The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 14

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

USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV > Part 14

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Dr. Jordan married, in St. Mary's Church, Provi- dence, June 27, 1904, Louise Gertrude Atkinson. They are the parents of two daughters: Helen Louise, born February 23, 1906; Marian Gertrude, born May 22, 1908. The family home is a beautiful Broad street resi- dence, purchased by Dr. Jordan several years ago.

JONATHAN VARIAN BARNES-At his home at Greenville avenue, in the town of Johnston, Rhode Island, Mr. Barnes is enjoying the material results of a life of industry and usefulness, and happy in the respect and esteem of his community he can review his life with the satisfaction of a man who has successfully solved many of life's problems. The history of this branch of the Barnes family began in New England with Thomas Barnes, who was in Swansea, Massachusetts, in 1669, and was a proprietor of Rehoboth, in 1689, although not then living there. He was a man of piety, and in 1693 was ordained pastor of the Second Baptist Church, con- tinuing as pastor of that church until his death, June 8, 1706. His first wife, Prudence, was the mother of all his children, his second, whom he married November 12, 1694, being a widow, Mrs. Elizabeth King.

(II) Peter Barnes, son of Thomas and Prudence Barnes, was born June 1, 1682, and died in 1757. He was a carpenter by trade, and for some years followed his trade in Providence, but later located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, on land which his father had bought from the Indians, the original deed which is preserved in the Barnes family bearing date, March 27, 1659. Some of this old Indian purchase is yet owned in the Barnes family, and the old house now standing, north of the one-time home of Orrin Barnes, is believed to have been built by Peter Barnes, and rebuilt by his son, Cap- tain Enoch Barnes. In 1708 Peter Barnes was made a freeman, and prior to his death he divided his large estate into three farms, giving one to each of his sons. He continued to reside at his Smithfield home until his death, and then was buried in the private family cemetery upon the farm. He married, September 29, 1716, Margaret Borden, daughter of Jonathan and Margaret (Angell) Whipple, and widow of Joseph Borden. They were the parents of : Nathan, died unmarried; Enoch, of fur- ther mention; Lydia; and John, who moved to Con- necticut.

(III) Captain Enoch Barnes, son of Peter and Mar- garet (Borden) Barnes, was born at the homestead in Smithfield, Rhode Island, August 18, 1721, there always resided, receiving a farm from his father as a gift. While he was a prosperous farmer and agriculturist, he was one of the foremost men of his community in public life and eminently religions. He was for a long time a justice of the peace, and so deep was his interest in religious matters that prior to the building of a church in the locality he gave the use of his house for purposes of worship. He married, February 23, 1751, Alice Brown.

(IV) Colonel Levi Barnes, only son of Captain Enoch and Alice (Brown) Barnes, was born at the old homestead in Smithfield, Rhode Island, March 1, 1753, and became one of the most important men of his town. He succeeded his father in the ownership of the old farm, and was also head of a prosperous coopering business. To each of his three sons he gave a well- stocked farm, and to each of his six daughters $500 in cash, these gifts only being possible to a man of large means, and bears out the statement that he was one of the wealthiest men of his town. He served as a private in the Revolutionary War, in the defense of Newport, and it is related that his father, Captain Enoch Barnes, although then an old man, came to New- port and served as his son's substitute for a time.

HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND

After the war he became prominent in the State Militia, and on May 12, 1788, was commissioned major of the second regiment, Providence County Militia, by Gov- .ernor John Collins. Later he was commissioned lien- tenant-colonel of the same regiment by Governor Arthur Fenner, the date, May 10, 1790, both of these commis- sions being preserved in the family. Like his father, he was a very religious man, and his home was often thrown open for public worship. He built a school- house near his home for the use of his and the neigh- bors' children, that schoolhouse now being used as a dwelling. When the Powder Mill turnpike was built he donated one mile of right of way through his land, stipti- lating, however, that his posterity should travel the turnpike toll free as long as they owned and occupied the land. He was known far and near, but took little part in political affairs, prefering to serve his commun- ity as a private citizen.

Colonel Barnes married, July 2, 1775, Hannah Water- man, who survived him, a daughter of Resolved Water- man, of Johnston, Rhode Island. They were the par- ents of nine children: Jonathan, of further mention; Levi, born May 13, 1792, and was buried on his farm, he married Joanna Payne; Nathan, died unmarried; Nancy, married Annanias Mowry, and settled on a farm in what is now North Smithfield; Deborah, mar- ried William Mowry, and also resided in North Smith- field; Hannah, married (first) David Warren, (second) Dennis Balton, and lived in North Smithfield; Elsa, married Asa Manning, of Smithfield; Mercy, married Arnold Mowry, of North Smithfield; Mary, married Martin Tefft and lived in North Smithfield.

