Bristol County Biographies
Bristol County Biographies
C
CADY, Philo Victor, Sheriff of the
County of Bristol, was born in Barringion, R. I., May 23, 1S5G, son of James
Jerome and Experience (Smith) Cady. His great-great grandfather. Isaac
Cady, was one of the first settlers of Alstead, N. H., being one of the first
three men that wintered in that town. He married Mary Heldrick, who was the
first woman that spent a winter in that town, and their son Jacob was the
first child born there. The old homestead is now occupied by Levi Cady, and
his father, James Jerome Cady, was born there. On his mother’s side he is the
grandson of the Rev. Eleazai and Experience (Barney) Smith of Swanzey,
Mass. He received his early education in the public schools of Warren, R. L,
and commenced to learn the shipbuilding trade with his father, a ship-builder,
who constructed the last two ships built in Warren. After working two years at
the trade he was knocked from the side-of a ship and injured. He then
learned the trade of manufacturing cigars. He went West in 1877,
crossing the plains on foot from Fort Pierre, Dakota, to the Black Hills.
After four months’ mining and prospecting in the Hills he left for Cheyenne,
Wyoming. In Cheyenne he served as a member of a posse under Sheriff T. Jeff.
Carr to run down Reddy, the notorious outlaw and stage robber, and the leader
of a gang of outlaws and murderers. He returned to Rhode Island in 1880 and
established the cigar-manufacturing business in Bristol, where he has since
remained. He was Corresponding and Recording Secretary of the Cigar-Makers
Union in Denver, Col., in 1879-80. He was elected Sheriff of the County
of Bristol in 1890-91-92, held over in 1893, and has been continuously
re-elected since. He is a member of Burnside Lodge Knights of Pythias of
Bristol. In politics he is a Republican. He married, April 1, 1875, Miss
Elizabeth McCormick, who died April 18, 1899; they had children: Annie Newel!,
Grace Mapleton, Harrison Victor and Lizzie Cady. He married, second, November
15, 1893, Miss Florence May Maxwell: they have one son, George Maxwell Cady.
Source: Rhode
Island Men in Progress - Submitted by Marie Miller
Source: Rhode Island Men in
Progress - Submitted by Marie Miller
Source: Rhode Island Men in Progress -
Submitted by Marie Miller
Source: Rhode Island Men in Progress -
Submitted by Marie Miller
CONLEY, Martin Joseph, Postmaster at Warren, was
born in Warren, R. I., December 4, 1869, the son of Michael F. and Catherine
(Dolan) Conley. His father was born in County Roscommon, Ireland,
came to this country when a small boy and was engaged in the grocery business
in Warren from 1871 until October 14, 1880, the date of his death; he was
well-known and highly respected, and a citizen who took a prominent part in
town affairs. His mother was born in Longford, Leinster province,
Ireland, and came to this country when a child. He received his
education in the public schools of Warren and in Bryant & Stratton’s
Commercial College of Providence. His business service has been
that of a bookkeeper and collector, and he was engaged in the boot and shoe
anddrygoods business for three years. He was appointed Postmaster
in Warren, February 10, 1895, and is one of the youngest, if not the youngest,
ever appointed to that position. He served for seven years in the
state militia and retired with the rank of Sergeant-Major. He has
held office in Massasoit Council, Royal Arcanum. In politics heis
a Democrat, and was a member of the town committee of that party for some
years previous to his appointment as Postmaster. He is a member of
Burnside Lodge Knights of Pythias of Bristol, of Massasoit Council Royal
Arcanum and the Catholic Club of Warren. He is much interested in athletics
and at present holds the county championship for bowling. Mr. Conley is a
brother of Hon. John E. Conley, ex-Clerk of the Rhode Island House of
Representatives and at present the Secretary of the Democratic State Central
Committee of Rhode Is-land. He is unmarried.
COYLE, Philip Henry, late Manager of the
National Rubber Company, was born in Bristol, R. I., March 31,1858,son of
Philip and Sarah Anna(Rohan) Coyle. His father was born in Ireland of old
historic ancestry, and came to this country when a young man; he was for a
time an instructor in St. Eouis, and afterward entered the manufacturing
business; he was killed by an accident before he was forty. His grandfather
was never in active business, other than the management of his own estate, and
was killed at an early age by being thrown from his horse. His mother was born
in Manchester, England, and brought to this country’ when a child; she was
descended from the early English Methodists, and her ancestors were prominent
in many notable religious and political movements. He received his early
education in the public schools of Bristol and afterward at the Rhode Island
School of Design. He continued the study of art in the Boston Art School, and
later with Juglaris of Paris. He received many gratifying testimonials for his
talent, but on account of weak eye-sight at the time determined to take up a
business career. He entered the employ of the National Rubber Company at
Bristol at an early age, and made a thorough study of the business in all its
branches under some of the most experienced work-men. He labored in every
department and was steadily advanced to positions of responsibility. In 1879
he entered the office of the company and was rapidly advanced in important
positions until 1889, when the company met with financial losses, and was
reorganized. He was the only one of the old staff who was
retained, with the superintendent, to operate the new concern. In 1892 the
superintendent died suddenly, and he carried on the business without
interruption. In 1893 he was elected Manager, and under his management the
concern met with great success, the product being doubled, and the factories
reconstructed and largely increased. The present capacity for boots and
shoes alone is fifty thousand pairs per day, and in addition to this there are
other departments, manufacturing a large line of clothing, druggists’ goods,
mechanical appliances, etc. The plant covers about twenty acres, and employs
about fifteen hundred people. In 1895 he resigned and entered
business for himself. He has taken an active part in public affairs. He was
President of the Town Council from 1887 to 1891, a member of the School
Committee for six years, and has filled various other political and civic
offices. He is a member of a large number of clubs and societies in the state.
In politics he is a Republican. He is not married.
