The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 93

Author: Bicknell, Thomas Williams, 1834-1925. cn
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: New York, The American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 978

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The first Providence venture in business was also his last, forty-four years having been spent in the same business. The beginning was in 1872, when with his uncle, George Colvin, he formed the firm, G. and T. H. Colvin, and began a foundry business on Dyer street, moving to their own plant on now West Ex- change street, in 1873. The original firm continued until 1876, when George Colvin sold his interest to his nephew and retired. Theodore H. Colvin continued the business under his own name until 1896, then incorporated as The Colvin Foundry Company, capi- tal $100,000. The business of the company constantly increased, and in October, 1897, the company erected a new plant on Globe street, a large and modernly- equipped foundry, one of the best of its kind in New England. The business of the company is the casting of engine and machine parts, an extensive business having been developed through the energy and ability of Mr. Colvin during the forty-four years he was the responsible head. He conceived an idea of fusing imperfect castings which would otherwise have been thrown out, this resulting in a great saving and led to the development of a large repair business.

Hand in hand with the development of a large and profitable business, Mr. Colvin carried along plans for its perpetuation, and two sons were trained in its every detail, each being in time elected to official posi-

tion. Came the time when the founder, proud of s work, felt that the time had come to retire, the :1, Clarence H., succeeded his father as president, e other son, Charles T., continued as treasurer, le change being made so quietly that no friction de' - oped, so well had the work of the founder been d'e in anticipation of the event. He retired at the le

of seventy, having been "in the harness" from the of eighteen, when he began learning the moldes trade. The success which came to him was fa y earned and achieved through his own force of ch - acter, perseverance, indomitable spirit and busin's genius. He has long been a member of the New E .- land Foundryman's Association, and he carried wh him into retirement the respect and esteem of evy man with whom he came into personal contact. In pendent in political thought, he has no fixed affil .. tions. In Free Masonry he holds the degrees of York Rite, belonging to St. John's Lodge, No. I, Providence, Royal Arch Chapter, and St. Joh Commandery, Knights Templar. He is a member Pomham Club.

Mr. Colvin married (first), in April, 1868, Hann Brown, they the parents of Charles T., whose sket follows. He married (second), in October, 1876, A gusta L. Hammett, they the parents of two sol Clarence H., whose sketch follows; and Earl, bc May 23, 1887, drowned at Hunt's Mills, April 9, 1903

CHARLES T. COLVIN-In 1885, at the age seventeen, Charles T. Colvin entered his father's e: ploy as office clerk, and from that time has been cc stantly connected with the same business, and sin 1896 has been secretary-treasurer of the Colvin Fou dry Company, successor to Theodore H. Colvin, st cessor to G. & T. H. Colvin, established in business Providence in 1872. The founder of the busine! Theodore H. Colvin, retired since 1916, trained } son with special reference to the position he now fil that training including not only every phase of offi work but a full term in the foundry, where he becar thoroughly familiar with every detail of the mechanic department of the business before being allowed return to office duties. He was long kept on a ve small salary, for Theodore H. Colvin had well-define ideas of his responsibility as a parent, and firm believed that he should have only enough for rer needs. The son realized at an early day that his fatho had only the son's welfare at heart, and cheerful accepted his rulings, being determined to do his par Now a successful business man himself, and in a re sponsible post, he accords the credit for pursuing th very best course of training, and acknowledged the the father's plan of development was wise.

Charles T. Colvin, eldest son of Theodore H. Co vin, and his first wife, Hannah (Brown) Colvin, wa born in Worcester, Mass., July 3, 1869, and in 187 was brought to Providence, R. I., by his parents. H was educated in the graded and high schools of th city, attending these until seventeen years of age During part of that period he carried a paper route and in 1885 was given a position in his father's busi ness office. One year later he was sent to the foundr.

John D. Bailey, Dr.

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o acquire practical knowledge of casting and foundry methods. He then returned to office work, and later ecame office manager. So eleven years were passed ntil 1896, when the business, developed by Theodore I. Colvin, was incorporated as The Colvin Foundry Company, Theodore H. Colvin, president; Charles T. Colvin, secretary-treasurer. The position he occupied 1 administering the financial department of the com- any, then as now doing a large business, was beset ith legal pitfalls into which he did not intend to fall, nd the year 1899 was devoted to the study of law at he Rhode Island Law School, making a special study f commercial law that he might avoid trouble. This raining was most valuable, and combined with that of arlier years renders him "fit" in every sense for the ost he fills. He is a member of the New England `oundryman's Association, the American Foundry- an's Association, Independent in politics, and liberal religious faith. His clubs are the Economic and Vest Side. In 1916 Theodore H. Colvin retired, his ons succeeding to the full management of the com- any as president and treasurer.

