguished English family, his ancestor, John Grosvenor, of Cheshire County, England, having emigrated to this country in 1680. His mother, a woman of sterling qualities of character, was of Scotch descent. Hc received his early education in the common schools for which his native State has been justly celebrated. From these he passed to the academies of Leicester and Mun- son, where he was fitted to enter the Philosophical and Chemical Department of Yale College. It was the earnest wish of his father that his son should study the profession in which he had been so successful, that of a physician and surgeon, and finally be associated with him in his office. Accordingly, he commenced the study of anatomy at the early age of seventeen, and after prosecuting his profes- sional studies for three years, the last of which was spent in the office of Dr. George Mcclellan and in the wards of the Pennsylvania Hospital, he took the degree of Doctor of Medicine, in 1830, at Jefferson Medical College, Phila- delphia, taking high rank in the class with which he grad- uated. Immediately after his graduation he returned to his native place, and in compliance with the wish of his father, became his assistant in his laborious and extensive practice. This position he held until the summer of 1837, when he removed to Providence, where, after practicing his profession for a short time, he retired from it, and, in consequence of peculiar circumstances in which he found himself, turned his attention to mercantile pursuits. For five years, as the senior partner of the firm of Grosvenor & Chace, wholesale druggists, he carried on business suc- cessfully in Providence. He then embarked in a business with which he had made himself familiar, the stocking of printers of calico with cloth, in which he remained until the year 1852. During that year the death of Amasa Ma- son, a relative on the side of his wife, prepared the way for him to engage in the manufacture of cotton fabrics. The factories of the Grosvenor Dale Company are situated in the beautiful valley of Grosvenor Dale, Connecticut. By a liberal outlay, and as the result of a thorough and wise organization of means to ends, the first purchase of less than eight thousand spindles by Dr. Grosvenor, has been increased to ninety-five thousand six hundred and ninety-six, being considerably the largest establishment for the manufacture of cotton textile fabrics in the State of Connecticut, and one of the largest of its class on the continent. The business capacity and integrity of Dr. Grosvenor, and his success in accumulating great wealth by judicious investments, have caused him to be widely known, and to rank high among the ablest business men of New England. He took a deep interest in public affairs during the Civil War. At its commencement he was travelling in Europe for the benefit of his wife's health.

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The exciting scenes which were transpiring in his own country, and his sympathy with the government, and desire to aid in every way in his power to put down the Rebel- lion, induced him to cut short his foreign tour and return 'to his home. As Chairman of the Committee on Finance in the Senate of the State, he occupied a most responsible and delicate position. Among other matters which were brought to the attention of this Committee, was a petition to which were affixed the names of a large number of highly respected citizens of South Kingstown, asking for an appropriation for the erection of a monument to the memory of General Isaac P. Rodman. It was at a time when the State was issuing her bonds by millions for the defence of the government. Many gallant and distinguished sons of Rhode Island had lost their lives in the service of their country, to all of whom there was due the tribute of praise and grateful affection. Instead of selecting a single individual, honored, respected, and highly beloved though he was, and whose untimely death had awakened the most sincere sympathy in the hearts of hosts of friends, it was deemed best to postpone the consideration of the subject pre- sented by the petitioners, with the hope that a plan might be adopted which would render ample justice to the brave lives and the heroic deaths of the soldiers of Rhode Island. The report of the Finance Committee had in it these elo- quent and stirring words : " Rhode Island owes them a debt of gratitude which she can never fully repay. Testi- monials they should have. All that granite and marble, bronze and gold can do to perpetuate the memory of their patriotism, heroism, and self sacrifice, should be done; done not only in high appreciation of their priceless offerings, but as an incitement to patriotic duty to young men of com- ing time." The Committee recommended " that a monu- ment becoming the affluence of the State and the memory of her illustrious heroes in this war with the rebels, be speedily erected." Subsequently, at the session of 1866, Dr. Grosvenor introduced a resolution for the appointment of a committee to select a site and obtain designs for the proposed monument, the result of which action was the elegant memorial in granite and bronze on Exchange Place, in Providence, directly in front of the City Hall. Dr. Grosvenor married, August 22, 1837, Rosa Anne, daughter of Hon. James Brown and Alice (Brown) Mason. On both her father's and her mother's side she was descended from the oldest and best families of the State. She possessed in her own right an ample fortune, and was a lady of rare quali- ties of mind and heart. Her death, which occurred April 12, 1872, brought grief to a large circle of friends. They had seven children, William, Jr., a graduate of Brown University in the class of 1860, who has charge of his father's business, and resides in Providence; James Brown Mason, the founder of the house of Grosvenor & Co., in New York, who are the chief agents for the sale of the goods of the Grosvenor-Dale Company; Amasa Mason, who died in infancy; Alice Mason, who became the wife

of Dr. John J. Mason, of New York; Robert, a graduate of Norwich University in the class of 1868, and until his death, July 19, 1879, associated with his brother in the home office; Eliza Howe, who died in infancy, and Rosa Anne, who is with her father.

