The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 11

Author: Bicknell, Thomas Williams, 1834-1925. cn
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: New York, The American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 978

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He was also prominent in athletics and was chosen captain of his class when a freshman and held the place during the entire course. He was also class presi- dent for several years. Bissel Gymnasium was erected at Dartmouth in 1866 and much attention was given to athletics by the faculty and the students. Regular ex- ercise in the gymnasium was made a part of the col- lege course. After a course in physical culture at a school taught by Professor P. G. Welsh, of Yale and Dartmouth, he was made an assistant instructor to Professor Welsh during his junior and senior years.

He was made a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and had the pleasure as head of the Pi Chapter of inducting General William Tecumseh Sher- man, who was present as the guest of the college at the celebration of its centennial anniversary, into honorary membership in that fraternity. In passing it may be said that General Sherman was received by the students of the college with such genuine manifestations of ad- miration and regard that the aged hero's heart greatly warmed toward his young countrymen. He went about among them during his few days' visit on terms of pleas- ant familiarity. He seemed to be living over the days of his own school life, so jovial and happy did he appear.

Although young Littlefield, like many of his college mates in those days, was thrown upon his own re- sources to meet the expenses of his education and much of his time was taken up in work to enable him to meet those expenses, he won some honors. At the Junior Exhibition of his class he gave the Greek oration,

HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND

the parts being assigned by the faculty on the basis of scholarship and the Greek oration being ranked as the highest honor. At the Senior Exhibition of the two open literary societies of the college, which was the most important literary function of the college course, he was selected by his society as its represen- tative in the debate, the leading part on such occasions. The subject debated seems quite modern. It was: "Are majorities the safest rulers?" The selection of that subject indicates the trend of the student mind. Singularly enough he also gave an address during his freshman year before his literary society on the sub- ject, "The True Grandeur of Nations." not knowing at that time that Charles Sumner had given an address on the same subject.

The faculty sent many students whose preparation was deficient or who failed in their examinations to Mr. Littlefield to be tutored. At one time there were four- teen undergraduates under his tuition.

1869, the year of his graduation, was also the cen- tennial of the college, an event of unusual interest in its history, and was celebrated with an elaborate pro- gram of addresses by distinguished alumni of the col- lege. The exercises, which occupied several days, were held in a great tent on the campus and multitudes of old graduates and friends of the college of more or less distinction attended. At the graduating exercises of the class a most unexpected and gratifying honor was given to the valedictorian of the class as he came for- ward to pronounce his address. Apparently without any prearrangement, the entire class arose and vigorously applauded their classmate.

For several years after graduation Mr. Littlefield taught in high schools in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He was sub-master in the Charlestown, Massa- chusetts, high school, and for three years principal of the Newport, Rhode Island, high school. From that place he was called to Westerly as superintendent of the village schools and principal of the high school. The report of the superintendent of schools of New- port for the year 1872-73 contains these words: "Mr. Littlefield is a man of sound and liberal scholarship and an efficient teacher and earnest worker. His amiable disposition and rare virtues have endeared him to his pupils and associates, and I am sure that we share in their regrets that the school must lose his labors and influence." At Westerly he was equally successful as a teacher and superintendent, and very reluctantly re- signed his position there though offered a large in- crease of salary, in order to prepare himself for his chosen profession.

In October, 18,4, he entered the Law School of Boston University, and completed the three years' course in two years, graduating in 1876. In May, 1876, he was admitted to the Boston bar, but immediately went to Providence and entered the office of James Tillinghast, Esq., where he pursued the study of local statutes and court procedure during the six months required by Rhode Island law, and was admitted to the Rhode Island bar in January, 1877, and in due course was admitted to practice before the United States courts.

He soon took a leading place among the lawyers of the State. His success has been won, not by superficial

and showy qualities, but by thorough, careful and con- scientious preparation of his cases and by the energy and resourcefulness with which he has prosecuted them.

In all matters pertaining to the improvement of the law and the elevation of professional and judicial standards he has been a fearless leader. On the re- organization of the judicial system of the State in 1904-05, made necessary by a constitutional amend- ment, he was appointed a member of the commission which revised the laws relating to the constitution and jurisdiction of the courts, and reported the system of law known as the Court and Practice Act. When again an amendment to the constitution of the State was adopted in 1909, providing for the election of members of the house of representatives by districts, he was appointed a member-at-large of the commission which divided the State into representative districts, and was one of the sub-committee of three to whom was com- mitted the preparation of the statutes necessary to carry into effect the radical changes in the method of electing assemblymen resulting from that amendment.

