The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 88

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 88

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Frank E. Chester is a son of Francis Dwight Chester, of Providence, R. I., and a descendant of the ancient Chester family founded by Captain Samuel Chester, who was living in Boston, Mass., in 1663, a man of influence and then in the prime of life. He was a vessel owner and master of his own vessel, trading with the West Indies. In 1663 he moved to New London, Conn., where he was admitted a freeman in 1669. He had a warehouse at Close Cove, New London, commanded the ship "Endeavor" in the West India trade and for several years after coming to New Lon- don continued his Boston business, William Condy, a nephew, and his uncle's partner, moving to Boston. Captain Chester was a skilled navigator and a surveyor as well, his skill being of great advantage to the colony in laying out land grants and roads. He visited many foreign ports, traveled in foreign lands and was val- ued as a trustworthy citizen. He owned large tracts on the east side of the Thames river at what is now Groton, Conn., covering the site of the old Fort Gris- wold and the site of the Groton monument to the vic- tims of Arnold's raid on New London after his treach- erous betrayal of West Point, From Captain Samuel

Chester sprang the Rhode Island family of Chesters famed as mariners, ministers of the gospel and business men. The Chesters and the Roger Williams family were connected by marriage, Mr. Chester well remembering Rhoda and Betsy Williams, who were cousins of his maternal grandmother. Francis Dwight Chester mar- ried Adeline F. Pitcher, and they were the parents of Frank Elisha Chester, founder and head of the F. E. Chester Manufacturing Company.

Frank Elisha Chester was born in Providence, R. I., February 2, 1855, and was there educated in the public school, finishing in high school. During his later school years he was employed out of school hours in the Eddy Drug Store, earning three dollars weekly, which was later slightly increased. After leaving school he entered the employ of his uncle, Horace C. Burgess, a grocer of Providence, whose store was located upon the site of the present Dorrance Hotel. He remained in the grocery business for seven years, his health fail- ing to such an extent that he was obliged to seek out- of-door employment. This he found on a Massachu- setts farm, where he spent three years, fully regaining his health and strength. He then returned to Provi- dence, where he entered the employ of the Rhode Island News Company at their Rocky Point news stand, re- maining until the season closed. He then devoted seven years as a traveling salesman for this company, after which he traveled for his own account as a salesman of novelties.

In 1889, Mr. Chester began the manufacture of fishing tackle in the basement of his home in Providence. On March 6, 1889, he established a toy business in the Daniel's building on Custom House street, continuing alone until February 17. 1890, when he formed an asso- ciation with Walter S. Hayden, under the firm name of Hayden & Chester. Their plant was a single room six- teen feet square. The firm did a jobbing business in toys and dolls, but their specialty was fishing tackle. The Daniel's building was destroyed by fire and in May, 1890, new quarters were secured on the second floor of the building at No. 3 Pine street. The business grew rapidly and finally three floors of the building were leased and in March, 1895, two floors in the Day building were leased. In the meantime a fishing tackle factory was established in the building at the corner of Dyer and Dorrance streets. This location was held for about eighteen months when a factory was taken on Dudley street and occupied for seven years. In May, 1910, the firm purchased its Bellefont plant, equipping it with the best available machinery and increasing its output three-fold. The firm, Hayden & Chester, pros- pered exceedingly and continued until the death of Mr. Hayden, Mr. Chester continuing the business which later became F. E. Chester & Company. Mr. Chester, after the death of his partner, abandoned the toy de- partment of the business and devoted his entire time and energy to the development of the fishing tackle business. He saw with broader vision than most men the great possibilities in the business, and with great ability he handled its details and scheme of expansion until in every part of the world the F. E. Chester Man- ufacturing Company's fishing tackle is on sale and there is nothing in the furnished tackle line which is not

Frank & Chest.

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BIOGRAPHICAL

made at the Bellefont plant. One of the latest features is the "Redfield" cork float, a device, in part, the inven- tion of Dr. Paul S. Redfield, but the hollow float is Mr. Chester's idea. The "Redfield" is the most perfect float on the market. It is made in all sorts of styles, shapes and colors, some of the designs being very hand- some.

