The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 16

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 16

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CHARLES PARKER DARLING-Although a box manufacturer of the city of Providence, Rhode Island, for thirty years, prior to his retirement in 1912, it must not be inferred that Mr. Darling's business career was confined within those limits of time or location, for from 1850 until 1880 his life was one of excitement and change, the great west and northwest being the scenes of his activities. He is now nearing nonagenarian dis- tinction, but when, in 1850, he reached the end of the railroad in Galena, Illinois, he was the youth of twenty filled with a spirit of adventure, which drove him fur- ther beyond the then frontier, as defined by the rail- road. During his thirty years of western life he

touched many points of the history of towns and local- ities, now well known, then in the making. He was one of the earliest settlers at Fairbault, Minnesota, and of Deadwood, South Dakota, and his activities included real estate dealing, gold mining in California, merchan- dising, lumbering and hydraulic mining. During these years Mr. Darling returned to Massachusetts, and en- gaged in business, but again the west called him and he answered. But in 1880 he returned permanently and at Providence, Rhode Island, located the C. P. Darl- ing Box Manufactory, which he successfully operated for thirty years. There is little of western experience through which Mr. Darling has not passed. Sitting Bull and his Indians were familiar to him in the Black Hills, and his acquaintance included names familiar to the whole world, pioneers, soldiers and railway build- ers. He saw the bands of steel extended from the Missouri river to the Pacific coast, superseding the emigrant train and pony express rider; saw the vast buffalo herds of the north and south Platte sections disappear, and the "Great American Desert" of his school days transferred into the great granary of the worid, and in this development he bore a part. Add all this to the thirty years' experience of a Providence manufacturer, and a true idea is gained of the wonder- ful life of Charles Parker Darling, now nearing its ninetieth year.

The Darling families of Massachusetts and Rhode Island are of earliest Colonial times, and men high in official and business life have borne the name with honor. Charles P. Darling is a son of Simeon Darling, a woolen manufacturer of Douglass, Massachusetts, who there died after a successful business career. An- other son of Simeon Darling was Edwin Darling, a veteran of the Civil War, who died at the home of his brother, Charles P. Darling, in Providence, at the age of eighty-four.

Charles Parker Darling was born in Douglass, Massa- chusetts, August 27, 1830, now (1918) living in retire- ment in the city of Providence, Rhode Island. He at- tended the district school until fourteen years of age, then began his long and active business life as clerk in a general country store. He also worked for a time in a shoe shop, and during the years up to twenty he was variously employed, but by economy accumulated a fund which was used to pay his way as far west as the railroad could take him. This was in 1850, and his western destination Galena, Illinois. From Galena he made his way to Burlington, Iowa, thence to St. Paul, and later to Faribault, Minnesota, his first year in Faribault being spent in saw mill employment. Later he purchased town lots from General Shields, and there continued in the real estate business quite successfully, reinvesting his profits in Faribault property and also owning lots at St. Cloud and Owatanna. In 1857 panic conditions prevailed and caused a dullness which Mr. Darling could not stand, and he left Faribault, going to the gold mines in California, where he spent four- teen years. Later he moved to Youbet, ten miles from Valley City, established a grocery business, and con- ducted hydraulic mining operations with a fair degree of profit, there continuing twelve years, 1860-72.

He had then been in the west twenty-two years, had

HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND

progressed from the age of twenty to forty-two, then decided to return to Massachusetts. He arranged his business affairs, came east in 1872, and until the fall of 1875 remained in Massachusetts. Then the West won him, he going to the Black Hills. There he tented with the first settlers of what is now Deadwood, the capital of Laurence county, South Dakota, the metropolis of the western half of that State, and the commercial cap- ital of the western part of the State. Mr. Darling re- mained at Deadwood five and one-half years, was the owner of two mines and other property, and there ended his western career.

In 1880 he closed out his Deadwood holdings and re- turned to Massachusetts, there engaging in the lumber business at Oxford for two years, then locating in Providence, Rhode Island, and engaging in box manu- facture. As a branch of the C. P. Darling box factory he secured timber tracts in Vermont, and smaller tracts in Rhode Island, operating saw mills on his Vermont tracts which converted the spruce timber into mer- chantable lumber. Other mills were employed in cutting lumber for the box factory at Providence, and in Rhode Island several portable saw mills were also cutting for the box factory. This line of manufacturing was continued for thirty years, until Mr. Darling's well-earned retirement, he being then well over eighty years of age. He had had several other Providence business interests, and during his residence has been constant in his support of all movements for a bigger, better Providence. He was one of the men who came to the relief of the Union Trust Company in a time of financial distress, and is yet interested in that institu- tion. He is a Republican in political faith, and a man highly regarded wherever known.