Mr. Littlefield's practice has been exclusively on the civil side of the court and mostly in equity and probate causes and in matters pertaining to real estate, al- though he has had a wide experience in jury trials. From the beginning of his career he has been engaged in some of the most important litigation which has come before the Rhode Island courts, both in regard to the legal principles involved and the pecuniary interests at stake.

When Roger Williams Park was enlarged about 1890, he was counsel for the owners of the greater part of Cunliff's Pond and the surrounding land which was taken by the City of Providence by the exercise of the right of eminent domain. The titles to various parts of that property were very defective and many conflicting claims arose. There probably has never been a single case involving so many difficult questions of law and fact before a Rhode Island court as grew out of the litigation over the titles of the heirs of Joseph G. Johnson in a large part of the land taken by the city. All the questions litigated were decided in favor of the Johnson heirs, his clients.

When the Union Trust Company, of Providence, closed its doors in 1907, the lawyers representing most of the depositors in that institution chose Mr. Little- field to represent them on the depositors' committee which was raised to assist in evolving a plan for the reorganization of that institution. He was made sec- retary of the committee, and also was retained, with Cyrus M. Van Slyck, Esq., and Frank L. Hinckley, Esq., as counsel for the depositors to represent them in all court proceedings and in formulating a plan of reorganization. Cooperating with Rathbone Gardner, Esq., counsel for the receivers, a plan was evolved which was put into execution and successfully carried out. The plan and its execution were absolutely unique in the financial history of the country and has been pronounced by eminent authorities a most remarkable piece of work. Its success, however, was quite as much due to the splendid co-operation of the legal profession and business men of the city and State as to any merit of the plan itself, however great that may have been.

BIOGRAPHICAL

Mr. Littlefield was senior member of the law firm of Littlefield & Barrows from 1899 until Mr. Barrows was unanimously elected by the General Assembly a Justice of the Superior Court in 1913.

As the first referee in bankruptcy appointed in this State under the U. S. Bankruptcy Act of 1898, Mr. Littlefield had much to do with the interpretation of the law in its early stages. Some of the cases in which he wrote opinions which are reported in the American Bankruptcy Reports, were and still are leading cases on the questions decided. He has been continuously re-appointed referee since his first appointment, in conjunction with Mr. Barrows since 1900, until Mr. Barrows' elevation to the bench, and is now serving his eighth term in that office.

In politics he is a Progressive Democrat, having joined that party during Mr. Cleveland's administration. He was a candidate of that party for governor of the State in the year 1900, and has twice since that time declined a renomination for that office, owing to his business engagements. He was a member of the Rhode Island Senate from the city of Pawtucket, 1894-1898, and drafted the first caucus law which was passed by either house of the General Assembly.

Mr. Littlefield has always taken a deep interest in all questions relating to the educational, moral and religious life of the communities in which he has resided.

He was elected a member of the Pawtucket School Committee for two terms, 1897-1901 and 1905-1908, hav- ing been elected first by the Democratic party and sec- ond by the Republican as a non-partisan candidate. He was chairman of the committee, 1898-1901.

His services have been much in demand as a lecturer and orator on historical, political and other subjects, and he has delivered many addresses before varions societies, such as the Rhode Island Historical Society, the Old Colony Historical Society, the Providence Art Club, the Old Bridgewater Historical Society and the Bridgewater Normal School. He delivered on June 13, 1906, the oration at the celebration of the 250th an- niversary of the founding of the town of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and the Phi Beta Kappa address at Dartmouth College in 1910.

The honorary degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by Dartmouth College in 1909, on which occasion the following words were addressed to the recipient : "Nathan Whitman Littlefield, student as well as practitioner of the law, gifted in public speech, sub- ordinating personal interests to the public weal, upon you, as one who has carried the high ideal of his col- ege life into his later career, I confer the honorary degree of Master of Arts."

