The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 39

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 39

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).

Paternally Mr. Longley was of the Maine branch of the Longley family, founded in Lynn, Mass., by Rich- ard Longley, in 1635. His maternal relationship was with the Swift family, another of New England's old and honored families. The coat-of-arms of the Longley family is as follows:

Arms-Quarterly-First and fourth, parti per fesse or and azure. Second and third, parti per pale argent and gules. The former on a chevron sable, three bezants or. The latter two chevronels.

Crest-A lion sejant argent. Motto-Esse quam videri.

Charles Edmund Longley was born in Sidney, Maine, in 1850, and died at his home, No. 87 Walcott street, Pawtucket, R. I., November 29, 1899. He was educated in the public schools of Sidney and at Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Kents Hill. In youth he was left an or- phan, dependent upon his own exertions, this condition, however, but stimulating his ambitions and nerving him for life's battle. After completing his studies at Wes- leyan Seminary, he left the home of his youth, and in pursuit of his ambition to become a factor in the busi- ness world, located in Boston, Mass. He found employ- ment in a clothing store as clerk, and in the years that followed until 1876 he was engaged with several of the leading retail clothing firms of the city in more than ordinary capacity. He not only became thoroughly familiar with every detail of the clothing business, but he developed a method of salesmanship and a deport- ment toward customers that won him a standing with his employers and a popularity with the trade. He was devoted to the interests of his employers, and his change of firms was not that his services were not satisfactory, but were part of his plan of preparation, for the time he was resolved should come when he would be a pro- prietor. He was often promoted in rank and compen- sation, but the varied experiences of this period of his life were more valuable to him.

In 1876 he collected his savings and decided the time was ripe to make his start in business for himself. He chose Providence, R. I., as a location, and there in association with George Talbot, of Brookline, Mass., he opened a retail clothing store, trading as the Boston and Providence Clothing Company. His Boston ex-

152

HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND

perience had admirably fitted him for his new respon- sibilities, and the new venture won instant public favor. But the store in Providence, successful as it was, did but pave the way to greater effort. His ambition was for a chain of stores and soon branches began to appear in other New England cities, until the company's sign appeared over stores in Pawtucket, Woonsocket, R. I., Fall River and Worcester, Mass., New Haven, Hart- ford and New Britain, Conn. These were not small stores in obscure localities, but in the best locations and finest buildings obtainable. The store at Pawtucket was in the Music Hall building, the store in Woonsocket in the Longley building, one of the finest in the city. This chain of stores formed an immense outlet for goods, and naturally Mr. Longley was attracted by the wholesale and manufacturing possibilities, eventually becoming a member of the Standard Clothing Company of Boston, operating stores in New York State and in New England. Later the Boston and Providence Cloth- ing Company and the Standard Clothing Company con- solidated, bringing under one management the huge business of both companies.

It would now seem as though Mr. Longley had fully realized the ambitions of his youth and had found sufficient outlet for even his immense energy. But not so; on February 15, 1893, the J. B. Barnaby Company of Providence was absorbed by purchase from the heirs of J. B. Barnaby and the business continued as a corporation, The J. B. Barnaby Company, Mr. Longley being elected president and general manager. From that time forward Mr. Longley gradually disposed of his stores and interests outside New England and sev- eral of the branches in New England, retaining, how- ever, the New Haven and Woonsocket stores and in- creasing his holdings of the stock of The J. B. Barnaby Company, becoming the owner of or controlling the greater portion of the stock of that highly successful company. He continued the active head of the business for six years, then succumbed to the inevitable, his years of excessive effort bringing about a weakened physical condition unable to resist the attack of disease. From that time he failed rapidly, and on November 29, 1899, died, not yet having reached his fiftieth year. But the record of those years is one of honor, the brilliancy of his life achievement atoning in a measure for his early demise.

Essentially the business man and entirely devoted to his business interests, allowing nothing, not even his own health, to interfere with its vigorous prosecution, Mr. Longley yet took an active interest in the affairs of his city, and he was keenly alive to his social obli- gations. After his marriage in 1879 he made Provi- dence his home until 1882, then moved his residence to Pawtucket, his home ever afterward. He was a mem- ber of the Squantum, Pomham, To-Kalon clubs, a charter member of the Providence Athletic Association, a trustee of the Pawtucket Congregational Church, a member of the Congregational Club of Rhode Island, the Pawtucket Business Men's Association, Massachu- setts Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and St. Paul's Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Boston, in which he had attained to the thirty-second degree.

