The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 23

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 23

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).

A Democrat in politics, Mr. McCarthy was always in- erested in public affairs, and held decided views upon 11 questions which came before the public for discus- ion and settlement. He shunned public office for many ears but finally was induced to allow his name to go pon a fusion ticket. This was in 1889, and with little ffort upon his own part he was elected a member of he Common Council of the city of Providence. He ras not bound by party obligation, and acted independ- ntly in all matters before the Council, serving all the eople, not a party. He was re-elected in 1890, 1892 nd 1894. During the legislative years, 1891-92 and 1903, e served his district as representative to the General Assembly, there completing a record of usefulness, making a strong stand against the granting of special

privileges to public service corporations without ade- quate compensation therefor. He was the principal factor in procuring transfer tickets in street cars- Rhode Island. In 1903, he was again elected assembly- man, and in November, 1906, was elected mayor of Providence, being again elected to the same office in 1907. His record as mayor was endorsed by his fellow citizens who bear testimony to his fair and impartial discharge of his duties. Although his nomination to both assembly and mayoralty came from the Demo- cratic party and were duly appreciated, Mayor Mc- Carthy was a mayor of the city and not of a faction. He knew neither friend nor foe in the performance of duty, and fearlessly went forward wherever his con- science approved. He retired from office stronger in public esteem than when he was inaugurated, and his administration marks an epoch in city government.

Genial and hospitable, Mr. McCarthy has many friends who are bound to him by even more than the ordinary ties of friendship. In his younger years the stage ap- pealed to him strongly, and he was well known in ama- teur theatricals, Shakespearean readings and entertain- ments. He is fond of good literature and of the social side of life, renewing in the society of friends and books the strength needed for the serious duties with which he has so amply provided himself.

Mr. McCarthy married in 1875, Anne M. McGinney, of Providence, who died in 1880, leaving three children. One of these children is still living, Mary Josephine, who married William H. Bannon of Central Falls, R. I., now general manager of the Mansfield Bleachery, of Mansfield, Mass.

SIMEON B. TILLEY-While not with the seven- teenth century settlers of New England, William Tilley, the ancestor of Simeon B. Tilley, of Providence, came early in the eighteenth century and founded one of the large and influential families of Rhode Island. This William Tilley was a nephew of another William Tilley, a rope maker, who preceded his nephew to the New England Colony and resided in Boston, a member of the Old South Church and the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company until his death in 1717. William Tilley, the nephew, was born in Devonshire, England, about 1685, son of John Tilley. In 1710 William Tilley, the uncle, sent to England for the sons of his brother John to come over, and in response three of them, John, James and William Tilley, came to Boston and for a time were with their uncle. They then separated, John going to New York State; James to New London, Conn .; and William going to Newport, R. I., in 1732, and establishing a rope walk. He married Dorcas Earle, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Slocum) Earle. He died in Newport about 1755.

(II) Deacon William Tilley, son of William and Dorcas (Earle) Tilley, was born in Newport, R. I., October 19, 1738, and followed his father's business, rope manufacturing. His rope walks were upon Kay street, on lands he owned running from Truro street, and he was the owner of a large tract east of Vernon street. He was a prominent Baptist, long a member of the Second Church of Newport, and for forty years a deacon of that church. He died April 14, 1825, having lived a life of piety and usefulness, and for

HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND

sixty years lived in the conscientious discharge of religious and moral duties, and as husband, father, son, brother and friend fulfilled every obligation.

Deacon Tilley married (first), October 25, 1759, Eliz- abeth Rogers, of Middletown, R. I., daughter of Jere- miah and Patience Rogers. She died August 28, 1800, aged fifty-nine, and he married (second), in January, 1802, Catherine Sabine, of Rehoboth, who died October 15, 1817. He married (third), November 4, 1821, Eliz- abeth Reed, who died January 3, 1836, aged eighty-six years. The family home was on Elizabeth street, New- port, near the Jewish Cemetery. Deacon Tilley and his first wife were the parents of seventeen sons and daugh- ters, thirteen of whom lived to years of maturity. At the time of his death Deacon Tilley had living: ten children, seventy-nine grandchildren and forty-four great-grandchildren.

(III) John Tabor Tilley, fourteenth child of Deacon William Tilley and his first wife, Elizabeth (Rogers) Tilley, was born in Newport, April 5, 1778, and died August 22, 1828. He, like his father and grandfather, was a rope manufacturer. He married, April 20, 1800, Margaret Nicoll, born March 23, 1780, died October 1, 1864, daughter of John and Sarah (Bouton) Nicoll, and great-granddaughter of William Nicoll, speaker of the New York House of Assembly, and great-great- granddaughter of Mathias Nicoll, third mayor of New York. They were the parents of nine sons and daugh- ters, and their sixth child, William J. Tilley, was the father of Simeon B. Tilley, of Providence.