Mr. Darling married, January 22, 1863, Catharine M. Dunston, of Grass Valley, Nevada county, California, and they are the parents of two daughters: I. Eliza- beth, married Walter T. Paine, who is now in the land department at Washington, D. C .; they are the parents of Charles Edwin Paine, now attending Maryland Col- lege. 2. Kathrine, married Herbert L. Chatterton, a druggist of Providence, Mrs. Darling died January 2, 1914.

EDGAR W. MARTIN-At the age of eighteen years Edgar W. Martin, now president of the Martin- Copeland Company, began learning the jeweler's trade, and from that time his rise in the manufacturing world has been rapid. He was but twenty-eight when he be- came a member of the firm, Martin, Copeland & Com- pany, that firm building up a good reputation as mann- facturers of solid gold chain jewelry, optical goods and wedding rings, and a quarter of a century after organ- ization (1905) incorporated as the Martin-Copeland Company, Edgar W. Martin, president. Mr. Martin is a native son of Rhode Island, but at an early age his parents moved to New York. In 1859 his father, Darius Martin, died and the same year his widow, Ardelia (Cornell) Martin, returned with her son to Rhode Island, making her home in Providence until her death, May 16, 1893.

Edgar W. Martin was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, July 5, 1852, and with the exception of a few

years in early life, which were spent in New York State, Providence, Rhode Island, has been his home. It was in 1859 that he was brought to Providence by his widowed mother, and the same year his education began. in the public school. He passed through all the grades to high school, there spent three years, but left in his senior year to become a jeweler's apprentice, three years with Saxton, Smith & Company, jewelers, and followed this occupation for four years with the same firm as a journeyman jeweler. The next year he was in the employ of William Smith & Company. He had then gained a wide fund of expert knowledge concerning the manufacture of jewelry, and was moreover an ex- pert jeweler from the mechanical viewpoint. In 1880 Sylvester Martin, Martin Copeland, William A. Cope- land, Henry Gorham, and Edgar W. Martin organized the firm, Martin, Copeland & Company, the senior mem- ber, Sylvester Martin, being an uncle of Edgar W.,; the junior member. The firm located their plant at No. 60 Richmond street, and began the manufacture of solid gold chains, seamless and plain gold rings, optical goods, etc. Sylvester Martin died in January, 1898, and time wrought other changes in the personnel of the firm, the firm moving to their present location at No. IOI Sabin street, in April, 1898, but the business con- tinued prosperously, and became one of greatest im- portance. In 1905 a change was made, the firm becoming a corporation, Martin-Copeland Company, Edgar W. Martin, president, and as yet the only president the company has had. The plant occupies the same location on Sabin street, but is greatly enlarged and modernly fitted, and branches of the company are maintained in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic. Mr. Martin is a director of the Jewelers' Refining Company, of Providence; is a mem- ber of the Jewelers' Club, of Boston, Massachusetts; the Rhode Island Yacht Club; the West Side Club; Rhode Island Country Club; and interested in other or- ganizations, social, business and fraternal.

Mr. Martin married, June 27, 1875, Lena C. Cornell, daughter of James and Ann (Potter) Cornell, of Sci- tuate, Rhode Island. They are the parents of three sons : I. Laurence C., vice-president of the Martin- Copeland Company, married Rebecca Fuller, of Provi -. dence, and are parents of two daughters, Priscilla and Rebecca. 2. Wesley C., Yale, A. B., 1909, treasurer of the Martin-Copeland Company; married Olga Olsen, of Providence, and are parents of two children, Bick- ford and Elaine; Wesley C. is now a lieutenant in the United States navy; has made several trips across; was on the "President Lincoln" at the time it was tor- pedoed by a German submarine. 3. E. Cornell, mar- ried Allene Block, of Brooklyn, New York; is assistant treasurer of the Martin-Copeland Company.

