Newport County Biographies

C 

CARY, Miss Phoebe, poet, born in Hamilton county, near Cincinnati, Ohio, 24th September, 1824, and died in Newport, R. I., 31st July, 1871. Her early educational advantages were superior to those of her sister Alice, whose constant companion she was through life, and from whom she differed radically in person, in mind and in temperament. Phoebe, like her sister, began to write verses at the age of seventeen. One of her earliest poems, "Nearer Home," written in 1842, has achieved a world-wide reputation. The story of her early life, the loss of her mother, the re-marriage of her father, the want of harmony with the stepmother, and the maintenance of a separate home, is told in the story of her sister's life. Her poems are her chief productions Her genius did not take kindly to prose. Her verses were very diferent from those of her sister. Phoebe was a woman of cheerful and independent temper, and her verses were sparkling and hopeful, sunny and cheering, while those of Alice were more somber and redolent of the mournfulness of life. Some of her earlier productions were published in the "Ladies' Repository," in "Graham's Magazine," and in the Washington "National Era." Phoebe was in society a woman of wit and brilliancy, but always kind and genial. She and her sister, in their New York City home, after they had become famous and popular, did many kindly deeds to encourage and bring out obscure young authors of promise. Phoebe was the more robust of the sisters, and, after they had settled in New York City, she from choice assumed the greater share of the household duties, and thereby shortened her time for literary labor, while giving Alice, who was in delicate health for many years, greater opportunities for her literary musings. One of the most touching tributes to the dead ever written is the tribute to Alice, written by Phoebe only a few days before her own death. It was published in the “Ladies’ Repository.” Phoebe’s robust health was not sufficient to carry her through the trial of her sister's death. Weakened by intense sorrow, she began to fail after Alice's death. Her prostration was intensified by a malarial attack, and she was taken to Newport, R. I., for a change of air and scenes. The change delayed, but could not avert, the blow. She grew gradually weaker and died there. Like her sister, Phoebe is mainly regarded as a poet. Her contributions to the " Poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary" (Philadelphia, 1850), number one-third of those contained in that volume. Her independent volumes are "Poems and Parodies" (Boston, 1854), "Poems of Faith, Hope and Love" (New York, 1867), and a large number of the poems in "Hymns for all Christians" (1869). Both of the sisters were women of great native refinement.

Source: American Women Fifteen Hundred Biographies Vol. 1, by Frances Elizabeth Willard & Mary Ashton Rice Livermore, Publ. 1897. Submitted by Marla Snow


COYLE, Rev. James, pastor of Saint Joseph’s Church, Newport, was born in Abbeylara, County Longford, Ireland, September 9, 1850, son of Daniel and Mary (Reilly) Coyle. His ancestry on both sides is distinctively old Irish. He acquired his rudimentary education in the Irish national schools, and came to America with his parents early in 1S63.  After spending two years in Saint Joseph’s College, Bardstown, Ky., going there in September 1869, ne entered in September 1871 Laselle Academy, Providence, where he taught Latin, at the same time continuing his own studies under Rev. H. F Kinnerney.  In September 1872, with the purpose mainly of acquiring knowledge of the French language, he went to Saint Laurent College, near Montreal, where he graduated in June 1874. While at Saint Laurenthe was president of the leading literary society, editor of the weekly college journal, the Spectator, and class valedictorian.   He entered the Grand Seminary, Montreal, in September following, and was there raised to the priesthood, December 22, 1877.  Bishop O’Reilly of the Springfield diocese needing priests, he was sent temporarily to Springfield, and reported for duty at North Adams, January 19, 1878; and on the return of the pastor of North Adams, then in Europe, was appointed assistant at Military, Mass., remaining there until called by Bishop Hendricken to the Cathedral in Providence, February 11, 1880, where he labored until appointed pastor of the new parish in Newport, January 14, 1885. Father Coyle’s first services in New-port were held in the old Unitarian Church on Mill Street, January 25, 1885. The new parish had not then an inch of ground, nor a resting place of any description. The pastor bought the property of the Zion Church Corporation, paying therefore $15,025, and celebrated the first mass therein on Sunday, March 8, 1885. He remodeled and beautified the church interior, and in January 1887 purchased the adjoining property, known as the Young estate, at a cost of $28,500.   In May 1887 he began the ejection of a rectory, which was tenanted the following October, the estimated cost being $9,000.   A con-vent was finished and occupied by the Sisters of Saint Joseph in July 1889, and a private academy started the September following.    Catholics and non-Catholics generously seconded Father Coyle’s efforts, many rare and costly gifts testifying to their continued goodwill.   On the 2d of August 1891, one of the finest school buildings in New England was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Harkins; the donor, till then unknown, being George Babcock Hazard, a non-Catholic.   In this substantial manner one of Newport’s oldest citizens proved his friend-ship for Saint Joseph’s pastor.   Ten teachers and five hundred and fifty children now utilize Mr.  Hazard’s beneficence.   In the eleven years of his pastorate Father Coyle has collected and disbursed upwards of $165,000, aside from the Hazard gift, and Saint Joseph’s, one of the finest church properties in the diocese, is now entirely free from debt, a splendid showing, all things considered. Barker. 

Source: Rhode Island Men in Progress - Submitted by Marie Mille r



 



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