(V) Jonathan Barnes, eldest son of Colonel Levi and Hannah ( Waterman) Barnes, was born at the homestead in Smithfield, and there lived all his life, receiving from his father the farm given by his great- grandfather, Peter Barnes, to his son Nathan. He married Nancy Lovell, and was succeeded by his son, Jonathan (2) Barnes.

(VI) Jonathan (2) Barnes, son of Jonathan (1) and Nancy (Lovell) Barnes, was born at the Smithfield homestead, February 11, 1821, and resided there until about forty years of age, then settled at Graniteville, Rhode Island. There he followed his trade, stone- cutter, establishing in business for himself, so continuing for many years, when he engaged in dairying, which he continued until his death, August 3, 1894, at the age of seventy-three years. He was a Republican in politics, and took an active part in town affairs, serving in dif- ferent offices, including that of representative to the General Assembly. He was a member of the Episcopal church, and in a public-spirited way ardent in all that affected the welfare of his community. He married Joanna E. Staples, of Smithfield, a sister of Arnold Staples, and a daughter of Welcome and Phoebe (Eddy) Staples. Welcome Staples, a ship carpenter, died in New York, his widow surviving him until April 7, 1864, dying in her sixty-fourth year. She was buried in a private graveyard in the town of Smithfield, Rhode Island, about midway between Centerdale and Enfield. Mrs. Joanna E. Barnes died at the home of her daugh- ter, Mrs. Smith, in Johnston, Rhode Island, May 10, 1896. Jonathan and Joanna E. Barnes were the par- ents of five children : I. Lucinda R., the deceased

widow of Jarvis Smith; she died March 16, 1917, at the age of 73 years. 2. Horace Arnold, died October 9, 1907; he and his wife, who was Adjarine Manchester, were parents of six children, three of whom survive. 3. Lucius, died in infancy. 4. Jonathan Varian, of further mention. 5. Maria Amanda, married (first) Charles Cram, (second) George Cram, and now resides in Manton, Rhode Island. By her first marriage Mrs. Cram had two children: Irene Bertha, married Walter Howard Woodmansie and Lizzie Iona, now deceased.

(VII) Jonathan Varian Barnes, youngest son of Jon- athan (2) and Joanna E. (Staples) Barnes, was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island, April 4, 1856. He was educated in the public school of Johnston, and at Jencks Mowry's Academy, and after finishing his studies began business life as his father's assistant in the milk busi- ness, father and son conducting the business until the former's death, in 1894, after a connection of thirty years with the milk business. From that year, 1894, Jonathan V. Barnes became sole owner of the business, and until October 1, 1917, conducted a profitable milk and dairy business, giving it his close, personal manage- ment. In 1895 he built his present house and other- wise improved a part of the old Manton farm, the same year occupying the home on Greenville avenue, which has since been their home. Mr. Barnes, now retired, having sold his business in 1917, reviews a business life as a milk dealer covering a period of forty-seven years, beginning in 1870 as a youth of fourteen years. Honorable and just in all his dealings, he retired with the respect of every man with whom he had come in business contact.

A Republican in politics, Mr. Barnes has given his town loyal service, and has held about every town office. He has served as a member of the Town Council and president of that body for three years; member of the school committee for six years; police constable for twenty years; and during the years 1913-14, represented Johnston in the Rhode Island General Assembly. Pub- lic-spirited and progressive, he has always stood for all that was best in local government, and numbers his friends everywhere. His public service has been of value to his town and there is no diminishing of his interest and public spirit.

He married, December 16, 1874, Anna E. Matthew- son, born April 21, 1852, daughter of James Olney Matthewson, whose career is recorded elsewhere in this work in connection with that of his son, Byron Matthew- son. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes are the parents of seven children : 1. Walter Varian, born March 13, 1876; now engaged in the drug business in Providence; he mar- ried Stella Tyas. 2. Nettie Josephine, born August 13, 1877; a graduate of State Normal School; married, August 13, 1907, Professor Frank Arthur Burr, of Cornell University; children: Edith Barnes and Evel- yn Josephine Burr. 3. Anna Louise, born August 19, 1878, resides at home. 4. Lucius Irving, born January 4, 1880; married (first), Grace Carpenter, who died February 9, 1915, leaving four children, Kenneth, Ruth, Charles Henry and Estella; Lucius I. married (second) Amey Sutcliffe, of Scituate, October 11, 1916, and now resides in Providence. 5. Nelson Sweet, born October 8, 1882, died February 5, 1894. 6. Edith Evelyn, born

BIOGRAPHICAL

July 9, 1886; married John J. Dolan, of Auburn, Rhode Island, and has a son, John J. (2). 7. Ethel Sweet, born January 18, 1897, resides at home.