EBB, THOMAS HOPKINS, M.D., son of Thomas Smith and Martha (Hopkins) Webb, was born in Providence September 21, 1801. While his father was residing for a time in Boston, he was placed under the tuition of Daniel Staniford, and by him was fitted for college. He was a graduate of Brown University in the class of 1829. On completing his college studies he commenced the study of medicine under the tuition of Dr. John Mackie, and attended lec- tures at the Medical School of Harvard College, where he received the degree of M.D. in 1825. He was engaged in the practice of his profession in Providence for nearly ten years, being occupied much of the time in matters of a scientific character, in which he took great interest. The Franklin Society and the Rhode Island Historical Society engaged much of his attention, and to the prosperity of these two organizations he devoted much thought and labor. He was one of the early founders and the first Librarian of the Providence Athenaeum. He was made an honorary member of the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries at Copenhagen, in consequence of the interest which he took in the inscriptions found on the celebrated " Dighton Rock," and supposed to have been made by Northmen who visited this part of the country centuries before the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth in 1620. For three years-1835-38-Dr. Webb was editor of the Providence Journal. In 1838 he removed to Boston, where he became connected with the publishing-house of Marsh, Capen & Lyon, and for several years was the Editor of the Common-School Journal. Government ap- pointed him, in 1846, Secretary of the Commission, of which Hon. J. R. Bartlett was the head, for running the Mexican boundary. The movement which resulted in making Kansas a free State greatly interested him. He was appointed Secretary of the Emigrant Aid Society, and busied himself in the organization and fitting out of bands of emigrants for that then new Territory. For some time previous to his death he was the Secretary and the inspir- ing spirit of the newly organized Massachusetts Techno- logical Institute, and to his efforts that flourishing institu- tion is largely indebted for its present prosperity. In such employments as these, in which he was devoting himself to the promotion of the welfare of his fellow-men, Dr. Webb spent a useful life. In 1833 he married Harriet Athearn, daughter of James and Lydia (Casey) Athearn, of Nantucket, Massachusetts. He died in Quincy, Mas- sachusetts, August 2, 1866.

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HAW, GENERAL JAMES, SR., son of Captain James and Elizabeth ( Westcott) Shaw, was born in Prov- idence, Rhode Island, July 30, 1801. His educa- tion was obtained in the public schools prior to 1812, when his father died, leaving him the oldest of five children. To provide for himself and aid his mother he entered the counting-room of the late Samuel Nightingale, serving in the city and in Georgiaville. For a year he filled a clerkship in New York. Returning to Providence, he became a clerk and bookkeeper for Mr. Peter F. Ewer, an oil manufacturer. Shortly afterward he formed a partnership with the late James M. Earl, under the firm-name of Shaw & Earl, who for many years were well-known merchants and oil manufacturers on South Water Street in Providence. The business was prostrated in 1846, and Mr. Shaw surrendered all his property to his creditors, and at the age of forty-six, with a large family dependent on him, began life anew as an accountant. But all men respected and esteemed him. From 1848 to 1852 he was Deputy Collector of Customs of the port of Providence. In business affairs he filled offices with the Dunnell Manufacturing Company, Messrs. Foster & Fisher, and the Providence Rubber Company and their successors the National Rubber Company. He early ex- hibited a military taste and talent, and united with the First Light Infantry Company of Providence August 20, 1820. Rising from the rank of sergeant to that of cap- tain in 1830, he became the prominent and efficient officer in the suppression of the Olney's Lane and Snowtown riots of September 21, 22, 23, and 24, 1831. The civil authorities, finding themselves unable to suppress the tumult, occasioned by a collision between a gang of sailors and the black inhabitants, ordered, through Governor Lemuel H. Arnold, the infantry under Captain Shaw to proceed to Olney's Lane via Hope Street, to meet the police who were to advance via Benefit Street. The in- fantry had been ordered out without ammunition, under the expectation that the bare presence of the soldiery would quiet the commotion. But the rioters turned and drove them to their armory, and continued the demolition of houses. A heavy rain prevented for the next night the assembling of the rioters. On the following evening they met in augmented force, and made their attack on Snowtown, near the head of the lane by Smith Street. Then all the militia were ordered out by Governor Arnold, with ammu- nition, both blank and ball cartridges. The reading of the Riot Act was followed by hoots, curses, and stones. Volleys with blank cartridges were fired without effect. The troops were pelted with stones, and many were severely bruised. The sheriff, Mr. Mumford, now ordered Captain Shaw to fire upon the assailants with bullets. Instantly Captain Shaw had his command prepared. Then followed the sharp, quick orders, " Ready ! Aim !" The mob hurled back defiant curses. The distinct orders were heard over all the crowd as far away as the old jail on Canal Street.

