The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 55

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 55

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Andrew Linton, Jr., married (first) Mary Ann Sheri- dan, of Montreal, Canada, who died at Providence, R. I., July 10, 1881. He married (second) in 1885, Mary Jane (Wade) Donahoe, a daughter of the late James and Margaret Wade, of Blackstone, Mass., and the widow of the late Charles Donahoe. Charles Donahoe was a native of Ireland, and at the age of fifteen years came to the United States, locating at Whitinsville, where he worked in the mills by day, and attended the high schools at night. In this way he furnished himself with a good education, and, after working at Water- ford and at Woonsocket, established himself in the lat- ter community as a substantial business man. This occupation he followed until his death, January 13,

1876, and he is buried in St. Paul's Cemetery, in the town of Blackstone. James Wade, the father of Mrs. Mary Jane Linton, was a native of Ireland, and came to America among the first Irish families in Blackstone. He was a member of the Catholic church of Woon- socket, in which vicinity the greater part of his life was passed.

Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Linton has managed the affairs of her large estate, which includes a great amount of real estate in and around Woon- socket. She has spent some years in travel, both at home and abroad, and enjoys an enviable and well- earned reputation in Woonsocket as a business woman of great ability. She is highly esteemed for her kind- ness and charitable nature, which has often displayed itself in helping those who come to her in distress.

LAFAYETTE EDWARDS-One of the most prominent and influential citizens of the town of Hop- kinton, proprietor of the Canonchet Mill and the Union Twine Company at Canonchet, is Lafayette Edwards, a member of one of the old Rhode Island families. Mr. Edwards is a descendant of Phineas Edwards and his wife Mary, who were early residents in this region. They were the parents of the following children : Mary, born Jan. 4, 1771, and died in 1773; Phineas, Jr., born March 18, 1773; Mary (2), born June 18, 1775; Phebe, born Aug. 9, 1777; Nathan, who is mentioned at length below; Sarah, born Aug. 8, 1786; Eunice, born March 7, 1789, and Putnam Lewis, born Jan. 6, 1798.

Major Nathan Edwards, son of Phineas and Mary Edwards, and great-grandfather of Lafayette Edwards, was born March 20, 1780. He was very active in the military affairs of the town of Hopkinton, and was prominent in the general life of the community. He was elected on May 12, 1806, to the Legislature and served in other capacities of a public character. He was an ensign of the First Company of Infantry at Hop- kinton and on May 11, 1807, was elected captain. He was promoted to the rank of second major of the Third Regiment of Militia on June 25, 1810. Major Edwards married Sarah Main, and they were the parents of the following children: Thomas J., who is mentioned be- low; Nathan; Elias; Sarah, who became the wife of Clark Coon; Mary, who became the wife of Daniel Bab- cock; George; Stanton; William Gibb; Phebe, who married Robert Main; Phineas; and Isaac Coe. Major Nathan Edwards made his home about three miles to the north of Hopkinton City, where he was engaged in farming and the manufacture of hop-poles and char- coal. He also carried on a large mercantile business and was one of the most prominent citizens of the region, and a member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church.

Captain Thomas J. Edwards, son of Major Nathan and Sarah (Main) Edwards, and grandfather of Lafa- yette Edwards, was born in the year 1801, and died in 1889. He made his home at Canonchet, R. I., where he settled about 1820, and engaged in the manufacture of spools and bobbins. Like his father he was a promi- nent member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church and was one of the congregation at Rockville. He was also active in military affairs and was captain of the State Militia. He and his wife were the parents of the fol-

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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND

lowing children : James R., of whom further; Harriett, who became the wife of Caleb Burdick and removed to Pennsylvania; Asa M., who went to Pennsylvania where his death occurred in 1903; Lydia A., who became the wife of Benjamin B. Kenyon, of Palmer, Mass. ; Sarah, who became the wife of Hazard R. Gates; Mary E., who became the wife of William H. Burdick, of Asha- way; Phebe, who married George Amos Langworthy, also a resident of Ashaway; Thomas R .; Nathan P .; and Catherine, who became the wife of Henry C. Lan- phear, of Westerly.