He had the public welfare deeply at heart, was most solicitious for the well being of his employees, was

most genial and approachable, holding their respect and confidence. He was very popular with patrons of his stores, and a favorite in any gathering he graced with his presence. Integrity and courtesy may be said to have been the prime articles of his faith, certainly no more upright nor courteous man ever lived. Gener- osity and charity marked his life, but so unostentatious was his giving that none knew how freely he drew upon his purse for the relief of others. By every test Mr. Longley proved himself a man, and he passed from earthly view with an untarnished name.

Mr. Longley married, in Providence, in 1879, Hen- rietta A. Swinney, born in Savannah, Ga., daughter of Captain John L. Swinney, of a prominent family of the South, valiant in war, leaders in public life, hospitable, gentle, gracious in the home. Mrs. Longley's great- grandfather, Richard Swinney, was a soldier in the Revolution, and a slave and plantation owner; her father, Captain John L. Swinney, was an officer of cavalry in the Seminole War, serving as captain of the Hancock Troop of Cavalry of Georgia, under Gen- eral Winfield Scott. He married Eliza A. Robinson, of Massachusetts, a granddaughter of Elijah Robinson, a Revolutionary soldier, and a descendant of Rev. John Robinson, the noted Puritan minister. The coat-of- arms of the Swinney family is as follows:

Arms-Or, on a fess vert, between three boars pas- sant sable, a lizard passant proper.

Crest-Two turtle doves cooing, proper.

Mrs. Longley survives her husband and continues her residence in Pawtucket, with her four children: Charles. Edmund, Jr., Vawter Clifford, Rosalind, and Ronald Swift. A son, Harold Robinson, died in childhood. Mrs. Longley is a most gracious lady, blending the vir- tues of North and South. The family residence, for- merly the Dexter homestead, purchased in 1882, has been so added to that it is one of the architectural beauties of the city; Mrs. Longley's summer home, formerly the Phillips Homestead, is at Phillips Beach, Swampscott, Mass. She is also prominent in club and social life, is past regent of Pawtucket Chapter, Daugh- ters of the American Revolution, and for a number of years was Rhode Island State director of the Society of Children of the American Revolution, and was for two years State regent for Rhode Island of the Daugh- ters of the American Revolution, and is now vice- president general of this National Society.

WILLIAM C. PRATT, president of the Maple- hurst Greenhouses, Inc., at Long Meadow, a concern which has come to occupy a very important part in the life of this place, and a man of public spirit and wide activity, is a son of William H. and Jane (Greene) Pratt, old and highly-respected residents of Provi- dence, R. I. It was in that city that William C. Pratt was born, on June 28, 1858, and it was there that he began his education, attending the local public schools until he had reached the age of nine years. He then, at that tender age, began to be occupied with the task of earning his livelihood, and for a time carried news- papers, and also acted as a general delivery boy. He did not entirely give up his schooling, however, but continued at the Providence public schools until four- teen years of age. In that period Providence was a