Another leader is in cork balls, which have just come into demand for games that are played in the West. These spheres are also used for the center of league base balls, as floats for carburetors, and for fishing purposes. A larger size, three inches in diameter, known as the surf ball, is used by bathers who "pass the ball" and thus get greater sport and healthful exercise out of their dips. These balls made of hollow, compressed cork are strong, durable and water proof. Cork is also utilized at the Bellefont plant in the production of handles, including those for fishing rods and knives. The raw material for this branch of manufacture comes to the factory in car load lots, the sources of supply heing Portugal and Spain. This concern also has a novelty wood turning and enameling plant in which strikingly effective results are obtained. Most of the products of the concern are covered by patents. At the Pine street establishment the firm utilizes three floors for assembling its product. This work is done entirely by girls, men being employed at Bellefont. In addition to these two forces the firm gives out considerable as- sembling work which is done in homes, some of those who are thus employed residing in Rehoboth and in the villages of Warwick. There is also conducted at Pine street, and as a separate department, a large whole- sale and jobbing business in high grade and ordinary stationery and all lines of sporting goods, as well as in fireworks during the summer months. There is also on the upper floor of this shop a paper box manufac- tory, equipped with the latest models of machinery. The product of this department is used for packing furnished lines and fishing outfits, and it is kept in daily operation to meet the shipping requirements of the firm. On another floor is the sinker moulding shop, where two hundred tons of lead are annually converted. On two of the floors is stacked an immense quantity of fish hooks and lines of every grade and size awaiting the calls of the assembling force. Great as this stock appears to be, it is constantly augmented to avoid de- pletion. While the foreign orders are packed for im- mediate shipment, a great many of those for points in the United States are prepared between September and January I, for delivery when the new year opens. These are stored on the upper floor of another building on Pine street, ready to go out in January for the spring trade. A recent addition to the business of the com- pany is the manufacture of cork tiling for floors, used in schools, theatres, hospitals, post offices and all public buildings. This department has met with great suc- cess and orders have been filled in all large cities of the country between Boston and San Francisco. Mr. Chester is a member of Unity Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the encampment of the same order; member of Edgewood Yacht Club, Provi- dence Chamber of Commerce, Trinity Methodist Epis- copal Church, and in politics an Independent.

Mr. Chester married Nancy Jane Phillips, and they have three children : I. Fred Ellsburee, of New York City; married Ethel Wood, of Jamaica, N. Y., and has one child, Roger. 2. Florence, of Providence. 3. Louise Horsman, married Harley Joslin, of Providence; he enlisted in the Thirteenth Regiment of the United States Marines in 1917, serving one year in France with the American Expeditionary Forces, and the balance of the time in Cuba; was honorably discharged August 13, 1919.

ANTHONY VINCENT PETTINE-In 1883 Michael Pettine came to Providence, R. I., from Italy, where he plied the shoemaker's trade. Two years later his wife, Josephine, joined him, bringing their children, and later others of the family came, until all were transplanted to American soil. Michael Pettine is dead, but many of the name are residents of Providence.

Anthony Vincent Pettine, son of Michael and Jose- phine Pettine, was born in Isernia Campobasso, Italy, March 8, 1880. He was brought to the United States by his mother in 1884, and has since been a resident of the city of Providence. He attended the Providence public school for several years, but early in life began working at the printer's trade, devoting his evenings to study in the night high school. In this double duty of earning a livelihood and securing an education, he be- came a court interpreter, and while so serving he de- termined to obtain a legal education, and began the study of law at night, under the preceptorship of the law firm, Gorman, Egan & Gorman, and continued in their office until admitted to the bar, November 6, 1907. He at once began practice in Providence, and has won his way to honorable position at the Providence bar. He is very popular among the younger members of the bar, and has a clientele which engages his entire time. Mr. Pettine is a member of the Holy Ghost Roman Catholic Church, the Italo-American Club, is a Republican in national but is independent in local pol- itics. During his period of law study he taught for five ycars in the city night school. His present pop- ularity and legal standing has been earned by the hard- est kind of self-sacrifice and industry and is based upon merit and ability.

Mr. Pettine married, September 14, 1903, Loraine A. Conlon, of Providence, and they are the parents of three children: Dorothy Madeline, born April 15, 1905; Irving Anthony, June 15, 1907; Anthony Vincent, Nov. 6, 1912.