LE ROY FALES-The Fales name has long been connected with manufacturing in Rhode Island, the first important man of the name to engage in that business being David Gilmore Fales, who in the eighteen-twen- ties was classed as one of the principal men of the village of Central Falls. He was the founder of the firm, Fales & Jenks, the forerunner of The Fales & Jenks Machine Company, a business with which his son, John Richmond Fales, was connected all his active years, and with which Le Roy Fales, son of John Richmond Fales, is now connected as vice-president and director.

David Gilmore Fales was a man of great mechanical talent, and an expert machinist, but was able to set a broken limb or heal a dislocated joint with equal skill. He laid the foundation for a great business, and when he and his partners passed away, able sons, well- trained in the business, were at hand to develop what is now the well-equipped and prosperous Fales & Jenks Machine Company. John Richmond Fales, son of the founder, was a man of strong character, self-reliant and resourceful, quiet and reserved in manner, but of high personal worth, leaving his impress upon his times both as a business man of unimpeach- able integrity and a citizen of just life and good example. Le Roy Fales is the third in direct line to have a voice in the management of the Fales & Jenks Machine Company, he also being prominent in the affairs of other corporations, both in Paw- tucket and Central Falls, Rhode Island, while he has also become well-known in public life and in both fra- ternity and club. He is of the eighth generation of the family founded in New England by James Fales, whose name also occurs in the early records as "Vales."

James Fales came from Chester, England, and on September 10, 1636, signed the original Dedham Plan- tation Covenant. He was an early settler of Dedham, the name being then Contentment; was admitted a freeman there in 1653, and in 1675 was a soldier in King Philip's War. His home in Dedham was on what is now Sprague street, opposite Greenlodge street. He married there, Anna Brock, sister of Rev. John Brock, of the Isle of Shoals, they the parents of Rev. Henry Brock. From James Fales the line descends through his third son, Peter Fales, born in 1668, and his wife, Abi- gail (Robbins) Fales; their son, Peter (2) Fales, and his wife, Sarah (Allen) Fales; their son, Peter (3) Fales, and his wife, Avis (Bicknell) Fales; their son, John Fales, and his wife, Roby (Gilmore) Fales; their son, David Gilmore Fales, and his wife, Parthenis C. (Sprague) Fales; their son, John Richmond Fales, and his wife, Harriet B. (Lee) Fales; their son, Le Roy Fales.

David Gilmore Fales, of the sixth generation, was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, June 4, 1806, came to Central Falls, Rhode Island, a young man of eighteen, and there learned the machinist's trade in the shops of David Jenks & Company. In 1830 he formed a partner- ship with Alvin F. Jenks, and in a rented shop in Central Falls began to manufacture cotton machinery. In 1833 the firm of Fales and Jenks bought the Rhode

Island State right to manufacture the Hubbard Patented Rotary Pump, this, with their other lines of manu- facture, placing the young men on a firm basis. The first machine ever turned out by Fales & Jenks was a "spooler" which went to a Virginia factory, the price paid $60. Spinning frames were first made by the firm in 1845; ring twisters in 1846; these machines, made for Benjamin Greene, being among the first of their kind made in the United States for thread, worsted and silk. In 1859-60 Fales & Jenks erected a furnace in a foundry for making their own castings; a brick shop, three stories high, with large ground area, was built in 1861-62; and in 1866 the plant was removed from Central Falls to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and there located on Dexter street, David G. Fales with Alvin F. Jenks and Stephen A. Jenks constituting the firm, Fales & Jenks retired finally, and were succeeded by their sons, John R. Fales, Alvin F. Jenks and Stephen A. Jenks. David G. Fales died in 1875, and in 1876 the firm, Fales & Jenks, became the corpora- tion, The Fales & Jenks Machine Company, Alvin F. Jenks, president, John R. Fales, vice-president; and Stephen A. Jenks, treasurer. The large, well-equipped plant of the company in Pawtucket is a fitting monu- ment to the business ability of these men, while the rep- utation the company holds in the trade and in the busi- ness world is competent evidence that the trust com- mitted to them was sacredly observed.