Then Captain Shaw, with his habitual caution, turning to the sheriff, asked, " Shall I fire ?" The sheriff answered, " You must." Then followed the ringing command, " Fire !" Nearly half a dozen of the leaders fell, and others were wounded. An awful silence reigned. In the next instant the living rioters fled. The tumult was quelled. The flying mob was pursued by the Cadets, who at that moment came down Smith Street. This was one of the first instances in which the citizen soldiery of our country were called upon to fire into a mob to disperse it. Captain Shaw commanded the Infantry for five years with the highest credit. In 1842, in the " Dorr troubles," he commanded the Third Ward Guards, and in the same year was elected Brigadier-General of the Second Brigade of State Militia, a position which he filled for five years. He married, October 1, 1827, Eliza Field Godfrey, of Providence, and had nine children, six of whom reached maturity : General James, Jr., elsewhere sketched; Cap- tain Richard G., Captain John P. (killed at Spottsylvania), Frederic, Mary E., and Anna F. The mother died Feb- ruary 20, 1879. General Shaw died March 27, 1880, in his seventy-ninth year, and was buried among the city fathers in the North Burying-Ground. "He was a man of incorruptible fidelity in business, of fervid patriotism, of a high sense of honor, of generous hospitality, and of warm affection, everywhere esteemed for his worth and excellence of character." Fitting honor is done him in the military records of the State.

HURSTON, HON. BENJAMIN BABCOCK, soll of Hon. Jeremiah and Sarah (Babcock) Thurston, was born in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, June 29, 1804. His early surroundings in the old Thurston mansion, alive with the best of social influences, were of peculiar advantage to him. Inheriting excellent powers, and enjoying superior opportunities of education, he early came into public notice, and gave evi- dence of usefulness. On the death of his father, in 1830, he succeeded to the occupancy of the Thurston homestead in Hopkinton City, and to the leading trade of the place. Naturally he became conspicuous in political affairs, fol- lowing the political school of his honored father. His wide public career commenced in 1838, when he was elected Lieutenant-Governor. He was elected Represen- tative to Congress, and served from 1847 to 1849, and again from 1851 to 1857. He was distinguished for his conscientiousness and his fidelity to all trusts. Since re- tiring from political life he has been actively engaged in banking and maritime interests. For some years past he has had his residence in New London, Connecticut, not, how- ever, leaving his post as a leading Director in Washington Bank, nor relinquishing his interest in Rhode Island affairs. His business associates have been, Hon. Nathan F. Dix- on, 2d, Oliver D. Wells, Charles Perry, Thomas Perry,

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Simeon F. Perry, Charles Maxson, David Smith, Joseph HI. Potter, and the Babcocks. He is a worthy and useful member of the Baptist Church. His abilities and ameni- ties have given him a large place in the confidence and cstecm of the circles in which he has moved. He married, first, March 5, 1828, Harriet E. Deshon, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Deshon, who died November 8, 1832; and, second, March 12, 1834, Frances E. Deshon, daugh- ter of John and Fanny Deshon, who died May 11, 1865. His children by the first marriage were Benjamin F. and George E., and by the second marriage, Harriet E., Fanny R., and John D. His sons, Benjamin F., and John D., have become prominent citizens and lawyers of Provi- dence.