THE REV. FATHER JOSEPH JOHN SCHEU- REN, pastor of the Roman Catholic Church of St. Theresa on the corner of Manton avenue and Pope street, Providence, Rhode Island, is a man of great force of character and a consistent influence for good in the community where his priestly duties are dis- charged. He is a son of John Joseph and Mary Cath- erine (Horbert) Scheuren who came from the banks

6 Dagar W. Martin

BIOGRAPHICAL

of the Moselle river in Germany as young married people and made their home in the New World. They lived in New York City, but eventually came to Providence, Rhode Island and here passed the remainder of their lives, his death occurring in the year 1876, at the age of fifty-three, and hers in 1913 at ninety. He was a merchant tailor here and served in the Civil War. Father Scheuren was born July 29, 1851, at his parents' old home on the Moselle river, but came to this country in January, 1852, when but six months of age. The first home of his parents here was in New York City, and it was in the public schools of that place and paro- chial schools that he gained his early education. In the month of July, 1863, the family removed to Providence, Rhode Island, and the lad attended the Lime street school here. He was prepared for college at the latter institution and upon completing his studies, matricu- lated at St. Clement's College at Ilchester, Maryland, a well-known Catholic educational institution, from which he subsequently graduated with the class of 1876. In the meantime the youth had come to realize that he was called to the religious life and to make his plans accordingly. He had already in childhood been greatly drawn to religious matters, and this became more and more the dominant force in his life and at this time admitted of no rival. He therefore, entered the Sem- inary of St. Francis at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to study for the priesthood and made such good use of his time and opportunities that on June 26, 1881, he was ordained by Bishop Spaulding of Peoria. He remained in the Peoria diocese for twelve years, but in 1893 returned to Providence and has since been connected with the diocese here. Upon his return here he was appointed assistant at St. Lawrence's Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts. He was later sent in succession as assistant to the Church of SS. Peter and Paul at Fall River ; St. John's Church, Providence, and appointed first pastor at St. Matthew's Church, Auburn, Rhode Island; then pastor of the Church of the Sacred Heart, East Providence, where he remained seven years and then, in 1915, came to St. Theresa's, Providence, as permanent pastor. The parish of St. Theresa is an important one in the city and numbers within its limits three thousand four hundred and ninety-two souls. The church itself was built in 1883 by Rev. Father Murphy, and there is now a school in connection built by Father Farrell O'Rielly, in 1890, accommodating six hundred and fifty pupils, in which three Christian Brothers and sixteen Sisters are kept busy teaching the various classes. The work that Father Scheuren has done and is continuing to do here is of great value to the parish and the community and reflects credit upon himself and his church.

WALTER O. TALCOTT-"The life of a machine driving belt depends upon the way in which the ends are fastened." With this fact as a fixed proposition, Walter O. Talcott finally evolved the W. O. Talcott Belt Hook, the sole manufacturer of these hooks being W. O. & M. W. Talcott, of Providence, Rhode Island, of which he is the controlling head. Mr. Talcott started his new, prosperous business in December, 1877, having bought the business of the Wilson Patent Belt Hook Company. In 1880 he moved to a small room in the

Butler Exchange, with one employee and one hand machine, and began making the Talcott Wilson Belt Hook, that having been the standard of excellence for forty years. Success has attended his efforts and ex- pansion has followed, and the Talcott Wilson Belt Hook has become head of a family of five Talcott belt fastening devices, each having its separate class of belting to care for: The Talcott Wilson Belt Hook, with teeth so shaped that the belting is firmly wedged between them and hold the belt without clinching; The Talcott Clinching Belt Hook, with a peculiar construc- tion, which overcomes the cracking of belts at the joint ; The Talcott Combination Belt Hook, a smooth. durable fastener for all places; The Talcott Acme Steel Belt Hook, especially adapted for all high-speed machinery; and The Talcott Ideal Belt Fastener for fastening and making endless belts in rubber, canvas, leather and all kinds of fabric belting made in layers or piles. These Talcott hooks are for use on every kind and size of machine belting, where light, heavy, broad, narrow, high-speed, low-speed, leather, canvas or rubber belting is used, all covered by United States patents and in- vented by Walter O. Talcott. Not only is the hook his invention, but dies and tools had to be developed before the hook could be made, and then special machines, not only for making but for handling the hooks to the best advantage, had to be devised and brought to a point of high speed and efficiency. All this Mr. Tal- cott accomplished, and the business he made has amply rewarded his genius, ability and perseverance. He has been ably assisted in later years by his son, Mancell Walter Talcott, now an equal partner and factory manager.

Walter O. Talcott was born in Minneapolis, Minne- sota, October 12, 1857, but two years later he was brought to Chicago hy his parents. He was educated in the Chicago public schools, graduating from high school in 1877, then coming East and acquiring the Wil- son Patent Belt Hook business in December of that year. The room in the Butler Exchange which he first oc- cupied in 1880 was soon given up for a larger one at No. 186 Eddy street, which in turn was abandoned for still larger quarters at No. 33 Beverly street. His next move was to the fourth floor of the Fred Talcott building, No. 91 Sabin street, one-half of that floor being required. That space sufficed until August, 1913, when he rented the entire second floor of the same building. Now (1918) this space has been again outgrown and a lot has been purchased on Bath street upon which W. O. and M. W. Talcott will erect their own factory, and in its construction plan generously for the future of Talcott Belt Hooks. The one man operating one machine has grown to a force of thirteen and the single hook to five distinct styles, the plant product going everywhere.