ESSE

VIDERI

QUAM

Longley

winney

153

BIOGRAPHICAL

omparatively small place, and could boast of but one hort street-car line, the motive power of which was orses. Mr. Pratt, when fourteen, entered the office f the George L. Claflin Company, where he worked s office boy at a salary of three dollars per week. Mr. Pratt was always a bright and alert lad and took a keen nterest in his work, being careful to clean up the office nd do a number of extra jobs entirely on his own ccount. This interest soon met with appreciation on ne part of his employers, and his weekly stipend was aised to the sum of five dollars. After a time the youth ft this concern and found employment with the Wol- ott & Blodgett Produce Company as a bookkeeper. his concern was the first in Providence to deal with e Standard Oil Company and ship the product of at concern in tank cars. The Standard Oil Company self later opened an office in Providence and here Mr. ratt applied for a position as bookkeeper. He was ac- pted in this capacity, and it was he who kept the first t of Standard Oil books in Providence, in the old office Custom House street. After four years with the Stand- 'd Oil Company, Mr. Pratt left this concern and went Test, settling in Dayton, Ohio, where he gained an cellent position with the Dayton Screw Company, and rmed the acquaintance of Albert Angell, the president ; that concern. His ability was highly appreciated ere, and he was eventually promoted to the position secretary and assistant treasurer. After filling this uble office for about a year, Mr. Pratt returned tem- rarily to Providence, where he was married, and then ok his wife back to Dayton in order to resume his sition there. The concern with which he was asso- ited, however, was entirely reorganized about this ne, whereupon Mr. Pratt resigned his position and turned to Providence, where he secured employment th the firm of Murray & Allen, wholesale grocers. the head bookkeeper. Upon the death of Mr. Allen metime later, Mr. Pratt was admitted as a member the firm, in 1892, but shortly afterwards sold out ; interest and secured employment with the Narra- nsett Brewing Company as cashier. He remained th that concern until 1900, when he became one of the ganizers of the Park Brewing Company, with a plant uated on Elmwood avenue, Providence. He continued secretary of the Park Brewing Company until the ar 1914, when the business was finally dissolved. In meantime, however, his son, Stuart Greene Pratt, d become interested in horticulture, and to pursue study further, entered the Rhode Island State Col- e at Kingston, where he spent the years 1906 and 07. In 1909, in partnership with his son, Mr. Pratt ablished the Maplehurst greenhouses. The venture s begun on a small scale, the first house measuring ly twenty by twenty feet. Mr. Pratt, Jr., devoted attention largely to raising carnations. Around this iod Mr. Pratt also established a dairy business, which grown to large proportions. The Maplehurst green- uses became known within a comparatively short 'iod in the markets of Providence and surrounding es, and in 1910 to meet the enlarged demands of his siness, Mr. Pratt erected larger greenhouses and ned a business office. In order to introduce the ture of chrysanthemums and other plants and flow- , he was obliged to still further increase his facil-

ities, and after long extended negotiation secured the Long Meadow Golf Club grounds, a tract of eighty- five acres. Thirty acres of this tract are now under intensive cultivation, the remainder being used for pasturage for a fine herd of cows, of which Mr. Pratt's first cow was the nucleus. A modern dairy is now operated here and rivals the greenhouse proposition in success.

Mr. Pratt and his son, Stuart Greene Pratt, were partners in this enterprise from its inception, but in 1914, Charles E. Cannon, and his father, William W. H. Cannon, were likewise admitted to the firm, and on May 27, of that year, the firm was incorporated under the name of the Maplehurst Greenhouses, Inc., its of- ficers being William C. Pratt, president, Stuart G. Pratt, vice-president and manager, Charles E. Cannon, secretary and treasurer, and William W. H. Cannon, assistant treasurer. A sketch of Charles E. Cannon, with further particulars concerning the Maplehurst greenhouse concern, will be found elsewhere in this work. Mr. Pratt is president of the First Southern Rhode Island Federal Farm Loan Bank, which is sit- uated in East Greenwich, where it was established in 1916. He is a member of the State Advisory Board, of the War Savings Commission under the presidency of Theodore Francis Greene. Mr. Pratt has been very active in public affairs here, and was the candidate of the Independent ticket for the Town Council at Long Meadow in 1916. He is not a member of any of the secret fraternal orders, but is affiliated with Warwick Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. He is also a member of the Union Congregational Church of Providence, R. I

William C. Pratt was united in marriage, December 13, 1881, with Lucy Maria Potter, a daughter of Heze- kiah and Abby (Thornton) Potter .. Of this marriage one son has been born: Stuart Greene Pratt, who is mentioned below.

Stuart Greene Pratt, only son of William C. and Lucy Maria (Potter) Pratt, was born in Providence, June 23, 1888. He attended the University Public School and the Technical High School of Providence. In 1906-07, he attended the Rhode Island State Col- lege, at Kingston, taking a special course in horticul- ture in order to prepare himself for his present line of business. Mr. Pratt was married, October 1, 1914, to Emily Warren, a daughter of James and Caroline (Hill) Warren. They are the parents of one daughter, Car- olyn Hill Pratt, born July 26, 1915. Mr. Pratt is in- tensely interested in the business which his father estab- lished, and is now, as before stated, vice-president and manager of the Maplehurst concern.

