The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 73

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 73

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(VII) Nathan Gardner Kenyon, son of Gardner and Susannah (Boss) Kenyon, was born November 28, 1789, and died December 23, 1851. He was a prominent man in the community and was judge of the court of common pleas for a number of years. Unlike the rest of his family, he was a staunch Whig throughout his life and in this connection an anecdote is related of him which well illustrates his firm character and sturdy disposition. His father was one of the old time Jef- fersonian Democrats, who were then known as Repub- licans, and no one had any reason to suppose that Nathan, the eldest son would not espouse the same principle. When the time came for him to cast his first vote, however, he went to Kingston, and supported the Whig ticket, casting his lot from the first with the party of his choice.

(VII) Elisha Reynolds Potter Kenyon, son of Gard- ner and Susannah (Boss) Kenyon, was born April 29, 1709, and died in August, 1839, in the prime of life. He resided at South Kingstown, and was engaged in farming at Point Judith. A man of sterling character, he enjoyed the high regard of his fellow citizens and was elected by them to the Rhode Island State Senate in 1836 and 1837. He married Mary Ann Knowles, daughter of Hazard Knowles, and they were the parents of the following children: William Gardner, men- tioned below; Elisha, born Aug. 9, 1826, and died Jan. 13, 1903; Edward, born Oct. 27, 18-, and afterwards removed to California; Mary Elizabeth, born May 7. 1830, and died Dec. 11, 1903; Abby F., born in the year 18-, and died June 15, 1884; Giles E., born Jan. 20, 1834, and died May 28, 1879; Sarah Stanton, born April 27, 1836, and died Feb. 15, 1877.

(VIII) William Gardner Kenyon, son of Elisha Rey- nolds Potter and Mary Ann (Knowles) Kenyon, was born January 4, 1825, at Point Judith, in South Kings- town, and died July 24, 1877, in Providence. His child- hood was spent in his native place and he was but fourteen years of age when his father died, so that at that early age he became the head of a large family of

children. He showed remarkable ability for his years. however, and kept up the family farm so successfully, that he was enabled to educate his brothers and sisters, and keep the family together until they had grown to maturity. In 1855 he removed his family to Wake- field, R. I., it being his intention to leave them there while he went to California to join his brothers, Elisha and Edward, in search of a fortune. Upon reaching New York he was unable to procure passage upon any of the outgoing vessels, and finally abandoned his pur- pose and decided to make his home at Wakefield. The following year he purchased land and buildings thereon for which he paid the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars, and there opened a store on the site of the pres- ent Wakefield bakery. He was successful in his enter- prise and afterwards formed an association with Warren C. Barber, the firm being known as Kenyon & Barber. He was postmaster of Wakefield from May 7. 1859, to October 7, 1861, and did much to develop and improve that important department. Mr. Kenyon sold his store in 1866 to Samuel Robinson, and retired to his farm which he had bought in the year 1863. This was the old Stephen A. Wright farm, a place consisting of over one hundred acres, for which he paid the sum of ten thousand dollars, which was considered a high price at that time. The farm occupies what is now the very heart of the village of Wakefield, and has, of course, increased greatly in value. At the time of his purchase, there were no buildings, with the exception of those connected with the operation of the farm, standing there, and of these the old "Manor House" remains to- day in good repair. In 1867 Mr. Kenyon built a large barn in the position of the present Griffin's Drug Store, for the accommodation of John N. Taylor's stage route, at that time the only way of transferring pas- sengers from Kingston station, to Wakefield, Peacedale, and Narragansett Pier. He was unfortunate in this venture, for shortly after its completion it was struck by lightning during one of the most violent tempests that visited that region, in the memory of the oldest in- habitant, and was completely destroyed by fire. This netted a loss of about three thousand dollars to Mr. Kenyon as several horses and equipments were also destroyed, but this was soon made up for him by the growing demand for building lots in a community which was rapidly developing. Accordingly, Mr. Kenyon com- menced to lay out streets, and some of these were afterwards given by him to the town free of cost, in- cluding Prospect, Mechanic, Robinson and Lake streets, and Woodruff, Meadow, Orchard and Kenyon avenues. Mr. Kenyon continued to develop his property until the close of his life, planning so successfully that the farm has become the site of a large and prosperous village, with streets lined with fine residences, and handsome shade trees. Mr. Kenyon was also engaged at one time in business as agent for farm implements, and was the first to introduce the new model mowing machine, and was himself an inventor, having secured patents for a mowing machine and hay spreader. Besides his own farm he owned in 1874, one-fourth interest in the Bradford farm, which was located at West Kingston, and it was largely owing to his efforts that the present railroad station was located there. In the year 1868 he pur- chased another store, located just east of his old estab-

