Providence, Rhode Island Biographies

Providence County Biographies

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CADY, George Waterman, architect. Providence was born in Providence, August 27, 1825, son of Rev. Jonathan and Eliza (Pettey) Cady. He comes of old New England stock, his ancestor, Nicholas Cady, having settled in Watertown, Mass., in 1645.   The family soon afterward removed to Killingly, Conn., where they were prominent citizens of the town for many generations.    He received his early education in the public schools and in the Lowell high school.   After his school education he was apprenticed to the carpenter’s trade, and after some time in this work developed his studies in architecture, for which he had a natural taste and ability.   In 1860 he opened an architect’s office in Providence, and has since, under the firm name of Geo. W. Cady & Co., done a large business in designing and superintending the erection of many important buildings. He has always taken an active interest in military affairs and in the fire department.   He has been a member of the First Light Infantry Regiment from 1854 to 1895, and was an inspector on the staffs of Cols. Dennis, Goddard and Thornton.   During the war he was commissioned Major of the Twenty-second Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers, which was not called into the service.   In the Fire Department he was captain of a company from 1854 to 1870, and second President of the Providence Veteran Fireman’s Association.   He is a member of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, of the First Light Infantry Veteran Association, and of the Providence Art Club. In politics he is a Republican, but of late has not taken an active part in public affairs.   He married, July 20, 1846, Miss Mary Anna Burr of Providence; they have four children: Frederic Waterman, Ella Porter, Annie Burr and George Milton Cady, the latter associated with his father’s firm. [Source: Rhode Island Men in Progress - Submitted by Marie Miller]

GEORGE CLINGTON CALEF, senior member of the firm of Calef Brothers, is a native of Vermont, and was born in Washington, that state, June 19th, 1837. He was the son of Cutting S. and Martha Paine Calef, and was brought up on a farm. His father was a leading business man, but died at the age of 47, when George C. was seven years old. His wife, Martha H., belonged to one of the first families of Barre, VT. She was born in 1801, and died in 1885. Their children were: Ezra P., Warren H., Alden D., Ira C., Quincy O., Miraette A., Elmer Norton, Cutting S., and George C., Martha, Lucy A., and John F. Ezra went to Illinois, Alden to Boston, Ira to Providence, Elmer N. to Oregon, Cutting S. and George C. to Providence. Martha died when young. The others settled in Washington. Elmer N. died in Oregon, in December, 1890, leaving a wife and 12 children. Cutting S. died in Washington, Vt., but had always resided in Providence.
George C. Calef remained on the farm until he was 21 years old, receiving in the meantime a common school education, with a few terms at the academy. In 1858, he came to Providence and began working for Abner Gay, Jr., in the market business on the corner of North Main and Thomas Streets, and in 1859 Ira C., Cutting S. and George C. Calef became successors to Gay, and business has continued at the old stand, and under the same name (Calef Brothers) ever since. In connection with this enterprise in Providence, which is the largest family market now in the city, the house has also done much western business with Chicago. They also have a branch store at Lonsdale, and employ in all from 20 to 25 hands, in a business which amounts to $200,000 annually. Mr. Ira Calef in time retired from the firm, and was succeeded by Charles H. Jefferds. After the death of Cutting S. Calef and the retirement of Charles H. Jefferds, Clarence Kingsbury and Louis A. Gladding were admitted into the firm. Mr. Calef also owns a large livery stable on Battey Street, Providence, in which over 50 horses are kept.
Mr. Calef has taken great interest in educational work, and has been trustee of the Manton school district for ten years, and still holds that office. Through his efforts, largely, the first high school was established in Johnston. He has been a member of town council, is a member of the executive committee of the Butchers and Marketmen's Association, an active member, and one of the executive committee of the Sons of Vermont, president of the Manton Building and Improvement Association, president of the Olneyville Free Library Assoc., and chairman of the building committee, and has taken great interest in securing the elegant and costly building now in process of erection, to be devoted to library and other uses. The improvements at Manton are largely due to his influence and enterprise in securing Pawtuxet water, street lights, telephone communication, curbed and graded streets and horse cars. Mr. Calef has always had a good opinion of real estate, and has invested largely in that kind of property. He built his commodious residence in 1874. Mr. Calef is a keen observer, and with his wife has traveled considerably, they having visited 45 of the 58 cities in the United States, having a population of 50,000 and over.
In September, 1855, he was married to Emma Sanders, daughter of Richard and Almira Sanders, of Providence, and sister of Cutting S. Caleb's wife, and is the father of seven children, six now living, viz.: Irene L., Herbert C., Mabel S., Frank T., Edith and Helen B. Richard Sanders was a successful business man, highly respected by the citizens of Providene, and was a member of the legislature at the time of his death in 1868. Mr. Calef and his family attend the First Universalist church of Providence, and he is a man who finds his chief pleasure in his home and family and in extending hospitality. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