Mr. Colvin married, in 1904, Louisa Counter, of Voonsocket, R. I.

CLARENCE H. COLVIN-Whatever may be lought concerning the proper way to develop a boy's haracter and bring him to the age of responsibility ualified for any position, all thought and theory is ull and void when confronted with results. One way i to decide that children. should have an easier time han their parents had, and shield them from all work r unpleasant duty. This was the plan Theodore H. Colvin did not pursue, but from youth his two sons 'ere taught the necessity of labor, the value of money, nd the prime necessity of thoroughly preparing in outh for the responsibilities he intended them to iherit. Hence, when in 1916, the management of the Colvin Foundry Company was relinquished by the ther, the mantle fell upon the sons, Clarence H. be- oming president, and the large business gave no evi- ence that any change in the executive head had taken lace.

Clarence H. Colvin, eldest son of Theodore H. olvin and his second wife, Augusta L. (Hammett) olvin, was born in Providence, R. I., December 20, 377, and has ever resided in his native city, now and nce 1916, president of The Colvin Foundry Company. e was educated in the public schools of the city, esser Street Primary, Bridgham Grammar, and anual Training High School, his attendance as a udent ending at the age of eighteen. During his immer vacation, for some years, he had spent much ne in his father's foundry. In 1894, school days

ided, and for three years thereafter he was learning e lighter forms of the molder's trade. The next ven years he also spent in the foundry, but no favors ere shown, heavy work of all kinds coming to him full share. Neither were the wages paid in pro- ortion to the work he performed, but they were pur- sely kept low that the young man might learn the lue of economical management of his earnings. In ly, 1907, he was made foundry foreman, with per-

haps one hundred men to oversee, and later, in 1909, the brunt of all foundry work was diverted to him from his father, who had heretofore carried the load. Hard work and long hours fell upon the son, but this was a part of the elder Colvin's plan, and both sons are proud to acknowledge the wisdom of early inuring them to hard work and responsibility. There is a mutual feeling of deep respect existing between the father and his sons far beyond the feeling of natural affection which has always run high. In 1907 Clar- ence H. was given by his father $1,000 in stock of The Colvin Foundry Company, incorporated in 1896, said stock to be paid for from the profits. On January 4, 1916, Theodore H. Colvin laid down the executive management of the business which he founded in 1872, and the same day he was succeeded as president by Clarence H. Colvin, who worthily carries the responsi- bilities of the large business the company transacts in engine and machine casting and heavy repair work. He is a tireless worker, genial and kindly in disposi- tion, and has many friends. In politics and religion he is independent and liberal. His clubs are the West Side and Pomham and the Worcester (Mass.), Auto- mobile.

Mr. Colvin married, in 1896, Edith Aldrich, of Prov- idence, and their children were: Ethel V. and Darrell A., the latter now learning practical foundry work, as his father did.

JOHN HENRY BAILEY, superintendent of schools of Coventry, R. I., and one of the foremost figures in the educational world of this State, is a native of Paw- tucket, where his birth occurred March 6, 1863, and a son of John Henry. Sr., and Elizabeth Ann (Nicker- son) Bailey. On both sides of the house Mr. Bailey is descended from ancient and distinguished New Eng- land families, the Baileys, who then wrote their name as Baily, settling in Bristol county, Mass,, early in the seventeenth century, and the Nickersons making their first appearance in New England as early as 1630. Among the ancestors of Mr. Bailey who were promi- nent in the affairs of their times should be mentioned Dean Nickerson, who was a captain in the first United States Navy during the Revolutionary War, and his own father who was a veteran of the Civil War, serv- ing in Company D, Third Rhode Island Heavy Artillery.