(IV) William J. Tilley, of the fourth generation of his family in Rhode Island, was born in Newport, October 5, 1811, and died April 30, 1885. He was a leading merchant tailor on South Main street, Provi- dence, for several years, then retired and devoted him- self to the management of estates for others, and to real estate dealings. He was a man of great energy, an ardent Republican and devout Baptist. At one time he was city assessor and on property values his opinion was authoritative. He married, September 11, 1838, Jane Barker, born January 5, 1820, daughter of Simeon Barker, of Middletown, R. I. They were the parents of three sons and a daughter: William H., born in 1840, died Nov. 5, 1843; Simeon B., of further mention ; Emma J., the widow of Herbert L. Perry, of Boston ; William J. (2), who enlisted as a drummer boy in Com- pany H, Tenth Regiment, Rhode Island Volunteer In- fantry, served during the Civil War, was later and for years railway postal clerk, died November 19, 1909.

(V) Simeon B. Tilley, second son of William J. and Jane (Barker) Tilley, was born in Providence, R. I., September 4, 1843. After completing public school courses of study, grammar and high, he spent one year at Greenwich Seminary, then for a time was engaged as a bank clerk in Providence. He spent two years in California after leaving the bank, then returned to Providence, entering the employ of George F. Young & Brothers, the wholesale and retail tobacco manu- facturers and dealers. He was cashier and office man- ager for that firm for many years, retiring but a few years ago. He is an Independent in politics, but has devoted his life to his business to the exclusion of pol- itical clubs or fraternal activities.

Mr. Tilley married, in Providence, Abbie F. Foyer,

daughter of Robert Foyer, a leading designer, long as sociated with W. W. Sprague and the Cranston Prin Works. Mr. and Mrs. Tilley's only child, Rober Foyer, born December 16, 1892, died January 28, 1893

JOSEPH BAKER, JR .- When John Gorham, o the Gorham Manufacturing Company, went to Londor in 1852, he worked for Haynes Brothers, silversmiths and alongside of him at his work was a skilled work man, one Joseph Baker, of whom he formed a higl opinion. After John Gorham returned to Providence he sent for Joseph Baker, offering him work in the Gorham plant. This offer was accepted, and in 185, Joseph Baker with his son, Joseph (2) Baker, who wa. then a child of two years, arrived in Providence Sixty-five years have since elapsed, the elder Baker ha long since gone to his reward after years of usefulnes with the Gorham Manufacturing Company, and the child of two years is now the retired silversmith of sixty seven years, most of which was spent in the service o the Gorham Manufacturing Company, his father, Joseph Baker, Sr., bearing the distinction of being the firs employee of that company to be retired upon a pension

Joseph Baker, Sr., born in London, England, March 31, 1822, died in Providence, R. I., January 21, 1901, wa: a silversmith and skilled worker in fine metals. He came to Providence, in 1853, at the personal request o. John Gorham, of the Gorham Manufacturing Company and from that year until his death was in the employ of that company as a molder and caster of silver, and as a spoon maker. His school years were limited, bir he thirsted for knowledge, and all his life was a studen and reader, a patron of lecture courses, with the resul that he was one of the best-informed of men. H. married Eleanor Scott, born in England.

Joseph Baker, Jr., son of Joseph and Eleanor (Scott) Baker, was born in London, England, January 2, 1851 but two years later was brought to Providence, R. I., bj his parents, and in that city the years, sixty-one, which have since intervened, have been spent. He attended the public schools in Providence until fourteen years o: age, then entered the employ of the Gorham Manufac. turing Company, in the die cutting department, thor- oughly mastering the trade of die cutter and becoming one of the company's experts. He began with the com. pany in 1865, and until 1878 was employed in die cutting as a journeyman, but in the latter year was promoter foreman of that department, a position he filled unti January 5, 1915, when he was automatically retired under the company's rule, retiring on a pension, which was, granted every employee at the end of fifty years of un. interrupted service. Mr. Baker is now a retired em- ployee of the company, after half a century of faithful efficient service, fully appreciated by those with whom he was so long associated and held in high esteem as citizen.