Mr. Littlefield is a member of the Pawtucket Con- gregational Church and has been a superintendent of he Sunday school for two terms of several years each, and was made a life member of the Congregational Sunday School Society by the Sunday school of the Central Falls Congregational Church, where he taught Bible class for several years. He is vice-president of he Rhode Island Congregational Conference and pres- dent of the Rhode Island Home Missionary Society, ind was the legal member of the committee of the Con- erence which prepared the constitution and effected he incorporation of the Conference in 1912.

In the campaign of the Men and Religion Forward Movement of 1911-12, he was chairman of the Com- mittee on Auxiliary Cities and chairman of the Com- mittee of the Whole which carried on the work in the cities of Pawtucket and Central Falls, and gave much time and thought to the promotion of that cause.

He is a vice-president of the National Anti-Saloon League, and president of the Rhode Island Anti-Saloon League and has represented that society in several con- tests before the Supreme Court of the State involving the interpretation of statutes relating to the suppres- sion of intemperance, and has delivered numerous ad- dresses before conventions and the churches on the work of the League and the cause of temperance.

He is a member and officer of the National Bar As- sociation ; a member and vice-president of the Rhode Island Bar Association; a member of the National Municipal League; the American Society for the Judi- cial Settlement of International Disputes; the National Security League; the Rhode Island Historical Society ; the Old Colony Historical Society; honorary member and trustee of the Old Bridgewater Historical Society; member and former governor of the Rhode Island Chapter of Mayflower Descendants; assistant-general of the National Society of Mayflower Descendants; president of the National Pilgrim Society; and presi- dent of the Society of the Founders of Providence Plantations. He has always been a lover of out-of-door sports and is an enthusiastic yachtsman and golfer.

On August 13, 1873, Mr. Littlefield married Arletta V. Redman, daughter of Hon. Erastus Redman, of Ellsworth, Maine, who was for many years postmaster of that city and collector of the port. She died at Providence, Rhode Island, October 18, 1878, and on December 1, 1886, he married Mary Wheaton Ellis, daughter of Asher Ellis, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and has two sons: Nathan Whitman, Jr., born April 20, 1877, Brown University, 1899; and Alden Llewellyn, born December 19, 1889, was a student at Dartmouth College, class of 1914. Mrs. Littlefield is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and regent of the Flintlock and Powderhorn Chapter, of Paw- tucket, Rhode Island, having joined through her an- cestor, Deacon Asa Wane, of Dedham, Massachusetts. She was also vice-chairman of the Pawtucket Woman's Liberty Loan Committee. She is a lineal descendant of Rev. John Ellis, one of the early pastors of the ancient Newman Congregational Church of East Prov- idence, Rhode Island, formerly Rehoboth, Massachu- setts. She is also a member of the Pawtucket Congre- gational Church, and takes an active part in the church work, being a member of various church societies.

REV. HENRY IRVING CUSHMAN, S. T. D .- For thirty-five years, 1875-1910, the honored pastor of the First Universalist Church of Providence, Rhode Island, Dr. Cushman was instrumental in promoting the great growth and expansion of that church during the period mentioned, his great gifts of oratory, and his devotion to the cause he loved combined with a charming personality to create a well-beloved and suc- cessful pastor. He is now approaching man's allotted years, but there is no diminution of his splendid pow- ers, and he serves Tufts College as Professor of

HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND

Homiletics and East Providence Universalist Church as stated supply with all the zeal and devotion of a beginner. He is a son of Hartwell Coleman and Mary Ann (Ear]) Cushman, of Orford, New Hampshire, his parents both of ancient and honorable New England family.

Henry Irving Cushman was born in Orford, New Hampshire, July 29, 1811. He completed a course of graded and high school study at Chelsea, Massachu- setts, then entered Dartmouth College, whence he was graduated A. B., class of 1865, A. M .. class of 1868. He was ordained a minister of the Universalist church in 1867, and during that year and the next served the Second Church of Cambridge, Massachusetts, as its pastor. From 1868 to 1875 he served the Second Uni- versalist Church of Boston as associate pastor, and in 1875 was called to the First Universalist Church of Providence, as its pastor, a happy, harmonious, faith- ful relation which existed until 1910. In 1887 Tufts College conferred the honorary degree, S. T. D., and since 1910 he has returned so far as possible some at least of the honors and benefits received, serving Crane Theological School, Tufts College, as Professor of Homiletics. After severing pastoral relation with the First Church in 1910, Dr. Cushman accepted that posi- tion and has held it until the present. He did not, however, withdraw from all ministerial work, but has for the past eight years served the Universalist church of East Providence as stated supply. He is an ex- president of the board of trustees of Dean Academy, of the Rhode Island Universalist Convention, and is an official of many charitable societies of Providence. His Greek letter fraternities are Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Delta Phi.