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shment where Eldred Brothers are now established, nd taking his son, William A. Kenyon, into partner- hip, engaged in a mercantile business under the style of Villiam G. Kenyon and Son. They continued in this ine until the death of the elder Mr. Kenyon, when the usiness was sold to his youngest son, Orrin P. Ken- on, who continued it alone until 1881, when he and is brother, William A. Kenyon, formed a partnership. Che firm of Kenyon Brothers greatly enlarged the original enterprise, and upon the death of the elder orother in 1887, Orrin P. Kenyon continued the business ilone.

William G. Kenyon was united in marriage June 21, [846, with Emeline Bull Allen, who was born Mar. 23, [822, and died June 11, 1855. He married (second), Sept. 19, 1859, Mrs. Hannah (Pearse) Robinson, widow of Albert C. Robinson. The children by the first mar- riage were as follows: William A., born May 29, 1847, and died Dec. 16, 1887; Hannah Mary, born Dec. 2, 1849, died Jan. 21, 1901; Orrin Potter, mentioned be- low; and Samuel Weeden, born May 22, 1855,

(IX) Orrin Potter Kenyon, youngest son of Wil- liam Gardner and Emeline Bull (Allen) Kenyon, was born January II, 1852, at Point Judith. His childhood was spent at Wakefield, where he attended for a time the local public school. He was afterwards a student at the famous Friends' School, at Providence, and upon completing his studies he was given a position in his father's store, where he secured his early business train- ing. At the death of his father, he purchased the busi- ness, and continued to operate it until 1881, when he formed a partnership with his eldest brother, William A. Kenyon. This lasted until the death of the latter, when he again came into possession of the whole inter- est, and erected a new store on what was part of the old Kenyon farm, opposite the Post Office. In 1891 he moved into the new building on the corner of Main street and Kenyon avenue, where he developed a large and prosperous business. With the exception of three years, which were spent by him in a woolen house at Providence, Mr. Kenyon has made his home in South Kingston. He was formerly a director of the Wake- field Land & Investment Company, which was liqui- dated in 1918, and he owns the "Boston Store" at Narragansett Pier, which he conducts during the suni- mer season, for the wealthy tourists at that place. He is an active operator in real estate in and about Wake- field. Orrin P. Kenyon married, August 24, 1880, Fannie Gorton Grafton, a daughter of Samuel G. Grafton, and three children were born to them, as fol- lows: Grafton Irving, with whose career we are here especially concerned; Leslie, born March 12, 1883, and died Aug. 31, 1885; and Gladys Bull, born Nov. 22, 1888, married Dr. Joseph N. Crandall, of Wakefield.

(X) Grafton Irving Kenyon, oldest child of Orrin P. and Fannie Gorton (Grafton) Kenyon, was born March 18, 1882, at Wakefield, on the old Kenyon home- stead. As a child he attended the local public school, and later the South Kingston High School, from which he was graduated with the class of 1901 and was pre- pared for college. In the following year he entered the Burdette Business College, of Boston, where he took a general commercial course, and upon completing his studies there, was employed in a clerical capacity in his father's store. He displayed marked ability in business and before long had worked up to the position of manager of the store. Mr. Kenyon has also been exceedingly active in public affairs here, and is prob- ably better known in this connection than in any other throughout the community. He is in no sense of the word a politician, and has avoided rather than sought public office, but it has been impossible to resist the pressure brought to bear upon him by his fellow citi- zens, and he has accordingly served them in several important posts. He was elected to the House of Representatives of Rhode Island, and served on that body in 1912 and 1913, and in 1917 and 1918 was a State Senator. In the latter year he was requested to run for Congress to represent this district, but declined this honor, as he did also that of the candidacy for lieu- tenant-governor, offered at about the same time. In the year 1916 Mr. Kenyon went to Plattsburg, where he took the military training at the Officers' Training Camp there, and he is now captain of the Second Company of the State Guard of Wakefield. Some years ago he became intensely interested in the Boy Scout Movement, and was one of the first scout masters in the State, serving faithfully in that capacity until 1915, when other duties compelled him to give up a work which he pro- foundly loved. He is now a member of the Greater Boy Council of Rhode Island. Mr. Kenyon is also a prominent figure in fraternal and club. circles here and especially in connection with the Masonic order, being a member of Hope Lodge, No. 25, Free and Accepted Masons; Franklin Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Prov- idence Council, Royal and Select Masters; Narragan- sett Commandery, Knights Templar of Westerly; An- cient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Providence, Palestine Temple, and the Rhode Island Consistory. He has attained the thirty-second degree in Scottish Rite, and belongs also to, the Pen and Pencil Club of Providence. Grafton Irving Kenyon was united in marriage on September 10, 1914, at Wake- field, with Mary Louise Burns, a daughter of Robert and Mary (Monoghan) Burns, of Wakefield, R. I. They are the parents of one daughter, Jane Burns, born April 14, 1916.