James R. Edwards, eldest son of Captain Thomas J. Edwards and father of Lafayette Edwards, was born May 22, 1822, at Hopkinton. He was yet a small child when he removed with his parents to Canonchet, at which place he made his home up to the time of his death, which occurred there September 16, 1893. He was engaged in manufacturing at that place, and was exceedingly successful. For a time he followed in the footsteps of his father and made spools and bobbins, but he later entered the shoddy business, in which he remained for about five years or until 1867, when his mill and stock were destroyed by fire. It is a tribute to the esteem in which he was held by his fellow towns- men that these started to raise funds for him by sub- scription, without his knowledge. Mr. Edwards, how- ever, when he learned of this, declined to benefit by their efforts and paid back what had been given him. He was still a young man and he and his wife turned their attention to once more building up their mill and continuing in its operation. He then formed an associa- tion with his son Lafayette Edwards and engaged in the manufacture of cotton yarn. Later this association was dissolved and during the last ten years of his life, he continued in this line on his own account. James R. Edwards was a staunch Republican and a prominent member of the Rockville Seventh Day Baptist Church. He married in the year 1844, Emeline Kenyon, born April 5, 1827, a daughter of Simon and Mary ( Bright- man) Kenyon, and they were the parents of the follow- ing children : Lafayette, who is mentioned at length below; James C., of Shannock Hill; Annie, who be- came the wife of Edward Langworthy and is now de- ceased ; Mary, who became the wife of George H. Lang- worthy, of Westerly; Sarah, who became the wife of George Kenyon, of Hopkinton City; George, who re- sides at Canonchet; Oscar, and Osmas, who also make their home at that place; and Leonard, deceased, who died September 16, 1893.

Lafayette Edwards, eldest son of James R. and Eme- line (Kenyon) Edwards, was born August 11, 1846, at Canonchet. As a lad he attended the local schools of his native place and the well-known Gate School here. He was still very young, however, when he abandoned his studies and began his business career, his first experi- ence in that line being as an employee of his father in the latter's mill. In the year 1867, when twenty-one years of age, he formed a partnership with Lafayette Godfrey, and engaged in the manufacture of cotton yarns. At the time of his father's misfortune, he pur- chased Mr. Godfrey's interest, and took his father for partner. Later, in 1874, he built a stone mill at Canon- chet, where he carried on his business. His partner- ship with his father continued until 1882, when it was

dissolved, since which time he has been engaged on his own account. He purchased the interest of Mr. Wells in the Newstone mill and in 1903 built a line and twine walk about six hundred feet long, which he has since operated in connection with his other plant. The Canon- chet mill manufactures the yarn used in the manufacture of fish lines made in the plant of the Union Twine Com- pany. April 20, 1916, a fire caused by lightning com- pletely destroyed the plant of the Union Twine Company and which plant has since been rebuilt. He has also become interested in other enterprises here and is now the most prominent figure in the business interests of Canonchet, his concerns being the main support of this place. The fish lines manufactured in the plant of the Union Twine Company have a market in all parts of the Western Hemisphere and the high quality and stand- ards maintained by Mr. Edwards have given the product an unimpeachable standing. Mr. Edwards has given much time to the public affairs of this region and has served in a number of public offices here. He is a staunch Republican in politics and has been elected on the ticket of his party to the town council, upon which he has served for a number of terms. He has also held the post of assessor of taxes and has performed an in- valuable service to the community. Like his ancestors before him, he is a member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Rockville. Although his success as a manu- facturer has been very great, Mr. Edwards has refused to benefit selfishly by the results of his labors. He might have been a very wealthy man had he so chosen, but he has given so liberally to every undertaking, the aim of which is the good of the community, and in private charities, that he may be said to have shared his for- tunes with his fellow-citizens. His philanthropy and kindliness have won for him the respect and affection of all those with whom he has come in contact, and he occupies to-day a unique position in the community. Mr. Edwards has always been devoted to good horses and has owned some very fine Morgan stock. Although the owner of four automobiles, he nevertheless prefers to drive a fine carriage horse, and indulges himself in this pleasure to this day.

Lafayette Edwards married (first) Carrie Tucker, daughter of John Tucker, of Carolina, R. I., of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this work. He married (second ) December 10, 1883, S. Mattie Theker, a sister of his first wife, born May 22, 1860, at Carolina, and they are the parents of two children, as follows: Emory L., born October 1, 1888, and Monna Corene, born April 2, 1899.

A. HERBERT ARNOLD-The family of Arnold is of great antiquity, having its origin among the ancient princes of Wales. According to a pedigree recorded in the College of Arms in England, they trace from Ynir, King of Gwentland, who flourished about the middle of the twelfth century, and was paternally descended from Ynir, second son of Cad -: walader, King of the Britons. The first of the family to adopt a surname was Roger Arnold, a descendant in the twelfth generation from Ynir. From the fore- going source descended the two Arnold brothers, who came to America, and were the progenitors of the famous Arnold family of New England. Their line-

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BIOGRAPHICAL

ge from Roger Arnold is through Thomas, Richard, ichard (2) and Thomas, the latter of whom lived for time at Melcombe Horsey, from which place he emoved to Cheselbourne, settling himself on an estate reviously belonging to his father. He was the father f Thomas and William Arnold, the founder of the New England Arnold lines, the latter of whom was ne progenitor of the Arnolds of Rhode Island herein nder consideration. The Arnold coat-of-arms is as ollows:

Arms-Gules a chevron ermine, between three heons or.