THOMAS G. MATHEWSON, one of the promi- nent citizens of Warwick, and superintendent of the Goddard Estate at Potowomnt, is a member of one of the old Rhode Island families, the members of which have been identified with this region for many genera- tions. He is a direct lineal descendant in the seventh generation from the Hon. Henry Matteson of Scot- land, from which the line runs through Joseph, Josiah," Russell, Wilbur, and Syria Wilbur, down to Thomas Greene Mathewson. Mr. Mathewson's father, Syria Wilbur Mathewson, was born at Coventry, February

154

HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND

19, 1824, and died October 15, 1904. He resided on the old Hill farm until 1868, when he built and opened a summer hotel at Narragansett Pier. He met with success in this enterprise, and in 1896 enlarged and entirely remodeled the hotel and changed its name to that of the New Mathewson House, which he continued to operate until his death. It was then taken over by the Mathewson Company, composed of his three sons, with Thomas G. Mathewson as president, Everett I. Mathewson as vice-president, and Syria Wilbur Math- ewson, Jr., as secretary and treasurer. This company was finally dissolved and the hotel sold in 1917. The elder Mr. Mathewson was an expert machinist in early life, a trade which he followed for a time, as he did also that of weaver. He was a member of the first Town Council of Narragansett Pier, and was active in having the town district set off. He was a member of the Quidnesett Baptist Church. He married, December 17, 1848, Anna Eliza Hill, a daughter of Thomas and Lucy Ann (Allen) Hill, and a member of the old and dis- tinguished Hill family of this State. Mrs. Mathewson was born Dec. 12, 1829, and died March 20, 1910. They were the parents of the following children: Ida B., who became the wife of John J. Benson, of Vermont, now residing in West Palm Beach, Fla .; Thomas G., of further mention ; Syria Wilbur, who died in infancy; Syria Wilbur, Jr., who makes his home at Narragansett Pier; Walter H., born March 28, 1861, died Feby. 2, 1887; and Everett I., born Nov. 2, 1865, died Jany. II, 1916, at Narragansett Pier.

Thomas G. Mathewson was born November 5, 1854, on the old Hill homestead in North Kingston, R. I., and as a lad attended the district schools of Quidne- sett, in North Kingston township. He later studied at the East Greenwich Academy, and finally completed his schooling at the celebrated Bryant & Stratton Business College, at Providence, where he took courses in sur- veying and architecture. He possesses a natural gift for forestry and landscape gardening, and so great a fondness for the work that he has devoted the major part of his life to the work. At the request of his grandfather, who desired to have someone care for him and his place, the young man went to live on the old homestead, which he greatly improved, and where he carried on general farming. He remained there until the year 1890, and then secured a position as landscape gardener on the handsome estate of Mr. Russell, at Potowomut. He remained in the employ of that gentle- man until the latter's death, and since then has worked on the same estate for his successor, Robert H. I. God- dard. He has assisted Mr. Goddard in enlarging the forest that covers a part of the property, and is still in charge of it, as well as being superintendent of the en- tire estate. The old Hill farm upon which he was born was deeded to Mr. Mathewson in 1901 by his mother, and he has since purchased the old Forge property, at one time in the possession of the family, but which had passed into other hands for a number of years. Mr. Mathewson is therefore the owner of a considerable property in this region. He is very active in the affairs of the community, and has held a number of public offices here, among which should be mentioned that of trustee of the Rhode Island State College Board at Kingston, road surveyor, commissioner of the town

farm, and member of the Board of Agriculture and of the executive committee thereof. Mr. Mathewson is also a member of the Rhode Island Horticultural So- ciety. He was one of the organizers of the Quidnesett Memorial Cemetery in 1902. He designed and laid ou' the grounds, and is now superintendent, a member of the board of directors, and also vice-president. Mr Mathewson has been a member of the board of trustee: of Rhode Island State College at Kingston since Jan. uary, 1903. In his religious belief he is a Baptist, and attends the church of that denomination at Quidnesett being a trustee and deacon thereof. He is a member of King Solomon Lodge, No. 11, Free and Accepted Masons, of East Greenwich, and of Quidnesett (at on time Davisville) Grange, No. 44, Patrons of Husbandry! and served in all the chairs of the latter. He is a mem ber of the Rhode Island Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Thomas G. Mathewson married, November 9, 1881 Celia Maria Madison, daughter of Joseph Warren an. Maria (Smith) Madison, and a direct descendant o, the Hon. Henry Matteson. They are the parents of th following children: I. Anna Maria, who married, Jul 28, 1909, Dana Lawrence, of Arlington, Mass., to whor, she has borne two children: George Hill Mathewsor born June 19, 1910, and Lucy Maria, born Jany. I. J915. 2. George Hill, born March 4, 1886, died at M Hermon School, Mass., Sept. 14, 1904.