WALTER ALERS DODGE, trainmaster of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad at Prov- idence, was born December 22, 1866, in East Provi- dence, R. I., son of Solomon and Jane (Clark) Dodge, natives of New Hampshire. He attended the local schools of his native place, going from there to the high school of Providence. He then felt it was time to take up a man's part in the world of work, and in 1885 obtained a position as brakeman on the Providence, Warren & Bristol Railroad, having at off times worked for the road, while he was still at school, as a paper boy. From brakeman he was promoted to the position of baggage master. In 1886 he was appointed on the force

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of extra conductors, and eight years later became a regular conductor. In 1900, six years after his appoint- ment as regular conductor, he was made trainmaster, and this he has held up to the present time (1918). Mr. Dodge is a man who stands high in the regard of the chiefs of the road, a reputation which he has won by long years of unremitting and singlehearted devotion to duty and by an unswerving loyalty to the best in- terests of the service to which he has given his entire life He is a member of the Masonic Order, and holds membership in Lodge, Chapter, Council, Commandery and Consistory, and has attained the thirty-second degree.

Mr. Dodge married, in Bristol, August 16, 1888, Elizabeth Pierce. Their children are: Harriet W., and Alonzo S., who married Dorothy Reeves.

JOSEPH HENRY GAINER, at the time of his first inauguration the youngest mayor that ever held the reins of government over the city of Providence, is a native of the city which so frequently has honored him by electing and reelecting him as its chief execu- tive. He entered public life through the legal profes- sion, serving first as school committeeman, next as a member of the Common Council, and later as a mem- ber of the Board of Aldermen. His popularity, gained while serving in these three bodies, brought about his election as mayor in the fall of 1912, an office which he still holds.

His administration has been characterized by pro- gressive legislation, and has proved so acceptable to voters of all parties that in the fall of 1918, following his renomination by the Democrats, he was indorsed by the Republican convention, and ran practically with- out opposition. During his seven years of office many material improvements for the city's betterment have been carried out. His influence with the people in- creased with each successive administration until at the present time he is known as one of the most popular public officials that ever held office in Rhode Island.

Joseph Henry Gainer was born in Providence, Janu- ary 18, 1878, the son of John and Margaret (Keogh) Gainer. His parents, born in Ireland, were married in Providence, November 12, 1875. There were five chil- dren of the marriage: John, Joseph, Catherine, James and Margaret. His father died in 1882, leaving to his wife the care of the two surviving sons, Joseph and James, the other children having died in infancy. Mrs. Gainer died in March, 1919, the death of her son James preceding hers by nearly four years.

The preparatory education of Joseph H. Gainer was received in the parochial school and at LaSalle Acad- emy, from which he graduated in 1806. The following September he entered Holy Cross College, graduating from that institution as a member of the class of 1899, with the degree of A. B. He next entered the law school of the Catholic University of America at Wash- ington, D. C., where three years later the degree of LL. B. was conferred upon him. In June, 1919, he received the honorary degree of LL. D. from Holy Cross College. Immediately following his graduation from the Washington law school, Mr. Gainer took and successfully passed the Rhode Island bar examination. For a time he practiced alone, but in 1908 he entered

into a law partnership with Edward G. Carr and Charles E. Mulhearn. This partnership continued until Mr. Mulhearn, having accepted an appointment as State probation officer, withdrew from the active practice of law, when George F. O'Shaunessy, later Congressman from the First Rhode Island District, took his place and a new firm was formed under the name of O'Shaun- essy, Gainer & Carr, with offices in the Grosvenor building.

Early in life Mr. Gainer evinced a deep interest in public affairs, and soon after his admission to the bar he was selected by his neighbors in the Third Ward to represent them in the school committee. Two years in this body served to convince his constituency of the value of his efforts, and in the fall of 1904 they elected him to membership in the Common Council, the lower branch of the city government, to which they reelected him the following year. From the beginning Mr. Gainer aligned himself with the Democratic party, and at about this time took an active part in rescuing his party organization in Providence from complete dis- ruption due to internal dissensions, and in placing it upon a firm and orderly footing. As a result of his efforts in this direction, he was elected alderman from the Third Ward in November, 1908, where he continued to represent the ward for the next three years.