Crest-A lion rampant gules, holding in his paws a zenge or. Motto-Mihl gloria cessum.

(English Pedigree).

(I) Ynir, King of Gwentland, married Nesta, aughter of Jestin ap Gurgan, king of Glamorgan.

(II) Meiric succeeded his father, and married Cleanor, daughter of Ednived ap Jerworth of the ouse of Trevor.

(III) Ynir Vichan was also King of Gwent, and married Gladice, daughter of Rhys Goch ap Maenerch, .ord of Ystradyw, in Brecknockshire.

(IV) Carador ap Ynir Vichan, Lord of Gwent, married Nesta, daughter and heir of Sir Rydereck le iros, knight.

(V) Dyinwall ap Carador, Lord of Gwent, married oyes, daughter of Hamlet ap Druce, Duke of Balla- on, in France. Her brother Hamlet rebuilt the cas- e at Abergavenny.

(VI) Systyl ap Dyfnwall, Lord of Upper Gwent, married Annest, daughter and heir of Sir Peter Rus- ell, knight, Lord of Kentchurch, County Hereford.

(VII) Arthur ap Systyl married Jane, daughter of ein ap Moreidhec, Lord of Cantrsblyn.

(VIII) Meiric ap Arthur married Annest, daughter f Craddock ap Einon ap Golhrovn.

(IX) Qwuillim, ap Meiric, Esq., married Jane, aughter and co-heir of Ivor ap Syssylth, Lord of yhs Taly-bont.

(X) Arnholt ap Qwuillim, ap Meiric, Esq., married anet, daughter of Philip Fleming, Esq.

(XI) Arnholt ap Arnholt Vychan, Esq., married ybil, daughter of Madoc ap Einon ap Thomas.

(XII) Roger Arnold, of Llanthony, in Monmouth- hire, was the first of the family to adopt a surname. Ie married Joan, daughter of Thomas Gamade, night, Lord of Coytey.

(XIII) Thomas Arnold, Esq., succeeded to Llan- hony, and other estates in Monmouthshire; he mar- ied Agnes, daughter of Sir Richard Warnestead, night. Children: 1. John, of Hingham, and Over, lied Sept. 15, 1545. 2. Richard, mentioned below.

(XIV) Richard Arnold, son of Thomas Arnold, emoved to Somersetshire, in the Parish of Street. Ie married Emmote, daughter and heir of Pearce Young, of Damerham, Wiltshire.

(XV) Richard (2) Arnold, eldest son and heir of Richard (1) Arnold, removed to Dorsetshire, and was eated at Bagbere, in the Parish of Middleton, other- vise Milton Abbas. He was lord of the Manor of Bagnere, and had estates at Alton Pancras, Buckland

Newton, Cheselbourne, Melcombe Horsey and other places in that county. He was also patron of the churches of Blandford and Bingham, Melcombe. His manor house at Bagbere was still standing until 1870, when it was demolished and a farm situated on the site. A small part of the ancient building is incorpor- ated in the new house. His will was dated May 15, 1593, and proved July 9, 1595. He desired to be buried "in the parishe Churche of Milton, in the Ille called Jesus Ille as we goe to the Tower." He had two wives.

(XVI) Thomas Arnold, second son of Richard (2) Arnold, is mentioned in his father's will. He resided some time at Melcombe Horsey, and removed to Cheselbourne, locating on one of his father's estates. The family register of baptisms of his children was preserved and brought to America. He married (first) Alice, daughter of John Gulley, of North Over, Par- ish of Tolpuddle, near Cheselbourne. Children of the first marriage were: I. Thomasince. 2. Joanna, bap- tized Nov. 30, 1577. 3. Margery, born Aug. 30, 1581. 4. Robert, born in 1583. 4. John, born in 1585. 5. William. Children of the second marriage: 6. Eliza- beth, horn in 1596. 7. Thomas, mentioned below. 8. Eleanor, baptized July 31, 1606.

(American Pedigree).