ULLOCK, OTIS, M.D., son of Dr. Samuel and Betsey (Dorrance) Bullock, was born in Stirling, Connecticut, February 20, 1806. His father practiced medicine until about eighty years of age, most of the time in the town of Rehoboth, Mas- sachusetts, where he was born, and died at the ad- vanced age of ninety-two years. He was a man of strictly temperate habits throughout life, and attributed his lon- gevity to that fact. Dr. Otis Bullock was for three years a student at Day's Academy in Wrentham, Massachusetts. He studied medicine with Drs. Usher Parsons, of Provi- dence, and Jeremiah Williams, of Warren, Rhode Island, and took his degree of Doctor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School, in March, 1832, after a long and thorough course of study. For several years he was partner of Dr. Williams, of Warren, whom he succeeded, and acquired a large and successful practice. He was elected President of the Rhode Island Medical Society in 1866, and re- elected the following year. With the exception of the years 1866 and 1867, he has been Censor of the Rhode Island Medical Society since 1840. He has been a mem- ber of the Medical and Surgical Staff of the Rhode Island Hospital since the foundation of that institution, and has been a prominent member of the American Medical Asso- ciation since 1860. From 1838 to 1845 he was surgeon to the Militia of Rhode Island, for Bristol County. In August, 1836, he married Martha M. Randall, daughter of the late Judge Samuel Randall .. She died in 1837. In 1842 Dr. Bullock married Elizabeth H. Saunders, daughter of George Saunders, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She died in November, 1873, leaving two children, Herbert D. and George S. The issue of the first marriage was a daughter, Martha Otis. In 1875 Dr. Bullock married Mary F. Collins, daughter of Captain Haile Collins, of Warren. When Dr. Bullock entered upon his professional career his practice included both medicine and surgery, but as the Rhode Island Hospital took most cases of sur- gery he gradually relinquished that branch of the profes- sion, and has since devoted his entire time to his duties as

a physician. He enjoys the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends.

ENNIS, JAMES, now the oldest Elder of the Provi- dence Monthly Mceting in Providenee, son of Jon- athan and Hannah (Sherman) Dennis, was born in Newport, Rhode Island, February 1, 1801. His father was an elder, and his mother was a minister of the Society of Friends in Newport. They both died on the island of Rhode Island. James had only the common advantages of the public schools, but enjoyed superior home training. At the age of seventeen he went to Paw- tucket, Rhode Island, and learned thoroughly the art of manufacturing cotton and woollen goods preparatory to his manufacturing career, which finally extended through a period of about forty years. On reaching his majority he went to South Kingstown (Peace Dale) and built woollen machinery, and also run a cotton mill; thence he went to Great Falls, New Hampshire, where for two years he ope- rated a cotton mill. Subsequently he erected a cotton mill at Manchaug, Massachusetts. He next removed to Phe- nix, Rhode Island, and managed two large mills. From this place he went to Fiskeville, Rhode Island, and hiring a mill, in company with Horatio Rogers, engaged in the manufacture of cotton cloth; thence he removed to Paw- tucket, Rhode Island, and bought and operated the famous Jenckes mill at Central Falls, and built the model dam at that place. His career as a manufacturer was attended with success. He served as a school trustee for many years; was President of the Pawtucket Gas Company for about ten years, and President of the Pawtucket Institu- tion for Savings for nearly twenty years. Retiring from active business he removed to Providence in 1873. Whe- ther in business affairs, or in the religious meetings of the Friends, where he has long held a conspicuous place, his reliability, good judgment, and purity of life have been justly recognized. In 1828 he married Hannah Jackson, daughter of Richard and Nabby Jackson. She died in 1833, leaving a daughter Catharine, now wife of Benjamin Barker, of Tiverton, Rhode Island. On the 3Ist of Jan- uary, 1839, he married Anna T. Lockwood, daughter of Benoni and Phebe Lockwood, of Providence, the issue of the marriage being four sons and two daughters, three of whom are now living : James, Jr., Walter S., and Ed- ward L. Anna is an active member and officer of the Friends' Society. The Providence Monthly Meeting, of which James and Anna Dennis are prominent members and representatives, dates back to 1701; and the present meeting house, on Meeting Street, is in part the building that was erected for worship in 1726, on the site of the first house built in 1704. The present meeting numbers over two hundred members. On the long roll of eminent preachers, past and present, may be found such names as William Almy, Daniel Anthony, Gilbert Congdon, John

Daniel Reach

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Meader, Elizabeth Meader, Anna A. Jenkins, Moses H. Beede, Huldah M. Beede, Gertrude W. Cartland, Robert P. Gifford, Phebe R. Gifford. On the roll of elders we find Moses Brown, Obadiah Brown, Charles Appleton, Joseph Cartland, Elizabeth Congdon, Anna T. Dennis, Hannah F. Peckham. The subject of this sketch is always found, as an elder, at the head of the meetings, and active in all the interests of the Society. At present the Friends in Rhode Island have eighteen meetings, and the same number of meeting-houses. They have an honorable his- tory in the State.