It was while serving as a member of the higher branch of the city government that his unusual aptitude for the duties of public life showed so pronouncedly that his party selected him as its candidate for mayor. In November, 1912, he ran against Henry Fletcher, the Republican candidate, who was at that time serving his fourth term as mayor of Providence, and although the contest was a close one, Mr. Gainer was elected. From this time on his record comprised an unbroken string of victories with steadily mounting pluralities, culmi- nating with the indorsement of his candidacy by the. Republican party in the fall of 1918, after he had been renominated by the Democratic convention. This trib- ute to the man and to the official was the more pro- nounced because of Mr. Gainer's unswerving loyalty at all times to his party and his continued activity in behalf of the furtherance of its ideals. It was an honor shared by but one other chief executive of the city of Providence, the late Mayor Thomas A. Doyle. Not- withstanding that there has been a large Republican majority in both branches of the city government since his first induction into office, Mr. Gainer has main- tained a degree of harmony and cooperation between the executive and legislative branches of the city gov- ernment most unusual under such circumstances. His straightforward and tactful use of his powers as chief executive has won for him the confidence and esteem of his political opposites to such an extent that while on twelve occasions he has found it necessary to exercise his veto power for the defeat of unwise legislation, his associates in every instance have sustained him in his position. One of his first official acts after becoming mayor was the naming of a Democrat for a place on the Board of Police Commissioners, and it is a tribute to his judgment and to the confidence reposed in him by the members of the Board of Aldermen, the con- firming body, that notwithstanding that it had never been done before, they confirmed his nominee not only

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in January, 1913, but also upon two subsequent occa- sions.

Under Mayor Gainer's leadership a long programme of constructive legislation was enacted despite the fact that for two years warfare in which the country par- ticipated greatly curtailed his opportunities in this direc- tion. A real beginning for the development of the port was made through leases of land at Field's Point, which concentrated the government's attention upon the possi- bilities of Providence harbor and which also attracted the interest of outside shipping concerns. The business center of the city was developed by the cutting through of cross-town streets and the widening and building of other thoroughfares. The civic centre between City Hall and the Federal building was beautified, and in dozens of other ways the interests of the city were advanced. One of the most important and extensive undertakings of his administration was the proposed development of the city's water supply at an approxi- mate cost of $15,000,000, a project already well on its way toward completion, notwithstanding the setbacks and delays encountered because of the unfavorable conditions incident to the World War. During the great European struggle in which this country for two years partici- pated, the city's war activities centered about the mayor's office. Mayor Gainer arranged a three day celebration in honor of and for the benefit of the boys of the Three Hundred and First Engineers, the big Rhode Island draft regiment, prior to their going to France. Later he appointed Arthur Henius chairman of the Wel- come Home Committee, a body whose duty it was to arrange receptions for the returning soldiers at the conclusion of their services abroad and at the various cantonments in this country. This committee, in cooper- ation with a similar state body, held three celebrations, one on February 12, 1919, in honor of the return of the first foreign units from this State, and another on May 5, 1919, when the Rhode Island units of the Twenty- sixth Division came home. The third event was held on the Fourth of July, when the engineers came back.

During the acute coal shortage of the winter of 1917- 1918, Mayor Gainer arranged an emergency coal delivery system for the benefit of people of the city who were in dire need of fuel. This system, carried out through his office and under his personal direction, undoubtedly saved much suffering among the city's poor. During the war the mayor also served as chairman of the Prov- idence branches of the National Security League and the Home Service Section of the American Red Cross.

Mayor Gainer is a member of the University, Catholic, Metacomet Golf, Pen and Pencil, West Side, Columbus and Rotary clubs, the Town Criers, Knights of Colum- bus, Elks, Eagles, Owls, and the Royal Arcanum. He is also an honorary member of the Rhode Island His- torical Society and Brown University Chapter of the Phi Kappa fraternity. He is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church, and a member of St. Sebas- tian's parish.

On April 22, 1915, Mayor Gainer married Christina McPherson, daughter of Andrew and Margaret Mc- Pherson, of Quincy, Mass. Mayor and Mrs. Gainer are the parents of two daughters, Christine and Mar- garet Gainer.