JAMES TILLINGHAST is of the sixth American generation of the family in Providence, R. I., founded by Rev. Pardon Tillinghast, who was born in 1622, came from Seven Cliffs, Sussex county, England, to America, in 1645, locating in Providence, first of record in Provi- dence, November 19, 1647, when he was granted twenty- five acres. Valuable as were the services rendered by the ancestor in those early days, who served as deputy, merchant, and pastor, his greatest gift was the quality of his descendants, who in each generation have been

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eminent in business, public and professional life. In the third generation in this branch, Daniel Tillinghast mar- ried (second ) Lydia Hopkins, daughter of Stephen Hopkins, Governor of Rhode Island, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State, signer of the Declara- tion of Independence, member of the Continental Con- gress, and otherwise prominent. This grafting upon the Tillinghast stock was productive of a race of law- yers and professional men, who for a century have added lustre to the Rhode Island bar, and made Provi- dence their home. The life history of Rev. Pardon Tillinghast enriches many chapters of the early history of Providence, but despite his service to the State and city as an official, it is his connection with the First Baptist Church which stands out as his greatest work. He served that church as pastor for many years, but would never accept any remuneration from the congre- gation for his services. More than that, about the year 1700, he built a church at the northwest corner of North Main and Smith streets, at his own expense, and in I7II deeded it to the congregation, together with the ground upon which it stood.

He was of English birth, and if tradition can be trusted, was a soldier in Cromwell's army. He had the commercial spirit highly developed, as well as the re- ligious, and at one time was the leading merchant of the town. He died January 29, 1717, having almost attained the honors of a centenarian, being ninety-six years of age. He was followed in this line by his son, Joseph Tillinghast, a resident and merchant of Provi- dence and Newport. He was succeeded by his son, Daniel Tillinghast, who married Lydia Hopkins, daugh- ter of the statesman, jurist and patriot, Stephen Hop- kins; the next in descent being their son, Stephen Hop- kins Tillinghast, who married Theodosia Foster, and moved to New York City. Theodosia Foster was a daughter of Theodore Foster, a United States Senator. and his wife, Lydia (Fenner) Foster, daughter of Arthur Fenner, sister of Governor James Fenner, of Rhode Island, and granddaughter of Jedediah and Dorothy (Dwight) Foster, of Massachusetts. All the children of Stephen Hopkins Tillinghast were born in New York City, except the youngest, a daughter. The youngest of his sons was Charles Foster Tillinghast, father of James Tillinghast, of Providence.

Charles Foster Tillinghast, of the fifth American generation, was born in New York City, June 18, 1797, and died at his home in Providence, R. I., after a bril- liant career at the Rhode Island bar, August 3, 1864. After preparation in the Providence schools he entered Brown University, whence he was graduated, class of 1814, being but seventeen years of age. He studied law under the direction of Samuel W. Bridgman, of Provi- dence, and in 1816 was admitted to the bar. For one year he practiced in the village of Chepachet, then re- turned to Providence, again formed an association with Mr. Bridgman, and continued with him several years. He then practiced alone for many years, finally, in 1812, formed a partnership with Charles S. Bradley (later Chief Justice), Tillinghast & Bradley practicing until 1858. Mr. Tillinghast was a learned and able lawyer, having few peers and no superiors in certain branches of law practice. He had no taste for political life, never sought public office, and clung closely to his profession.