John Richmond Fales was born at Central Falls, Rhode Island, March 5, 1833, the house in which he was born standing at the corner of Central and High streets, his sister, Elizabeth K. (Fales) Austin, later residing in a beautiful house built upon the site of the old home in which she was born. He was educated in the Belden school at Fruit Hill, a noted school of that day, and began his business career with his father in the firm, Fales & Jenks. He inherited his father's mechanical genius as well as his business ability, and became one of the strong men of The Fales & Jenks Machine Company, and its vice-president. He was widely-known as a most capable and skilled machine builder, and became interested in a variety of manu- facturing enterprises, his interest extending to the mak- ing machinery for cotton mills, hydrants, water meters, water wheels, cotton goods, balls, and other standard articles. He was vice-president of the United States Cotton Company, incorporated in 1885; vice-president of the Lily Pond Land Company; a part owner in the E. Jenks Manufacturing Company, the Hope Thread Mill, the Pawtucket Manufacturing Company, was a director of the Pacific National Bank, and a trustee of the Franklin Savings Bank. He was also interested in mills at Fall River and New Bedford, he being rated one of the most substantial men of the Blackstone Valley.

Mr. Fales passed his entire life near the place of his birth, and no man was more highly esteemed. He was an able business man, and his time was fully occupied, "but he was not a slave to money or its accumulation. He loved out-of-door recreations, particularly yachting, his third fine yacht "Harriet" being in the builder's hands at the time of his death. He contributed gener- ously to the support of the church, and was a member of the Masonic order, affiliated with Union Lodge, Free

HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND

and Accepted Masons; Pawtucket Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Pawtucket Council, Royal and Select Masters; Holy Sepulchre Commandery, Knights Templar. He would never accept political office, although his fellow- townsmen would gladly have given him any office within their gift. At an early day he served Central Falls as a member of the board of fire wardens, that being his nearest approach to a public office. He accomplished a vast amount of work, through his trait of concen- tration, he never allowing himself to be diverted to another task until that in hand was completed. Quiet and reserved always, this trait deepened and intensified after the death of his wife. He gave generously to those in distress, but so quickly and secretly were his benefactions bestowed that they were known to but few. He was stricken with a fever while on a journey to Mexico, and soon after his return passed away, on August 15, 1892, leaving a record of honor and use- fulness.

John R. Fales married Harriet B. Lee, of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, their children, three sons, Le Roy, of further mention; Jerome Atherton, died in infancy ; Warren R., now an extensive poultry farmer, his farm the old Whitcomb homestead in East Providence; he is a world-wide traveler, and a great reader, possessing perhaps the finest private library in the State of Rhode Island; he married Carrie B. Hopkins.

Le Roy Fales, eldest son of John, Richmond and Har- riet B. (Lee) Fales, was born at Central Falls, Rhode Island, August 30, 1859, and until sixteen years of age attended the public schools there and Deane Academy, Franklin, Massachusetts. He entered the employ of Fales & Jenks in 1875, continuing after the incorpora- tion as The Fales & Jenks Machine Company, in 1876, mastering the details of factory and office management during sixteen years which elapsed between his en- trance and his succeeding to the secretaryship of the company in 1892. From secretary he advanced to the vice-president's office, which he now fills. He is also a director of The Fales & Jenks Machine Company; president of the Jenks Spinning Company; president of the Pawtucket Manufacturing Company; president of the United States Cotton Company; director of the Pawtucket branch of the Industrial Trust Company; and has other interests of importance. A Republican in politics, Mr. Fales represented Central Falls in the State General Assembly four years, 1896-1900, and yet retains a deep interest in party concerns and public affairs. In 1900 Mr. Fales moved his residence from Central Falls to Barrington, which is now his home. He is a member of the Masonic order, holding the thirty- second degree, Rhode Island Consistory, Ancient Ac- cepted Scottish Rite. He is also a noble of Palestine Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. His clubs are the Ponham and Squantum.

Mr. Fales married Emma G. Kelley, of New Bed- ford, Massachusetts, and they are the parents of a son, Jerome Richmond, born November 3, 1889.

CHARLES O. CHATTERTON is the son of George Chatterton, the first file maker in the United States. George Chatterton was born in Sheffield, Eng- land, in 1816, and died January 18, 1908, at the age of

ninety-two years. He was the first to manufacture files out of steel, and came of a long line of file makers, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, having been in the same business in England. He served his ap- prenticeship in the celebrated manufactory of W. & S. Butcher, Sheffield, England, and learned all that could be acquired by him of that art in the best English shops. Mr. Chatterton incurred the enmity of certain persons in power in 1839 by a strenuous advocacy of reform in regard to the question of suffrage as it affected "younger sons." He was placed in stocks at one time, but finally came to America in 1839, settling in Providence, where his first attempt in business was converting a dozen old files into mercantile high grade goods, performing the work by his own skilled hand labor. This was the beginning of the file industry in Providence and to George Chatterton, father of Charles O. Chatterton, file manufacturer, of Providence, the honor is due.