JUDAH CARL SEMONOFF-From the Province of Minsk, a government of western Russia in Lithu- ania, Minsk also the capital city and now the scene of conflict between the factions seeking control of un- happy Russia, Judah Carl Semonoff, at the age of three years, was brought to the United States by his parents, and in Providence, R. I., he has gained pro- fessional education and standing. He is a son of Wolff and Basil (Ginsberg) Semonoff, who came to Providence, R. I., from Russia in 1891, his father a tailor, both parents residing in Providence. Mr. and Mrs. Semonoff are the parents of three sons, Judah Carl and Leon, twins, and both lawyers; Noah, a student in Providence; also four daughters, Dora, Ida, Rachel, Esther.

Judah Carl Semonoff was born in Vilna, Province of Minsk, Russia, December 10, 1888. Vilna was taken by Russia in the final partition of Poland in 1795; it is sit- uated two hundred and twenty-five miles northeast of Warsaw, and at the time of the birth of the Semonoff boy, had a population of about fifteen thousand souls. In 1891 the family came to the United States, settling in Providence, R. I., where the father has since followed his trade of tailoring. As soon as Judah Carl reached school age he began attendance at public school, passed all grades and in 1907 was graduated from high school. He then pursued a classical course at Brown Univer- sity, receiving his A. B., class of 1911. Deciding upon the law he entered Harvard Law School, whence he was graduated LL. B., class of 1914, and the same year was admitted to the Rhode Island bar. The recital of his progress from high school to law graduation is a very easy task, but its real accomplishment was a severe struggle, for he had not only to furnish the mentality to absorb and retain knowledge but had to solve the problem of ways and means, in other words he had to earn the money to finance his education and he em- ployed both plans; he earned and he borrowed, but he won to the goal of his ambition, and since 1914 he has been engaged in successful practice in Providence with offices at No. 414 Grosvenor building. He is a Repub- lican in politics, and in 1917 was the candidate of his party for the Assembly but failed of an election. He is a member of the Broad Street Orthodox Jewish Syn- agogue, member of the Providence Working Men's Association, Order of B'Rith Abraham, Zion Associa- tion, Classical Club, Brown University, and Beta Theta Phi fraternity. He married, June 12, 1917, Lucy Per- low, of Providence.

THE "PROVIDENCE VISITOR," diocesan organ of the Catholic Diocese of Rhode Island, and the only Catholic periodical in this section, is a flourishing paper, which enjoys a steady circulation of about seven thou- sand among the Catholics of the State. It was estab- lished on Christmas Day, 1875, by Andrew P. Martin, and was incorporated in 1881. Its offices are located at No. 63 Washington street, Providence, and there are now employed fifteen people in making up the paper. The function performed in the community by the "Visitor" is a valuable one, presenting as it does the news of the church and Catholic organizations in a

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compact form and yet without omission or abridgement of important matter. Its issues run from about ten to twelve pages in which are treated fully and adequately all topics of importance to Catholics, and its circula- tion proves it to have met a need in the community.

JOSEPH H. LEE-A successful business man, owner and manager of the Providence Brass & Alumi- num Foundry, Mr. Lee has proved in his own life the value of hard work as a means of developing not only property in business, but good health in the physical man; his own testimony is that he has built up his present business and physical condition by hard work. The business that Mr. Lee owns was established in 1800 by John T. Jackson on the present site of the Narragansett Hotel, at Eddy and Broad streets, Provi- dence. He took as an apprentice A. H. Manchester, who later became a partner, then a sole owner. In 1847 he built the foundry at No. 460 Eddy street, which later became the property of his son, A. H. Manchester, Jr., who learned the foundrymen's trade with his father, and he became a partner in 1856, and sole owner in 1867. . In 1890 Joseph H. Lee purchased the business and plant which he still conducts, and he has developed a large business and a reputation for high grade work. With this good name as a founda- tion, Mr. Lee began business, and he has continued this same fame for quality rather than for quantity. He has not sacrificed the gentler side of his nature to the demands of business, but has cultivated the beau- tiful in life, and in his garden, with fruits and flowers, finds deepest enjoyment and contentment.

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The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 88

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