The first five years of Mr. Bailey's life was passed in Pawtucket, but at the age of five he was taken. by his parents to Fall River, Mass., and after a time to North Smithfield in this State, where much of his early youth was spent. He attended the public schools of Fall River for three years and later those of North Smithfield, where he completed the district school grades. Thereafter he studied under a private tutor for a time, but in 1880 entered the State Normal School at Providence, R. I. He had by this time defin- itely determined upon teaching as his profession and, accordingly, after graduating from the last named institution with the class of 1882, he at once sought a connection with some school. He was successful in procuring a position in the Mowry School, No. 10, at North Smithfield, but after remaining there for a

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time withdrew in order to take a position as principal of the Chepachet grammar schools (Glocester), where he continued for three years. His next post was in a school at Centerville, and from there he came to Bris- tol in 1889 to teach in the "Old Brick School," the old- est school in Bristol, which has since been taken down. He was appointed principal of the school, and served in the same capacity subsequently in the Walley School, the Byfield School and the Reynolds School. It was in the year 1898 that he was chosen principal of the Byfield School, and in 1917 that he came to hold the same post in the Reynolds School without sur- rendering the former. He continued successfully in these institutions until June, 1919, when he declined a reelection. On July 1, 1919, he was elected superin- tendent of schools of Coventry, R. I. One of the greatest factors in the success that Mr. Bailey has met with in his work has been his intense interest in it and the cause of education generally, which has caused him to devote his time and attention to it with a degree of concentration impossible to the man who is not an enthusiast. Besides his work in connection with his schools, Mr. Bailey also manages a large farm located adjacent to Bristol, and here has met with no less notable a success.

Mr. Bailey is affiliated with a large number of im- portant organizations, fraternal and otherwise, in this town, among which should be named St. Alban's Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Hope Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Bristol Council, Royal and Select Masters; Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past noble grand; Wampanoag Encampment, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past chief patriarch; the Grand Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he has been grand warden and grand sentinel and is now a member of the staff of the grand patri- arch. He is also a member of the Bernard Club; the Rhode Island Grammar Master's Club, of which he is past president; the Charles F. Gorden Camp, Sons of Veterans; and a past division commander (colonel) of the Rhode Island Division. He has been for many years prominently identified with the Bristol Train of Artillery, a very ancient organization founded in 1776, and of which he has twice been colonel, from 1900 to 1903, again from 1917 to 1919, and at the present time is adjutant with the rank of captain. In politics Mr. Bailey is a Democrat and has taken a conspicuous part in local affairs. While residing at North Smith- field he was at various times a member of the School Board, school superintendent, and tax assessor, while at Bristol he has served on the Town Council.

John Henry Bailey was united in marriage, Decem- ber 22, 1890, with Martha Josephine Harris, daughter of Elisha Harris, of Smithfield, and a descendant of Thomas Harris, one of two brothers who came from Bristol, England, in the ship "Lion" in 1630, with Roger Williams. Thomas Harris was one of the thirty-nine signers of an agreement for a form of gov- ernment and also a signer of the "Providence Pact," in 1637. To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey three children have been born, as follows: I. Mark Harris, who was edu- cated in the public schools of Bristol and the Thibodan

Business College of Fall River, Mass., and was one the first to volunteer for service in the American art during the great World War, serving one year a ten months, the last seven months in France. 2. Cl ford Harris, educated in the local public schools, a leaving high school in his junior year to become ma ager of his father's farm in Bristol. 3. Abner Ha ris, educated in the public schools, and graduate the Colt Memorial High School, class of 1919; he now pursuing a college course.

WILLIAM C. GREENE COMPANY-With single exception, the concern of William C. Gree Company, manufacturing jewelers of Providen R. I., is the oldest of its kind in this city, and throu the many years of its successful business career it h maintained a reputation second to none for its inte rity and honest dealing, and for the quality of t workmanship which it has produced. It is at prese the property of two energetic and progressive you men, Frank Rhodes Budlong and Edgar Milt Docherty, the former its president and the latter secretary and treasurer. The concern was found in 1849 by William C. Greene, whose name it si bears, and a Mr. Mathewson, and for a number years the concern was conducted under the firm nai of Mathewson & Greene.