George Chatterton located in Providence, Rhode Island, the same year of his arrival in the United States, and there formed the acquaintance of Obadiah Mason, a descendant of a commander in the United States Navy in 1776. Mr. Mason owned a tannery and a shoe shop on North Main street at Jenkins street and with him Mr. Chatterton arranged for the use of the small shed and forge in the rear. There he restored old files to a better condition then ever, doing the work by hand and soon gaining local acquaintance and trade. The business grew and became one of the prosperous ones of the city, the forerunner of the present plant now engaged in file manufacture in Providence. Mr. Chatterton soon made a place for himself in the indus- trial and commercial life of the city, and at various times was director of the Liberty Bank, president of the Hope Iron Foundry, treasurer of Rhode Island Manufacturing Company, which office he held ten years. At the time of the Dow troubles he was an active and ardent sympathizer of Governor Dow, and at one time during the height of the controversy was hunted un- successfully in the woods, where he had found it wise to escape temporarily.

George Chatterton married Phoebe Mason, daughter of Obadiah and Phoebe (Hopkins) Mason, and a sister of Owen Mason, the well known Providence historian, whose portrait adorns the walls of the Rhode Island Historical Society buildings, that portrait being the gift of his nephew, Charles O. Chatterton, whose boyish love and respect Mr. Mason gained never to lose.

Charles O. Chatterton, son of George and Phoebe (Mason) Chatterton, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, April 5, 1848, and was educated in the public schools of the city, and in the Moses Brown School. After leaving school, he entered his father's file factory, there learning the business in its every detail in the factory department, mastering the practical side of the business and becoming a skilled file worker, then ad- vancing to office and executive positions. As his father had advanced in years he withdrew more and more from the business, the son gradually assuming greater respon- sibility, until the burden of management rested upon him. This was preparatory to full control, and fitted him for the management of the business he was soon

George Piratetren

BIOGRAPHICAL

to assume. In 1908 George Chatterton, the founder and pioneer file manufacturer, died, and since that time Charles O. Chatterton has been principal owner and manager of the Chatterton File Works. Hand-made files are still the product of this plant, and the reputa- tion and quality of these files are still maintained and in greater demand than ever. The superiority of hand- made files over machine-cut files is due to uniformity in size and sharpness of teeth. In the machine-made file whenever the chisel comes to a hard spot, a shallower cut is made, and when it comes to a softer spot the cut is deeper and the tooth sharper. In cutting a file by hand, however, the skilled workman can follow the effect of his chisel, striking it harder in the hard spots and lighter where the metal is soft. With these condi- tions understood it is evident that uniform annealing is the prime requirement for producing a first-class file of the high grade required by tool and watch makers. One of the men yet in action in the factory and a fore- man is James Chatterton, a brother of George Chatter- ton, who came from England and joined his brother in Providence in 1843. Mr. Chatterton resides in Paw- tucket.

SAMUEL PENNY COOK-When a youth of eighteen years, just out of high school, Samuel P. Cook entered the service of the Producers National Bank of Woonsocket. That was nearly half a century ago, and from the year of his admission, 1870, until the present, 1918, he has known no other business home nor a greater business interest. This long term of service, eleven years of which has been as president of the bank, coupled with the fact that for a quarter of a century he was city treasurer, has given him a grasp of matters financial and brought him so prominently before the people that his opinions on finance carry the weight of authority. The radical changes made in banking laws during the past few years, although not at first cheerfully accepted by the financiers of the country, and the problems presented were approached by bankers with characteristic caution, but as their value became apparent and their ability to meet national and inter- national demands was proven, all doubt vanished and the splendid response made by national banks and bankers to the enormous demands made upon their financial resources and upon their patriotism is the best answer to any criticism of either American banking laws or upon the patriotism and good faith of Amer- ican bankers. No business has been called upon for greater sacrifice during these years of national stress and storm, and the best thought of the financial world has lent itself to the solution of the war's financial prob- lems. As executive head of Woonsocket's leading bank, Mr. Cook has borne his part in carrying the financial burden imposed upon this city and has as well ably fulfilled his obligations to those who look to the Pro- ducers Bank as their source of financial supply. Mr. Cook is a son of Ariel Lindsey Cook, son of Ariel (2) Cook, son of Ariel (1) Cook, son of Deacon Nathaniel Cook, son of Nicholas (2) Cook, son of Deacon Nich- olas (1) Cook, son of Walter Cook, founder of the branch of the Cook family in New England.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 14

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