Mr. Baker is a trustee of the Gorham Savings Bank and president of the Roger Williams Savings Func and Loan Association. As a member of the City Council since 1906, elected as a Republican, he has ren. dered valued service on the floor and in committee was especially valuable, and since 1910 has been chairmar of the committee on claims, and in that important chair- manship he has won the highest commendation of the

William H. Ainda

BIOGRAPHICAL

press for his careful, just and speedy settlement of claims. He is a member of Nestell Lodge, No. 37, Free and Accepted Masons; Providence Chapter, No. , Royal Arch Masons; Providence Council, No. I, Royal and Select Masters; and is the present recorder of Calvary Commandery, No. 13, Knights Templar. Of the latter body he is also a past commander.

Twice married, Mr. Baker has three children : Mrs. Fred G. Dietz, of Plainfield, Mass .; Walter J. Baker, of Bridgeport, Conn; issue of first marriage. Mrs. Victor E. Marshall, of Everett, Mass., is a child of his second marriage.

ELLEN MARIA HINDS., D. O .- In the year 856, William Henry Hinds, then a young man of sev- enteen, came from his Massachusetts home to Provi- lence, R. I., and entered the employ of the Gorham Manufacturing Company. Five years later, on the out- reak of the Civil War, he enlisted in the Union Army. After the war he returned to Providence, and built up large and prosperous drug business, and for forty- wo years continued in that business, retiring with the listinction of being the oldest druggist in the State. The name is perpetuated in professional circles in Providence by his only daughter, Ellen Maria Hinds, a practicing osteopathic physician of the city, a lady of igh professional reputation, who since beginning prac- ice in Providence, immediately after her graduation from the Massachusetts College of Osteopathy, has built up a large clientele.

Dr. Hinds is of the ninth generation of her family n New England, tracing to John Hinds, the first set- ler, who came from England to Massachusetts tiot later han 1637. The name is spelled differently in early records, but from this first settler, James Hinds, sprang he many families : Hinds, Hines, Hynes, Hyndes, found o frequently in New England.

James Hinds, the founder, settled in Salem, Mass., und there owned a farm, but later he moved to South- old, L. I., and there died in 1652, leaving a widow Mary. From James Hinds the line of descent to Dr. Ellen M. Hinds, of Providence, is through John Hinds, ldest son of James and Mary Hinds.

John Hinds removed from Lancaster to Woburn, Mass., in 1676, his home there a garrison house under John Moore in 1704. But he finally returned to Lan- aster, where he died March 20, 1720. By his second wife, Mary, widow of James Butler, he had several children, the line being traced in this branch through his ldest son John (2).

John (2) Hinds was born in Brookfield, Mass., Jan- lary 19, 1683, and died there October 10, 1747. He was member of the garrison of Fort Drummer under Cap- ain Thomas Buckminster, and about ten years prior o his death built a mill on Horse Pond. He married a widow, Hannah ( Whitaker) Corliss, of Haverhill, who survived him and took a third husband. John and Hannah Hinds were the parents of thirteen children, ind at the time of the death of the mother they were all iving, as were eighty-two grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren. Descent is through Corliss, the eighth child.

Corliss Hinds was born in Brookfield, Mass., April 28, 1724, and died there it 1821. He was a soldier of

the Colonial Army prior to the Revolution, and for several years was a member of the Committee of Saf- ety, 1780-89. He married (first), Janet McMaster, of Brookfield, and reared a large family, Cornelius, the eldest being head of the fifth generation.

Cornelius Hinds was born March 17, 1743, and died at Hubbardstown, Mass., August 23, 1812. He was a sol- dier of the French and Indian War, selectman, and a man of good repute. He married Martha Howe, who died May 15, 1802. They were the parents of six sons, Cornelius (2) the third.

Cornelius (2) Hinds was born at Barre, Mass., December 3, 1775, and died at Hubbardstown, April 3, 1848, a farmer. He married Hannah Waite, born July 26, 1778, died December 27, 1839, both buried in Hub- bardstown. Hiram Dana, great-grandfather of Ellen M. Hinds, was a third son.

Hiram Dana Hinds was born February 13, 1807, and died at Athol, Mass., October 3, 1879. Most of his life was spent in Athol, where he was a manufacturer of boots and shoes. He married Elemanda Woodward. They were the parents of seven children, William Henry being the fourth son and fifth child.