(I) Thomas Arnold, American progenitor of the family herein under consideration, was born in Eng- land, in April, 1599, and came to the American col- onies in the ship "Plain Joan," from Cheselbourne, County Dorset, in 1635. He settled first in Water- town, Mass., and was a proprietor of that town in 1636. He was admitted a freeman, May 13, 1640. He later fell into disrepute with the Puritan authorities, and was presented at court for neglecting to have his children baptized, October, 1651. In 1661 Thomas Arnold removed to Providence, R. I., where his brother William had already located, and later became one of the leading citizens of the town. For several years, in 1666 and afterward, he was deputy to the General Assembly, and in 1672 was a member of the Town Council of Providence. Thomas Arnold mar- ried (second) Phebe, daughter of George Parkhurst, Sr., and his wife, Susanna.

Many descendants of Thomas Arnold settled in the Shawomet Purchase, which later became the town of Warwick, R. I., and the Arnold family has ranked among the foremost in that section of the country since the time of its founding. The line herein under consideration is that of the late James Potter Arnold, and A. Herbert Arnold, the former a prominent busi- ness man and public leader of Warwick in the middle decades of the nineteenth century, the latter a well- known figure in the business and official circles of the city of Providence, until the time of his retirement.

(II) Joseph Arnold, great-grandfather of A. Her- bert Arnold, and a lineal descendant of Thomas Arn- old, the founder of the family in Rhode Island, was a resident of Warwick, and a large land-owner there. (III) Nathaniel Arnold, son of Joseph Arnold, was a lifelong resident of Warwick. He married Mary Abby Potter, also a native of that town, and they

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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND

were the parents of nine children, among them James Potter Arnold, mentioned below.

(IV) Hon. James Potter Arnold, son of Nathaniel and Mary Abby (Potter) Arnold, was born in the town of Warwick, R. I., August 6, 1820. Early in life he began the study of the undertaking profession under the late Isaac B. Aylesworth, of Anthony, R. I., and later established himself in this business in Phenix, R. I. He was highly successful, and at a later period founded a furniture business, which he con- ducted in conjunction with his undertaking establish- ment for nearly sixty years. Early in his career he became active in public affairs in Phenix, and for five years was a member of the Town Council. He was a strong Republican. For a number of years he repre- sented the town of Warwick in the Lower House of the General Assembly, by appointment of the Gov- ernor of Rhode Island. He was one of the founders of the Phenix Savings Bank, and one of its directors from the time of its organization. He was at one time one of the commissioners of the Hartford, Providence & Fishkill Railroad. Mr. Arnold was prominent in social and fraternal organizations in Warwick, and was the first member admitted to Washington Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, fifty-three years before his death. In 1888 he served as one of the directors of the Phenix Public Library.

Hon. James Potter Arnold married Mary Abby Potter, born April 12, 1823. They were the parents of the following children: 1. A. Herbert, mentioned below. 2. John James, deceased, born Sept. 2, 1850; was a well-known lawyer; president and treasurer of the Warwick & Coventry Water Company, resident of Phenix. 3. Henry Curtis, deceased, born April 26, 1852, was a resident of Phenix, R. I.

(V) A. Herbert Arnold, son of Hon. James Potter and Mary Abby (Potter) Arnold, was born in the town of Warwick, R. I., May 9, 1848. He was edu- cated in the public and private schools of the town, and on completing his studies began the study of the undertaking business under his father. In 1863, Mr. Arnold established himself as an undertaker and funeral director with his father, and met with a large degree of success. At a later period he decided to broaden the field of his business, and in 1888 opened an office and warerooms on Westminster street, Prov- idence. This venture also proved highly successful. To it Mr. Arnold devoted all his attention, directing personally its larger interests. He was a man of shrewd business perspicacity, an able organizer and a fine executive, and under his management the business grew to very large proportions, developing into one of the foremost of its kind in the city of Providence. He sold out his business in 1915. Mr. Arnold rose to a position of prominence in business circles in the city, and was drawn naturally into the field of politics. From the time of his coming to Providence he had taken a deep interest in civic issues, and had been identified with several notable movements for the bet- terment of conditions in the city. In politics he was a strong Republican. In 1895 he was nominated for councilman from the Eighth Ward, and was elected to the office, which he filled ably and well. In 1896

he was returned to office, and again discharged the duties of his incumbency so well that in 1898 he wa: honored with reelection. In the fall of 1898 he wa: elected alderman to represent the Eighth Ward, serv- ing in this capacity for two years. After completing his terms in office, Mr. Arnold retired from public life, and gradually withdrew from the business world retiring from active business in 1915.