Dr. Cushman married (first), in Chicago, Illinois, April 13, 1868, Emily Eliza Gilman, who died March 14, 1895, the mother of six children: Alice, deceased ; Ruth Gilman, married William G. Anthony; Robert C., of Brookline, Massachusetts; Marcus Gilman, deceased ; Earl Baldwin, deceased; and Albert Henry. Dr. Cush- man married (second), in Providence, July 27, 1904, Lucy Daniels Carpenter, born December 14, 1861, who succeeded her honored father, Charles Earl Carpenter, of Providence, as superintendent of the Sunday school of the First Universalist Church. From youth she has been active in church work, as was her father, and is still deeply interested in the welfare of the East Prov- idence Church over which her husband is stated supply. She is a member of the State Federation of Woman's Clubs, and an ex-president and State secretary of the General Federation, also is president of the East Prov- idence Needlework Guild. Charles Earl Carpenter, father of Mrs. Cushman, was a son of Earl Carpenter, son of Nathaniel Carpenter, son of Benjamin (2) Car- penter, son of Benjamin (1) Carpenter, son of William Carpenter, of Amesbury, Wiltshire, England, who ar- rived in New England, June 24, 1638, and soon after- ward settled in Rhode Island, a contemporary of Roger Williams, and one of the original members of the First Baptist Church in America. Rhode Island was the home of each head of a generation in this branch, Mrs. Cushman of the seventh. Charles Earl Carpenter was born in Providence, June 22, 1824, and there died after a life of honored usefulness, June 28, 1898, one of the

best-known of the older men of Providence. The Cush . man family reside in the old Carpenter home at No. 26 Pitman street, Providence.

HOWARD V. ALLEN, banker and business man and a prominent citizen of Warwick, Rhode Island. is a native of East Greenwich, born August 15, 18,8. Mr. Allen is a member of an old and distinguished Rhode Island family, and is descended from William Allen, the founder of the family in this region. From William Allen the line runs through John, Thomas, Thomas (2), Judge John Allen, to Thomas Gould Allen, the great- grandfather of the Mr. Allen of this sketch.

Thomas Gould Allen, son of Judge John Allen, was born September 1, 1778, at North Kingstown, Rhode Island. He was a prominent man in the community, and enjoyed the respect and esteem of all his fellow- citizens. He married Mary Hill, and they were the parents of nine children, as follows: Mary Ann, born April 21, 1802; Phebe Waterman, born October 7, 1803; Charlotte, born August 9, 1805; Sarah Greene, born August 19, 1807; Caroline, born September 19, 1809; Daniel Gould, mentioned below; Lydia May, born May 10, 1813; Thomas Gould, Jr., born November 21, 1815; and Harriett.

Daniel Gould Allen, son of Thomas Gould and Mary (Hill) Allen, was born December 28, 1810, at Kings- town, and died there January 16, 1895, when over eighty- four years of age. As a child he attended the local schools, and in 1831 went to Wilbraham, Massachu- setts, where he was prepared for college. In 1833 he entered Wesleyan University, where he took the scien- tific course and was graduated with the class of 1839. Mr. Allen had already determined upon teaching as a career, and having completed his preparation for that important calling returned to Rhode Island, where he purchased the old Kent Academy and opened a school. This institution, under his masterly management, grew in popularity and soon became one of the well-known institutions of the place. Mr. Allen devoted himself unwearyingly to his school for two years, and in 1841 sold it to the Providence conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1843 he was appointed its prin- cipal and continued to act in that capacity during that and the following year. Upon the close of the school's session in 1844, however, Mr. Allen retired from this profession and came to live on his farm at Kingstown, near East Greenwich, where he built the handsome old residence that still stands there. Mr. Allen was, in his youth, a Whig in politics, but upon the organization of the Republican party joined the latter and was very active in town, State and National affairs. He held a number of important public offices, was president of the town schools, moderator at town meetings, presi- dent of the Town Council, justice of the peace, and, in 1850 a member of the Rhode Island State Legislature. In his religious belief he was a Methodist, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at East Greenwich. He was greatly interested in local history, and his memory made him a valuable authority on such matters. In the latter years of his life he devoted his time to the writing of the "History of the Quidnesett Country." Daniel Gould Allen married, November 26, 1840, Amanda Waterman Allen, daughter of Colonel

Frank Bailey Smith. Und .