William Henry Hinds was born in Athol, Mass, Feb- rnary 25, 1839, and died at his home in Providence, R. 1., March 10, 1913. He attended the public schools and remained at home until the age of seventeen, when he entered the employ of the Gorham Silver Manufactur- ing Company, at Providence, R. I. There he learned the silversmith's trade, but five years later, in 1861, he marched away with his friends and neighbors in the Second Regiment, Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry, to protect the flag from disgrace. His work in the army as postmaster of the brigade gained him the title, "The soldier's friend," and General Wheaton once said that the influence of William H. Hinds did more to keep his soldiers up to the mark of moral fitness than any other agency. In 1868 he began his long career as a druggist by forming a partnership with Mason B. Wood, and buying the Gideon Calder drug store at the corner of South Main and Transit streets, continuing business there under the firm name of Wood & Hinds. In 1871 he bought his partner out, and continued the business alone until 1886. He opened a second drug store, in 1885, at the corner of Governor and Power streets, and in 1886 sold the South Main street store. Thereafter, until 1910, he devoted all his energy to the Governor street store. For forty-two years a successful drug- gist was his record, and in 1910 he retired permanently from business. Mr. Hinds was an earnest temperance worker, a member of Prescott Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Union Baptist Church. He was a man of genial, social disposition, and of wide charities, without ostentation.

On June 14, 1861, Mr. Hinds married Mary Eliza- beth McCrillis, born March 9, 1839, daughter of Amos Howe and Tabitha Wood (Hopkins) McCrillis, a greatniece of Stephen Hopkins, a signer of the Declara- tion of Independence for Rhode Island. Mrs. Hinds survived her husband but one year, dying April 29, 1914. Mrs. Hinds was a woman well-known in char- itable and philanthropic work, especially such as were a part of the work of the Baptist denomination. She was a charter member of the first Young Women's

HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND

Christian Association organized in Rhode Island. and its first recording secretary. She was a charter mem- ber of the City Missionary Society of Providence, and its first treasurer, serving for a number of years. She was a member of the board of managers of the Rhode Island Nursery Association ; president of the Women's Baptist Home Mission Society of Rhode Island for fifteen years, and vice-president of the board of man- agers of the Women's American Baptist Home Mission Society for twenty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Hinds were the parents of a daughter, Ellen Maria.

Ellen Maria Hinds, only child of William Henry and Mary Elizabeth (McCrillis) Hinds, was born in Prov- idence, R. I., March 1, 1866. She passed the graded and high school courses of study, finishing with grad- uation from the High School, class of '84. She then entered Smith College, whence she was graduated with the degree of B. A., class of '89. After graduation from the later college Miss Hinds engaged in Young Women's Christian Association work, and for seven years was general secretary of the Providence Evan- gelical Young Women's Christian Association. In 1904, she went to Haverhill, Mass., to organize a Young Women's Christian Association there, and remained as its general secretary for three years. At the end of ten successful years of Young Women's Christian Asso- ciation work, Miss Hinds resigned and soon after be- gan the study of osteopathy, entering the Massachusetts College of Osteopathy, whence she was graduated in the class of 1913. She opened offices in Providence, and is now well established. She is a member of various societies, professional, educational, and social, her relig- ious affiliation being with the Union Baptist Church.

WILLIAM H. DRAPER-Brought by his par- ents to the United States when a boy of eight years, Mr. Draper, now a substantial business man of Provi- dence, R. I., specializing in real estate, has but a dim personal knowledge of any other land than this. About thirty-five years ago (1883), he first located in Provi- dence, entering mercantile life in a small way, and from that year he has steadily advanced in substance and in public regard. He is a man of energy, has prospered through his own efforts and enterprise, and fairly won his way to success. He is a son of Noah (2) Draper, and grandson of Noah (1) Draper, both of English birth, and of ancient English family.

Noah (1) Draper, a reed-maker of Hyde, England, later was a twister, and all his life engaged in some phase of cloth manufacture. He was a skilled textile worker, labored long and hard, but he and men of his class developed cloth manufacture into an art as well as a tremendous source of income and wealth for the Nation. He lived through a period of wonderful development in textile machinery, and was an instrument in effecting some of these improvements. He married and each of his five sons became textile workers, and men of earnest, upright, steadfast lives. Noah (1) Draper died in 1866, aged eighty-six years.

Noah (2) Draper, son of Noah (1) Draper and his second wife, Mary (Openshaw) Draper, was born at Flowerfield, Ashton-under-Lyme, Lancashire, England, October 14, 1833, and died in Pawtucket, R. I., July 2, 1908. He was quite young when his mother died, and

early in life his schooldays ended, and mill work sub- stituted, his particular line of education being the art of weaving. He possessed natural mechanical ability, and in course of time he graduated from the weaving department to the position of loom fixer. This work became more complicated as new looms and machines came into use, the textile mills always furnishing a fer- tile field for the inventive genius and mechanical expert.