EZRA DIXON-Men of genius, power and busines ability belong in a sense to the public, and it is n invasion of their rights to minutely chronicle their live as it is from the biographies of successful men that th young man learns how he may direct his efforts i order to attain success. Hon. Ezra Dixon, of Bristol R. I., is a man whose years, sixty-nine, have been year of fruitful endeavor and high attainment, and a ric lesson may be drawn from a study of his career. F came from one of the oldest of New England familie; his American ancestor, Nathaniel Dixon, coming fro. Ely, Cambridge, England, prior to the year 1634. ] England the line is traced to William Dickinson, 156 96, and in this country the family with its collater branches is interwoven with every department of Ame ican life and history. It is found in many forms ar varied spellings, the Dixons of this review springit from the Dickinsons of 1630. In England the fami bore arms granted in 1802, thus described :

Arms-Azure, an anchor erect, encircled with an 08 wreath, vert, between three mullets pierced or, on chief paly of seven or, the last and gules, a mur crown argent.

Crest-Over an armed arm brandishing a falchi proper, a trident and spear in saltire or.

Motto-Fortes fortuna juvat.

Ezra Dixon is a son of Dwight James and Susi Ann (Bixby) Dixon, of York county, Maine, the mer ory of his parents there cherished in the hearts of the many friends of the region in which they lived pri to their coming to Spencer, Mass., where their sc Ezra, was born. Dwight James Dixon was a son John Dixon, a highly esteemed citizen of Dudley, Ma: From both maternal and paternal ancestors he inhe. ited a sound mind and a healthy body, and from the

Ezra Dijon

155

BIOGRAPHICAL

inherited the fine physical and mental equipment vich shows as yet no sign of deterioration.

Ezra Dixon was born in Spencer, Mass., December I 1849, and was there educated in the district school ai through home study. He was interested in machin- e' from boyhood, and much of his time was spent aund the mills of Spencer, when not in school. In I 7 he began his career as a mill worker, he entering ti employ of John L. Ross, at Quadic, Conn., and for tenty-nine years he was employed in all the operations o cotton manufacture as back-boy, cleaner, frame saner, mule piecer, and doffer in mills of East Brook- fid, North Uxbridge, Leesville, Stoneville, New Wor- cter, Linwood, Three Rivers, Lymans Mills, Hope- de and Manchester. During most of the Civil War pliod he was too young to enlist, but on December 1, 13, he did enlist in the quartermaster's department ir South Carolina, and served until April 6, 1864, when h was mustered out. He re-enlisted July 15, 1864, in Company F, Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Vlunteer Infantry, and served until mustered out with h regiment, November 10, 1864. He enlisted a third tie, was assigned to the quartermaster's department, at Nshville, and there served until honorably discharged ai he close of the war.

Vith seventeen years of cotton mill experience, minus th time spent in the army, he came to Rhode Island, ai on July 8, 1874, entered the employ of the Nanquet Mls at Bristol, R. I., there continuing twelve years inhe operating department. From boyhood Mr. Dixon hi given full rein to his inventive genius. but it was n until 1876 that he founded The Dixon Lubricating SIdle Company, the culmination of years of thought af hard work. The saddle was an instant success, at was quickly adopted, and is yet in constant demand werever cotton goods is manufactured. This was his fit important patent, but since that time nineteen ofers have been issued to him, all valuable additions to cotton mill machinery. The Dixon Lubricating SIdle Company is located in Bristol, Ezra Dixon, pisident and treasurer, this company with offices in Bstol and Providence, R. I., manufacturing under the Dion and other patents: The Dixon Lubricating S'dle; Dixon Patent Locking Saddle and Stirrup; P.ter's Patent Rowing Guide Motion; Peterson's Pat- er Pick Shaft; Cumnock Patent Thread Board Shifter, aswell as a general line of spinners' supplies. Upon pasing from the ranks of the employed to those of th employer, Mr. Dixon carried with him the best whes of his associates, and in the years which have si e intervened he has kept in close touch with the mill wker and his welfare, pursuing policies just and ecitable to both owner and worker. To his own manu- fauring business he has given his greatest effort, but hi labors have extended to other industries and cor- potions. He is a director of the Industrial Trust Cnpany of Providence, and chairman of the board of miagers, Bristol branch, and is now a director of the Nional India Rubber Company, the Kilburn Mill of Nv Bedford, Mass., of the Warren Manufacturing Chpany, and the Fort Dummer Mills of Brattleboro, V: The foregoing but outlines the activities of an ur sually busy and successful career from a business stidpoint. From boyhood a worker, Mr. Dixon has exted every resource of body and brain to working

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 39

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