In 1843 he consented to serve one term in the State Legislature, his first and only public office. He mar. ried Lusanna Richmond, who died in Providence, Sep- tember 29, 1862, daughter of William and Clarissa ( An- drews) Richmond, her father a merchant and president of the Merchants' Bank of Providence.

James Tillinghast, son of Charles Foster and Lusanna ( Richmond) Tillinghast, was born in Providence, R. I. July 22, 1828, and after a life of distinguished service at the Rhode Island bar, died in his native city, January 3, 1914. He prepared in the grade and high schools of. Providence, was a graduate of Brown University, 1849 (his father a graduate in 1814), and after preparation under the preceptorship of his father, covering a period of two years, was admitted to the Rhode Island bar, September 22, 1851. He was at once admitted to an interest in the law firm, Tillinghast & Bradley, formed in 1842 by Charles Foster Tillinghast and Charles S. Bradley, a firm that was dissolved in 1858 by the with- drawal of Mr. Bradley. James Tillinghast continued practice with his father until the latter's death in 1864, and then until his own, after half a century of continu- cus practice. At the time of his death he was widely known as a lawyer of learning, skill and integrity. His practice was extensive in both State and Federal courts, his practice general in charter, but special attention given to equity cases, the law of corporations and real cstate law. He was one of the four associate counsel for the trustee of the A. & W. Sprague Company, who for fifteen years were engaged in clearing up the legal complications brought about through the failure of that company in 1873. Like his ancestor, Rev. Pardon Till- inghast, he left sons to perpetuate his name and fame, the well-known sign, Tillinghast & Bradley, being re- placed before his death by Tillinghast & Tillinghast, he : the senior partner, his sons, William Richmond and Theodore Foster, heing the "& Tillinghast" until death deprived them of the leadership and wisdom of their! honored father. No stronger legal firm graced the Rhode Island bar, and all members devoted themselves! strictly to the business entrusted to them, the senior member never being led away by the lure of political life.

James Tillinghast married, May 25, 1857, Sarah Ben- son Anthony, of Providence, born September 27, 1832, died at Southampton, England, while on a travel tour, August 1, 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Tillinghast were the par- ents of five sons and a daughter : 1. William Richmond, born in Providence, R. I., April 15, 1858; he attended Mowry & Goff's private school, and was graduated from Brown University in 1879; he attended the Harvard Law School in 1891-92, and returned to Providence to become a member of the law firm of Tillinghast & Till- inghast ; later he became a member of the firm of Till- inghast & Collins; on Oct. 22, 1884, he married Annie Barton Aborn, of Providence; his children are: Esther Chapin Tillinghast Dane, James Alexander, and Sophie Louise Tillinghast Crolius. 2. Henry Anthony, born Sept. 15, 1859, died March 18, 1907; secretary-treasurer of the Textile Finishing Machinery Company of Provi- dence ; married Sophie T. Aborn, and left two children : Julia Lyman and Sarah Benson. 3. Theodore Foster, born in Providence, R. I., Sept. 25, 1861 ; until eighteen years of age attended the Mowry & Goff's private

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school; he then entered Brown University, whence he was graduated A. B., class of 1884 (his father's class, 1849, his grandfather's, 1814) ; choosing the law as his profession, he entered Boston University Law School, there receiving his LL. B., class of 1887; in 1888 he was admitted to the Rhode Island bar, and later to a part- nership with his father and brother, continuing an active member of the law firm, Tillinghast & Tilling- hast, until 1902, when he became connected with the legal department of the Title Guarantee Company of Rhode Island, as an expert title examiner; he is an Independent Republican in his political tendencies, but, like his race, has no office-holding tastes, yet never un- mindful of his duties as a citizen; he is a director of the Home for Aged Men and Aged Couples, and the Providence Realty Company, and an attendant of the First Congregational Church; his clubs are the Twen- tieth Century and the Unitarian, and he is also a mem- ber of the Rhode Island Bar Association. 4. Stephen Hopkins, born April 1, 1863, died March 7, 1865. 5. Charles F. Foster, born Sept. 18, 1871 ; attended Mowry & Goff's private school, graduating about 1890, then attended the school of Technology, was graduated in 1894, and became identified with the Textile Finishing Machinery Company, where he still continues; he was captain of Company A, Rhode Island Infantry, during the Spanish-American War, and later became colonel in the Rhode Island National Guard, and at present (1918) is colonel in the United States Army and sta- tioned at Fort Greble. 6. Charlotte Lusanna, graduate of Brown University, Woman's Department, in class of 1896, and resides at Nayatt, R. I.