Walter O. Talcott is treasurer of the Shawomet Water Company, which supplies water to Coninnicutt and Shawomet villages. He is a past master of Har- mony Lodge, No. 9, Free and Accepted Masons; mem- ber of Providence Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Provi- dence Council, No. 1, Royal and Select Masters: St. John's Commandery, Knights Templar; and of Rhode Island Consistory, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, thirty-second degree. He is a Republican in politics, and

HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND

a member of Beneficent Congregational Church. He mar- ried, October 12, 1880, Harriet F. Eastwood, of Provi- dence. They are the parents of two daughters and a son : Alice N., married W. W. Little, of Providence, their children, Wilson G. and Frances; Mancell Walter, of further mention; Elizabeth F., married Evan F. Kullgren, of East Orange, New Jersey, and has a daughter Nancy.

Mancell Walter Talcott was born on Pawtuxet Neck, Rhode Island, March 10, 1885. After completing a course of public school study by graduation from Prov- idence Technical High School, class of 1905, he entered Philadelphia Dental College, now a department of Temple University of Philadelphia, and was gradu- ated D. D. S., class of 1908. He began professional practice in Providence, with offices at No. 171 West- minster street, and during the years, 1908-13, built up a good practice, and thoroughly established himself in public regard as a skillful practitioner. In 1913 Dr. Talcott became more deeply interested in the business founded by his father, and so attractive did it become that he gave up his professional ambitions and is an equal partner in the firm, W. O. & M. W. Talcott, of Providence, sole manufacturers of the W. O. Talcott Belt Hooks, and factory manager.

A lover of water sports, he has developed an interest in motor boating, is superintendent of the United States Volunteer Life Savings Corps at Providence, and has his summer home at Wakefield. He is a member of the Rhode Island Yacht Club, and usually enjoys his vaca- tion periods by the sea, although the automobile fur- nishes one of his forms of enjoyment. He is a Repub- lican in politics, and in 1917 was elected to the State Legislature from the twentieth Rhode Island Legislative District. He compiled a record of consistent service, and was a member of the committee on militia and of the joint committee, executive communications. He is a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 9, Free and Accepted Masons; Providence Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Providence Council, Royal and Select Masters; St. John's Commandery, Knights Templar; and attends Beneficent Congregational Church.

Dr. Talcott married, March 30, 1909, Mabel V. James, of Providence.

EPHRAIM BUTLER MOULTON-From earli- est life, Providence has been the home of Mr. Moulton, his education from primary school to University hav- ing been accomplished in Cranston and Providence in- stitutions. When Harvard Law School placed her seal of approval upon his professional education, he returned to his native city and has there practiced his profession during the years which have since intervened, 1911-18. He is the son of Richard Olney and Sarah A. ( Price) Moulton, the former deceased; he is a descendant of William Moulton, the founder of the Moultons of New England. Moulton is an ancient English family name, tracing to a Thomas Moulton, traditional head of the house, whose name is found in Domesday Book (1086) as the owner of an estate called "Galeshore." The name is common in the counties of Lincoln, Yorkshire, Gloucester, Kent, Devon, Norfolk and London and, as these counties were the stronghold of the Puritan faith, the Moultons, no doubt, were among that strict section.

Ephraim Butler Moulton, of the seventh generation, and sixth child of Cromwell and Abigail Wilson (O1- ney) Moulton, was born January 25, 1823, and died March 26, 1888. He learned carriage building in a Providence shop on Burgess street and later estab- lished a wheelwright shop of his own at Eddy, Friend- ship and Dowance streets, also had a shop in Olneyville and a carriage depository on Stewart street. In the early days, he did all the repair work on the horse cars of the city, and for forty-six years was in active busi- ness, as a carriage builder, many vehicles bearing his name as builder being sent to foreign lands. He was originally a Whig in politics, later a Republican, and for two terms represented his ward in City Council. He married Maria A. Olney, born November 23, 1820, died in 1880, daughter of Elisha and Caroline ( Potter); Olney, her father a direct descendant of Thomas Olney, who came from England to New England in the ship "Planter" in 1635. Thomas Olney, after settlement at Salem, Massachusetts, came to Providence, Rhode Island, where he was numbered among the thirteen original settlers. The line of descent from Thomas Olney, the founder. is through his son. Thomas (2) Olney, his son, William Olney, his son, Jabez Olney, his son, Elisha Olney, his daughter Maria A. Mr. and Mrs. Moulton were the parents of six children: Wil- liam H., born in 1842, died May 26, 1860; Lucy, born in 1844. died September 28, 1848; Albert Vallett, born December 10, 1846, appointed inspector of customs, United States Internal Revenue Service. for the port of Providence, in 1894, married Mary Allen Whitford, daughter of Thomas W. and Mary E. (Cole) Whitford; Sarah, born June 9, 1848, married, November 19, 1874. Marvin E. Allen: Richard Olney, of further mention ; Wilson, born in 1853.