Mr. Greene was a native of East Greenwich, whe his birth occurred August 19, 1826. He was known in the community for many years, and was o of its substantial business men. The original esta lishment was situated on Westminster street, Pro dence, whence it was removed to Page street, where remained until 1854. In that year, Mr. Mathews retired, and his interest was purchased by John Mauran, who conducted the business for about elev years under the name of Greene & Mauran. In 18 Mr. Greene severed his connections with Mr. Maur and formed a partnership with Alfred Bliss, a opened up a new establishment on Pine street, whe the firm of Greene & Bliss continued for appro: mately twenty-eight years, although the name w changed in 1873 to that of William C. Greene Con pany, by which it is known to the present time. Aft some years of prosperity, Alfred Bliss died, and w succeeded by his brother, Charles H. Bliss, who lat lost his life in the Metis disaster, August 30, 1872. T business was finally bought by its present owne Messrs. Budlong and Docherty, in 1915, and is no conducted by them at No. 101 Sabin street, where large business is transacted.

Frank Rhodes Budlong, president of the William Greene Company, was born at Cranston, R. I., Ju 22, 1889. He was the son of Robert and Edith M. (Me rill) Budlong. His father was for many years own of the S. K. Merrill Company, manufacturers of je' elry, but is now deceased and is survived by his wi who still makes her home in this city. The sc Frank Rhodes Budlong, received his early educati at the famous Mowry & Goff School, where he remain for a number of years. After completing his prepar tion for college, he matriculated at the Moses Brov School, where he took the usual classical course. F

John R. Edwards Rear Admiral. U. S. V. (R)

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then began his business career by entering the employ of H. Nordlinger's Sons, dealers in precious stones, where he remained from 1908 to 1910. From 1910 to 1915 he was the New York office manager of the S. K. Merrill Company, of Providence. Mr. Budlong made rapid progress in business, and in 1915 formed the present partnership with Edgar M. Docherty. Mr. Budlong has identified himself with the social and fraternal life of the community, and is at the present time a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 9, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and Providence Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Frank Rhodes Budlong was united in marriage, June 2, 1910, at Providence, Rhode Island, with Ruth A. Peckham, a daughter of Thomas and Mary A. Peckham, of that city. They are the parents of two children, as fol- lows: Merrill Peckham, and Frank Rhodes, Jr.

Edgar Milton Docherty, secretary and treasurer of the William C. Greene Company, is a native of Prince Edward Island, Canada, where he was born August 8, 1883. He is a son of Finlay and Jessie (Gordon) Docherty; his mother is now deceased, but his father now resides at Prince Edward Island. While Edgar M. Docherty was still a small child, his parents re- moved from their Canadian home to the United States and settled at Boston, Mass., where the lad attended school for a time. Later, the family returned to Can- ada, where his education was completed in the public schools of his native place. After graduating, Mr. Docherty, then eighteen years of age, returned to the United States, and after several years with Attleboro and Providence jewelry concerns, entered the employ of the William C. Greene Company. This was in 1910, and five years later he and his associate, Mr. Budlong, purchased the concern of which Mr. Doch- erty is now the secretary and treasurer. Mr. Doch- erty is interested in public affairs, and is a staunch supporter of Republican principles and policies. He is at the present time committeeman from his ward. He is also well known in fraternal circles, and is a member of the Harmony Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Providence Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Providence Council, Royal and Select Masters; and St. John's Commandery, Knights Templar. Edgar Milton Docherty married, August 8, 1903, Margaret MacLellan, a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Beaton) MacLellan, of Prince Edward Island. Two children have been born of this union, as follows: Bruce Mac- Lellan and Curtis Gordon, who are twins.

REAR-ADMIRAL JOHN RICHARD ED- WARDS, U. S. N., Retired-Prominent for many years as an authoritative author on matters of naval science, theoretical and applied, as well as an active officer in the United States navy, is Rear Admiral John Richard Edwards, now retired, whose long rec- ord of duty well and honorably performed have made him loved and esteemed in the service and entitled him to his country's gratitude. Admiral Edwards is a native of Pottsville, Pa., where his birth occurred July 9, 1853, a son of Richard and Margaret (Wil- liams) Edwards, the former a highly respected Bap-

tist clergyman, and for some time an editor of dis- tinction.