In August, 1869, he came to the United States, intend- ing to invest the money he had saved from his earnings in a farm, and thereafter breathe the pure air of the country and be forever free from the unhealthy condi- tions under which his former life had been lived. But he found conditions here not as favorable to his ex- periment in agriculture as he had expected, and he decided to follow his trade for a time. He located at Hebronville, Mass., there securing employment in the B. B. & R. Knight mill, and for fifteen years he con- tinned a textile worker. He gradually became inter- ested in real estate dealing, buying, building and selling improved and unimproved property, finally making that his sole business. About 1883 he moved to Pawtucket, R. I., there becoming heavily interested and becoming an important factor in real estate operations. He was successful in his undertakings, and through sound judg- ment and careful investment acquired a competence. In politics he was a Republican, and in religious con- nection a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Earnest, public-spirited and upright he occupied a high place in public regard, and at the age of seventy-five passed to his reward. Noah (2) Draper married (first), April 23, 1854, in England, Hannah Rayner, born in Denton, Lancashire, August 21, 1824, died in Pawtucket, R. I., April 19, 1899, daughter of William Rayner.

William H. Draper, only son and second child of Noah (2) Draper, and his first wife, Hannah (Rayner) Draper, was born at Hyde, Cheshire, England, October 23, 1860. He attended school there for a time, but in 1869 he was brought to the United States by his parents, their landing place being Boston. After attending the public schools at Hebronville, he became a mill worker, so continuing until 1881. He then entered commercial life as a traveling salesman for a manufacturing jewelry, house, continuing "on the road" for two years. In 1883 he opened a jewelry store on North Main street, Providence, under his own name, and from a small beginning built up a substantial retail jewelry business. For ten years he continued a jewelry merchant, but in the meantime was investing in real estate as oppor- tunity afforded and his finances allowed. In 1893 lie sold his jewelry business and has since conducted a real estate business, both as a broker and as a prin- cipal. He has won his way to high position in his particular field of activity, has prospered financially, and is held in high regard by his business associates. Genial and of attractive personality, he has many friends, and may review his career from the standpoint of the successful man. He is a member of the Bene- volent and Protective Order of Elks, the Ponham Club, the West Side Club, and the Edgewood Yacht Club, of which he is ex-commodore.

Mr. Draper married, March 20, 1888, Lizzie A. Math- eson, who was born in Pictou, Nova Scotia, daughter of Andrew and Nancy Matheson.

Mary E. Hinds

BIOGRAPHICAL

JOSEPH JAMES CUNNINGHAM-Among the awyers who have in the last few years built up a good practice in Providence the name of Joseph James Cun- lingham ranks high. He holds an excellent position imong his professional brethren, and his clientele is in indication of the respect accorded to his ability by he community-at-large. It should be a matter of great satisfaction to him that this success is due entirely to his own initiative, and is the achievement of his own personality, and not the result of favorable circum- tances. He is a native of Providence, having been born n what was then North Providence, May 19, 1873, the on of James and Mary (Owens) Cunningham, who ire now both dead, James Cunningham having been a grocer in Providence.

Joseph J. Cunningham attended the public schools. Ie was a lad of promise and ambition, so that after he had finished the grammar school and taken two years of the high school course he decided to go to Bryant nd Stratton Business College. For five years after his he was assistant in his father's store, and during his time he determined to become a lawyer and make hat profession his life work. It was necessary that he hould have a good foundation for his legal studies and ccordingly he went to Seton Hall, from which he graduated in 1894, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. This he followed by a course of two years' study at he Harvard Law School. He then went into the law ffice of Gorman & Egan, and became familiar with all he practical details of the calling. After this excellent raining he was admitted to the bar in 1899, having assed the necessary examinations. Mr. Cunningham stablished himself in Providence where his labors have net with great encouragement and where he has built p an excellent practice. In 1912 he became associated vith Jeremiah E. O'Connell, the firm name being Cun- ingham & O'Connell, with offices at Nos. 301-302 Gros- enor building. He has always taken a keen interest political matters, he himself being a Democrat. He erved on school committee from 1900 to 1906, and vas various times a candidate on the Democratic ticket or Legislature and Common Council in the Tenth Ward. He is a member of the Democratic State Cen- ral Committee and town committees of North Prov- dence. He is chairman of the Tenth Ward Legal Ad- isory Board, and is secretary of the State (Demo- ratic) Central Committee. He is a member of the North Providence Improvement Association, and has eld the office of president and treasurer in the organ- zation. He is a trustee of the Fruithill Volunteer firemen's Association. He is a member of the Knights f Columbus, of the Pen and Pencil Club, of the Rhode sland Bar Association, and of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, and served as president in 1915. He be- ongs to St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church.

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 23

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