BIOGRAPHICAL

Ray Green Allen. On November 26, 1890, they cele- brated the golden anniversary of their wedding. Mr. Allen died January 16, 1895, and his wife died in Sep- tember, 1904. They were the parents of six children, as follows: William Waterman, born May 23, 1842, mar- ried A. Ella Reynolds, and is now deceased; Charles Henry, mentioned below; Thomas Gould, born Febru- ary I, 1847, and is a. resident of East Greenwich; John Edwin, born November 15, 1848, of East Greenwich; Frank Waldron, born July 10, 1851, and now a resident of Dallas, Texas; Daniel Gould, Jr., born September 2, 1854, and now an agent of the Swift Packing Com- pany at Passaic, New Jersey.

Charles Henry Allen, son of Daniel Gould and Amanda Waterman (Allen) Allen, was born July I, 1844, at East Greenwich, Rhode Island. His education was obtained at the local public schools, and at Kent Academy at East Greenwich, of which his father had been the principal. Upon attaining his majority he went to Providence, where he secured employment in the works of the Gorham Company for the purpose of learning the silversmith's trade, and there remained for three years. He was then employed at Brown & Sharpe's Sewing Machine Factory, after which he spent ten years in association with his uncle, Thomas Gould Allen, in the grain, coal, and lumber business at East Greenwich, Rhode Island. He then returned to the Brown & Sharpe factory, where he remained for two years longer. In December, 1894, Mr. Allen retired from active business life and took up his residence on the home farm, but in September, 1918, he sold his farm and now resides in East Greenwich. He is a member of the Rhode Island Chapter of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Charles Henry Allen married, November 13, 1877, Nellie Louise Clapp, of Pomfret, Connecticut, and they were the parents of one child, Howard Vernon Allen, with whose career we are here especially concerned.

Howard Vernon Allen attended the East Greenwich Academy, and was graduated from its commercial de- partment. After completing his school studies he en- tered the employ, in 1893, of the Commercial National Bank of Providence, his first position being that of clerk. Here he was successively promoted to higher posts until in 1900, when the Manufacturers' Trust Company of Providence bought out the East Greenwich National Bank and the East Greenwich Institution for Savings, and opened the East Greenwich branch of the Manufacturers' Trust Company, Mr. Allen accepted the position of assistant manager. Eight years after this, in 1908, he became manager when the Union Trust Company succeeded the Manufacturers' Trust Company in the control of the banking business of this section. Mr. Allen has also been interested in the real estate business and is a member of the firm known as the Allen Estate Agency, dealers in real estate. He is a member of the East Greenwich Chamber of Com- merce, and serves as president of that body. Mr. Allen is a Republican in his political convictions, and has been town treasurer of the town of Warwick since November, 1912, continuously to the present time. He s a past president of the Rhode Island Society of the Sons of the American Revlution. He also serves as president of the Visiting Nurses Anti-Tubercular So-

ciety of East Greenwich, as captain of the Varnum Continentals, a patriotic military organization of the place, and as captain of the Sixteenth Company of the Rhode Island State Guard. Mr. Allen has taken a very active and energetic part in war work, participating with great enthusiasm in Liberty Loan Drives, and as chairman in the Red Cross organization and United War Work campaign. He was the vice-chairman of the Warwick District in the Liberty Loan drives. He is a member and past master of King Solomon Lodge, No. II, Free and Accepted Masons, East Greenwich, and he is a member and a vestryman of St. Luke's Episcopal Church of East Greenwich.

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The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 11

Author: Bicknell, Thomas Williams, 1834-1925. cn Publication date: 1920 Publisher: New York, The American Historical Society Number of Pages: 978

Author: Bicknell, Thomas Williams, 1834-1925. cn
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: New York, The American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 978