ARTHUR LIVINGSTON KELLEY-There is some considerable doubt regarding the origin of this widely spread name, and even of the locality in which it was first found. It has come to be associated with Ireland, from its wide distribution in the allied form of Kelly in that country, and some authorities derive it from the ancient Celtic word "Ceallach," meaning strife or war. It seems, however, that there is some reason to believe that the Kelleys of Ireland are derived from the ancient Devonshire, England, family of that name, which has resided there from time immemorial. Even if we accept this theory, however, the origin still re- mains in mystery, some authorities holding that the family was derived from an ancient British stock and others that they got their name from LeSire de Cailly, a Norman nobleman. Doubt, however, is thrown upon this alternative theory by the fact that the name "Cailly" became in English "Cayley," as shown in "Burke's Heraldry."

Arms-Argent a chevron between three billets gules: Chest-Out of a ducal coronet gules an ostrich's head argent, holding in the beak a horseshoe or.

(I) The Kelley or Kelly family, as it is variously spelled in this country, of Providence, R. I., is in all probability descended from the ancient Devonshire fam- ily, and was founded in this country by one John Kelly, who came from Newbury, England, as early as 1635, and formed one of the original settlers of Newbury, Mass. Practically nothing is known of his life in Eng- land, nor is there a great deal known of his life in the colonies. He is recorded, however, as having received

a grant of a house lot of four acres near the Great River at Newbury, "bounded by the river on the north, John Pemerton on the West, and by the way on the south and John Merrill on the east." He also received at the same time a planting lot of four acres in the same location. There is strong reason for believing that these grants were made in the year 1639, because in that time many similar grants were made in that com- munity, and we find that John Kelly seems to have also had another house lot granted him in a different part of the town, since this is mentioned in a record of his son's grant. The Great river referred to is the Parker river, and his house was situated on the north side of Old Town Hill, and stood on neither of his two grants. He appears to have been a man of determined character (possibly his neighbors may have called it stubborn character ), as he chose to live in a region away from the central part of the community, where he was ex- posed to danger from Indians. Evidently he did so against the advice of his fellow colonists, who took a vote that if he should be killed by the Indians on account of living so far away, "his blood should be on his own head." He seems to have weathered the danger, however, as his death occurred peacefully enough on December 28, 1644. The tradition of the family is that he was born at Exeter, Devonshire, England, and as there is certainly no reason to doubt this tradition, we may with confidence assign to him relationship with the ancient Devonshire house. The name of his wife is not known, and the names of but two children: Sarah, born Feb. 12, 1641; and John, mentioned below.

(II) John (2) Kelly, son of John (1) Kelly, was born July 2, 1642, at Newbury, Mass., and appears to have lived there practically his entire life, his death occurring March 21, 1718. He was admitted a freeman at Newbury, May 19, 1669, and was the recipient of sev- eral grants of land, as well as the right to cut grass on "five acres of medow in Cypress Swamp, provided the Twone's heards shall not be hindered but have free Egress and regress through the same at all times." He seems to have been a very prosperous man, and he is mentioned in the "History of Windham, New Hamp- shire," as the second largest farmer in Newbury. His house was situated at the foot of Gravel Hill, but in 1694 he moved from Oldtown to the "Upper Woods," in Newbury, the section now known as West Newbury, and settled on Worth's Lane. He also ran a ferry at Holt's Rocks. He was a member for some time of the First Church of Newbury, and took sides with the Rev- erend Mr. Parker in the latter's long controversy with the majority of his congregation. He later signed the covenant of the Second Church of Newbury, and was a member of this church in 1714, when the Rev. Mr. Tufts was ordained. He was twice married, the first time on May 25, 1663, to Sarah Knight, a daughter of Deacon Richard Knight, who was born March 23, 1648, and died about the year 1714. He married (second) March 15, 1716, Lydia Ames, of Bradford. His children, how- ever, were all born of the first marriage, and were as follows: Richard, Feb. 28, 1666; John, mentioned be- low; Sarah, Sept. 4, 1670; Abiel, Dec. 12, 1672.

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The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 73

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