EACH, REV. DANIEL, D.D., son of Apollos and Chloe Leach, was born in Bridgewater, Massa- chusetts, June 6, 1806. His early education was such as the schools of that time afforded. In these he was studious, and laid a solid foundation for the higher departments of learning to which he sub- sequently devoted himself. Possessing an active, self- reliant spirit, he, at the age of sixteen years, left the quiet of his native town to engage in mercantile pursuits in Bos- ton. After becoming familiar with the rules and customs of trade, his mind, seriously impressed with the great truths of Divine revelation, inclined to the Christian ministry, and the more suitably to prepare himself for its duties, he entered Brown University in 1825, and graduated in 1830, his term having been extended one year on account of ill-health. While in college he became greatly pro- ficient in mathematics. His knowledge of the ancient languages was also marked. The study of Hebrew, for which he had a special fondness, he continued to pursue after leaving the University, and made himself a thorough master of the nice shades of meaning to be drawn from the original tongue of the Psalter. He studied divinity at Andover, Massachusetts, two years, and one year with Bishop Griswold, by whom he was ordained an Episcopal clergyman in 1833. He was settled in Quincy, Massa- chusetts, five years, when he retired from the rectorship and accepted the position of Principal of the Classical School in Roxbury, Massachusetts, in which he continued four years, and then opened a private school, which he taught six years with eminent success. His interest in the cause of popular education led to an engagement as an agent of the Massachusetts State Board of Education, an associate of Dr. Barnas Sears. In the discharge of the duties of this office he examined the condition of the school- houses (more than one thousand in number) and the schools throughout the State, noting their defects, besides devoting much time to advising with school committees on points which conduce to the highest prosperity of schools. In 1853, in a report to the Board, he presented an improved system of ventilation for school-houses, de- vised by himself, which was soon introduced where needed, to the increased comfort and health of pupils. This sys-

tem has also been introduced into school-houses and other buildings in Providence, with entire satisfaction. In 1855 Dr. Leach was called to succeed Professor Samuel S. Greene, as Superintendent of the Public Schools of Provi- dence, Rhode Island, the duties of which office he has, for twenty-five years successfully discharged. His previ- ously large and varied experience, no less than his thor- ough knowledge of the philosophy of education, emi- nently qualified him for his position, and under his ener- getic and judicions management, the Public Schools of Providence have been distinguished in some of the best methods of teaching. The Quarterly and Annual Reports of Dr. Leach bear the impress of a discriminating mind, and have been eagerly sought by educators both in this country and Europe. In 1866 Rev. Dr. Frazer, a Com- missioner appointed by the British Government to inspect the schools of the United States, visited Providence, and in his Report to Parliament spoke of the Public Schools of that city as among those he deemed worthy of special commendation, and particularly the remarkable accuracy of the pupils in spelling. In 1873 Dr. Leach prepared a series of directions to teachers of the Primary and Inter- mediate Schools, embracing the best methods of teaching the alphabet, spelling, reading, geography, arithmetic, general exercises, and object lessons, together with judi- cious counsels in the administration of discipline. The methods thus indicated (some of which have recently been published), have contributed much to the advancement of the schools, and have been adopted in many other places. The educational views of Dr. Leach are comprehensively expressed in the following extract from an address deliver- ed by him at the dedication of Providence High School in 1878: " The first as well as the highest aim of education should ever be to develop in harmony and to strengthen all the powers and faculties, both of mind and body, by judicious training, beginning with the simplest elements of thought, to lead the pupil on, step by step, to think clearly, to reason correctly, and to classify all the materials of knowledge according to their true relations. The memory should be the repository only of important and well-attested facts and truths systematically arranged, and not burdened with useless details and words without mean- ing. An education that is chiefly ornamental and showy instead of thorough and exact, creating and fostering a distaste for labor, and fitting one especially for a life of leisure rather than for its active work, and responsible duties, fails of one of its noblest purposes. But all true culture, to be valuable, must have a moral as well as an intellectual basis, ever inspiring noble aims and aspira- tions for a pure and elevated character. It then adorns and ennobles every condition of life, the humblest as well as the highest. The education we have thus designated is now demanded by the spirit of the age, as an essential and vital element in all human progress." In 1870 Dr. Leach was elected a member of the Rhode Island Board

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The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Rhode Island, Part 68

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