Richard Olney Moulton, son of Ephraim Butler and Maria A. (Olney) Moulton, was born in 1850, and died in 1913. He was engaged with his father and later was a grocer of Providence, continuing until his death. He married Sarah A. Price, who survives him, a resi- dent of Providence. They were the parents of Sarah Penelope, Elizabeth Price and Ephraim Butler Moulton.

Ephraim Butler (2) Moulton, of the ninth American generation, son of Richard Olney and Sarah A. ( Price) Moulton, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, November 29, 1884. He obtained his early and prepara- tory education in the public schools, finishing at Crans- ton High School in 1903. He then entered Brown University, whence he was graduated A. B., class of 1907. The following year was spent in preparation for law school, he being in the employ of the Hospital Trust Company the entire year. He then entered Har- vard Law School, pursued full courses, and in 1911| was graduated LL. B. He was admitted to the Massa- chusetts bar and to the Rhode Island bar in the same year. During his law school years he had been em- ployed in the offices of the firm in which he is now a partner, and after admission to the Rhode Island bar in IOII, he entered the service of the same firm, Mum- ford, Huddy & Emerson, 402-407 Industrial Trust building, Providence. In October, 1916, he was ad- mitted a partner and so continues. The firm is one of the eminent law firms of the Rhode Island bar, prac- ticing in all Federal and State courts of Rhode Island.

BIOGRAPHICAL

Mr. Moulton is a member of St. John's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, Sigma Chi fraternity, Calvary Baptist Church, and in politics is a Republican.

Mr. Moulton married, June 25, 1913, Charlotte M. Meader, of Lowell, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Moulton are the parents of two sons: Richard Meader and Ephraim Butler (3) Moulton.

CLARENCE OLIVER CARPENTER-Inter- ested in all movements for social betterment, Clarence O. Carpenter has devoted himself for years to the edu- cational advancement of the community in which he lives. The record of his life is the record of many activities along the lines of progress and the humaniz- ng of relations.

George Bailey Carpenter, father of Clarence O., was porn in Warwick, Rhode Island. He was a mill man all his life, and died May 19, 1881. He was a son of Joshua Carpenter, who was born at North Kingston, Rhode Island, and descended from William Carpenter, one of the three brothers who were the immigrant an- cestors of the New England family of that name. George Bailey Carpenter married Mary Elizabeth Noyes, who died August 23, 1915. Their children were: Ella, deceased; Georgiana; George Clinton; Charles, deceased; Clarence O .; William Burnside, of Provi- dence ; Elmer Ellsworth, of Providence; Mary Etta, residing on the old homestead in Warwick.

Clarence O. Carpenter was born January I, 1856, at Pontiac, in the town of Warwick, Rhode Island, and acquired his early educational training in the local, pri- rate and public schools of that section. His work at he public schools was supplemented by the classical and anguage work in the private school well known under he name of the East Greenwich Academy. Since he came to man's estate he has followed in the main agri- :ultural pursuits, his farm being adjacent to the historic Gorton place. Here, in 1888, he erected the handsome residence in which he makes his home. He was a very nodern and progressive farmer, using all the most advanced intensive methods, and all his products were ustly famous. His early vegetables and fruit were Always in demand in the markets of Providence and Boston, and his dairy products, his eggs and his poul- ry, sold at the highest prices, as few could be found o compete with them in quality. In 1910 he sold his arm, retaining a few acres for his residence. This ide of his life he carried out with zeal and its con- omitant success, but there is another side which works s eagerly and as intelligently for the benefit of his ellows. He has always made himself an authority on natters educational, as he has believed that it will be to he schools that the country will owe the perpetuation of the free ideals of its founders. For them he works s unsparingly as he does in the matters of his farm, hough the seed that he plants there will bear its har- est only in a distant future.

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The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 16

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