Mr. Arnold has long been a prominent figure ir fraternal circles in Rhode Island. He is a member o: the Masonic order, in which he has attained to the thirty-second degree. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Howard En. campment, Washington Lodge, No. 11; of Sterling Lodge, Knights of Pythias; and of the New England Order of Protection. He is also well-known in club life in Providence, and is a member of the West Side Club, the Central Club and the Elmwood Club.

On April 29, 1894, A. Herbert Arnold married Annie Cora Pond, daughter of George Henry and Aroline Maria (Gammons) Pond, of Attleboro, Mass. Mr and Mrs. Arnold make their home in Providence.

HENRY COOPER BAILEY-One of the most conspicuous figures in the development of the great woolen industry of Rhode Island, and a man who owed his success purely to the result of his own intel. ligence and industry, was Henry C. Bailey, for many years superintendent of the Carolina Woolen Mills a Carolina in this State, and a large manufacturer a Hope Valley. The woolen industry here owes it! origin in a large measure to English enterprise, many men from that country having come over here in the early days to establish mills in a community which was obviously a growing one, and to this day some of the most prominent figures in this line are Eng lishmen. Such is true in the case of Henry Coope: Bailey, who was born December 12, 1846, at Trow. bridge, England. He was a son of Henry Bailey, one of the old-time spinners, who followed this trade a Trowbridge, and Martha (Cooper) Bailey. The elde. Mr. Bailey and his wife were the parents of three children, of whom Henry Cooper Bailey was the youngest son. Mr. Bailey was but three years of age when his father died, an occurrence which left the support of the family entirely upon the mother although there was a small sum which the father had laid aside from his meagre wages. This was, how. ever, encumbered in such a way that immediate returns from it were impossible. It was then that the mother of this family turned her thoughts to America where her father-in-law, Henry Bailey, had settled or a farm at Dudley, Mass. She accordingly set sail of the "Ocean Monarch" in the spring of 1852, and after a voyage of several weeks' duration landed in New York City. She at once went to Dudley, Mass., and made her home with Henry Bailey.

The childhood of Henry Cooper Bailey was thu! spent amid rural surroundings of New England farm life, where his opportunities for education were very limited, but where he gained a splendid heritage of health from his hard work on the farm. Here he grew to manhood, as did his brother, and his sister

Amencar iratu

Henry le Bailey

Henry D. Bailey

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BIOGRAPHICAL

Emily, who became the wife of a Mr. Cooper, of Philadelphia, while his brother James is now a retired manufacturer of Utica, N. Y. His mother married (second) Henry Cattrell, and went to live at Burrill- ville, when Henry Cooper Bailey was about nine years of age, and in that place he began to learn the manu- facturing business. His first experience was as a hand in a cotton mill at Harrisville, belonging to a Mr. Babbitt, but he did not remain there a great while, as he secured a better position in a mill belonging to Mr. Seagrave, at Graniteville. At this plant wool was the product and here he first became acquainted with the business that was to occupy him for so many years. He worked for a time at spooling, carrying yarn and tending gig. He was exceedingly ambitious and indus- trious and soon began to attract the attention of Mr. James Pierce, the superintendent of the mill, who advanced him to more responsible positions. He remained with this concern until he had reached the age of seventeen years, when he left to take a posi- tion as dresser tender at Mechanicsville, Conn., in the woolen mill of S. L. and Thomas Sayles. Some time later he was offered the position of boss dresser in a mill at what was then Eagleville, now Versailles, Conn. Not content with working in one department of the industry, and wishing to broaden his experience so as to enable him to take such a position as that of superintendent, he left this mill and went to West- erly, where he entered the employ of Rowse Babcock, in what was called the steam mill, to learn designing. Here he made extremely rapid progress, and it was not long before he secured a position as designer and assistant superintendent in another of Mr. Babcock's mills at Westerly. At the death of Mr. Babcock Mr. Bailey left this employment and became a boss weaver and designer in a mill at Potter Hill, owned by Rowse Babcock, Jr., and Albert Babcock, sons of his former employer. The product of this mill was fancy cassi- meres and it was not long before Mr. Bailey became superintendent of the plant, in which position he suc- ceeded a Mr. Holgate. In December, 1876, he went to Carolina, where he became superintendent of the Carolina Woolen Mill, a position which he held to within a few years of his death. Probably in no other mill in the State employing as many as one hundred and fifty operatives will the same average length of service among the employees be found as great as in . the Carolina Mills, where many of them have worked during their whole active life, and where the heads of departments have come up from the most humble posi- tions. Indeed many families have worked here for several generations and a community of interests and motives quite unique has grown up here.

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The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 55

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