The childhood of Admiral Edwards was passed in his native place, and in the local schools he gained the elementary portion of his education. Somewhat later the lad secured an appointment to the Naval Academy at Annapolis and began his studies there in 1870. He was graduated with the class of 1874 and entered upon his duties as cadet engineer. The active life of the navy appealed to the young man's tastes and he quickly displayed qualities of mind and character that put him in line for promotion. He was advanced to the position of assistant engineer, February 26, 1875; passed assistant engineer, September 1I, 1881; and chief engineer, November 5, 1895. From 1888 to 1891 he was professor of mechanical engineering to the University of South Carolina, during which period he studied law and was admitted to practice in that State in 1891. He was transferred, March 3, 1899, to the Line of the Navy, with the rank of lieutenant com- mander, and was promoted to that of commander, September 23, 1903. During the Spanish-American War he saw active service on the United States Ship "Puritan," and in 1900 was detailed to the Bureau of Steam Engineering, Navy Department, where he re- mained four years. In 1904 he was appointed to the post of chief engineer of the Navy Yard at Ports- mouth, N. H. His knowledge of mechanisms of all kinds was extensive, and he made himself of great value in the above position so that he was shortly afterwards promoted to still more responsible posts. In 1908 he was appointed inspector of machinery in the great works of the William Cramp & Sons Company at Philadelphia, where a large proportion of the vessels for the United States Navy are con- structed. He remained there until 1911, when he was promoted to the position of general inspector of machinery for the navy of vessels building on the Atlantic coast, and served in that capacity for about a year. He served as president of the Board of In- spectors and Survey for Shore Stations from 1912 to 1914. During this time he had also been advanced in rank to captain, January 3, 1908, and finally, on Sep- tember 14, 1911, to rear admiral. This rank he con- tinued to hold until he was automatically retired on account of age, July 9, 1915. But although he was formally retired on that date, Admiral Edwards was far too valuable an officer for the navy to lose entirely during a time of such effort and crisis, and during the remainder of the war he received special assignments from the Navy Department and took part in various important works, making his headquarters at New- port, and still remains thus occupied. Admiral Ed- wards has made a special study of fuel oil for naval purposes and has written extensively upon that sub- ject. The official report of the Naval Board, of which he was senior member, is accepted in the engineering world as one of the most valuable scientific publica- tions issued by the government. The engineer-in- chief of the British navy stated that it was the "British Admiralty Bible" upon this subject, by rea- son of its exhaustive and scientific treatment of the

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subject. He has also made a special and extended study of the question of port and harbor development. In May, 1912, he was appointed by President Taft chairman of the United States delegation to the Lon- don International Radiotelegraphic Conference of that year, regulating the international control of radio com- munication. Thirty-one different countries were rep- resented. But although this has been his specialty, he has given many other allied subjects but little less attention and has been one of the most prolific writ- ers on these for many years.

Admiral Edwards is a Republican in politics, and has taken a very considerable part in local affairs since his retirement from the service. He was elected president of the Bristol School Board in 1916 and served in this responsible capacity for three years, and had done much to improve the schools of the com- munity. In his religious life he is an Episcopalian and attends Trinity Church of that denomination at Bris- tol. He is a member of the Army and Navy Club of New York, the Army and Navy Club of Washington, D. C .; the Hope Club of Providence; the American Society of Radio Engineers, the American Society of Naval Engineers, the American Society of Mining Engineers, also the Franklin Institute of Philadel- phia. He makes his home with his family at Bristol.

Admiral Edwards was united in marriage, January 28, 1888, with Harriet DeWolf Allen, a daughter of Charles and Sarah (Lewin) Allen, old and highly respected residents of Pawtucket. Four children have been born of that union, as follows: I. Allen Richard, who studied in the public schools and later at West Point Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1910, and is now instructor of military tactics at Co- lumbia University and holds the rank of Lieutenant- Colonel in the National Army. 2. Margaret, who be- came the wife of Commander Phillip H. Hammond, United States Navy, on duty at the Navy Department. 3. John Richard, Jr., who served in France as an am- bulance driver from February, 1917, to August, -1917, and then enlisted in the National Army as private; became first class aviator, and was sent to Tours and later to Assouan, France, where he attained the rank of first lieutenant in the Ninety-ninth Aero Squadron and took part in the extremely dangerous observation work; was liason officer of the French and American air forces, and at the present time is still first lieu- tenant in the American air forces. 4. Lawrence, who was too young to be accepted for the service, although he made every effort to enlist; was member of the Yale Naval Camp of 1918, and Brown University naval unit, and is now preparing for college.

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The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 93

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