CAPWELL, Remington Pendleton, physician and surgeon, Slatersville, was born in Phenix, R. I., January 5, 1872, the son of Edwin C. and Susan (Remington) Capwell. He is a nephew of Or. YVm. C. Monroe of Woonsocket, with whom he studied during his school term in that city.   He received his early education in the primary and grammar schools of Phenix and the high school of Woonsocket, graduating from the latter in the class of 1891. He entered the Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York, and graduated in 1894. Dr. Capwell established himself in practice in Slatersville, R. I., April 1, 1894, at the age of twenty-two, and has since remained there.   He is not married. [Source: Rhode Island Men in Progress - Submitted by Marie Miller]

CARPENTER, Alva, iron manufacturer, Providence, was born in Seekonk, Mass., March 2, 1829, son of Jonathan and Leafy (Bourne) Carpenter, and a descendant of Albert Carpenter, who came over from England with the early Puritans. He attended the common schools until fifteen years old, and then spent two years in a cotton mill. In 1846, at the age of seventeen, he was apprenticed to learn the moulder’s trade with Thomas J. Hill (now the Providence Machine Company), and at the expiration of his term of service worked three years in a foundry at Mateawan, N. Y., returning to Rhode Island in 1850 and working two years in a foundry at Newport. In 1852 he entered the employ of the Corliss Steam Engine Company, remaining with them until 1865) and in September of that year started in the foundry business in company with Amos D. Smith, under the firm name of Smith & Carpenter, on Dyer street. The partnership continued until 1870, when they disposed of the business there and removed to Aborn street, Mr. Carpenter buying out Mr. Smith’s interest soon after and continuing the business alone.   In 1880 he took in Henry C. Bowen as partner, and they continued together until 1889, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Carpenter with his two sons building a new foundry in their present location on West Exchange Street. On November it, 1892, this foundry was entirely destroyed by fire.   The firm immediately rebuilt on the same site, and on a larger scale, and they have at present one of the best equipped foundries of the state, employing one hundred hands. Mr. Carpenter has never taken a very active part in politics, but has always been a staunch and consistent Democrat of the old school.   In 1S92 he was elected and served as a Representative in the Rhode Island State Legislature for one year. He joined Roger Williams Lodge of Odd Fellows in 1874, received the highest honors of the Lodge, and in 1886 became a charter member of Mount Pleasant Lodge No. 45.1 O. O. F., of which he is still an active member.   He is also a member of the Pomham and West Side clubs.    He was married in 1854 to Miss Mary E. Allen of Attleboro, Mass ; they have five children : three sons, all married and having families, the eldest an Episcopal clergy-man, rector of St. Mark’s Church at Warren, R. I., and two daughters, residing with their parents in Providence. [Source: Rhode Island Men in Progress - Submitted by Marie Miller]

CARPENTER, Phanuel Bishop, physician, was born in Seekonk, Mass., January 8, 1832, son of Job and Eliza (Bishop) Carpenter. He is the descendant of William Carpenter, one of three brothers, who left England on account of the persecution of the Quakers, and settled in Weymouth, Mass., in 1838. His son William settled in Rehoboth, now Seekonk, in 1645, where he was town clerk and delegate to the Plymouth General Court. His descendants occupied prominent positions in town affairs and took part in the Colonial and Revolutionary wars. Dr. Carpenter received his early education in the public schools and took a course in Worcester Academy. He began self-support at an early age, and was four years in the dry-goods business. For six years he conducted a boot and shoe business in Providence and Pawtucket, and for five years was engaged in the manufacture of jewelry. During his active business life he was pursuing a system of self-education with a view to the adoption of the medical profession, and in 1S6S he commenced the regular study of medicine in the office of Dr. George D. Wilcox of Providence where he remained for two years.   He entered Harvard Medical College in 1870 and took a course of study in the Eclectic Medical College of New York, and a course in the Eclectic Medical College of Pennsylvania, graduating from the latter in 1872. From 1872 to the present time he has been in active practice in Providence.   He has been a member of the Rhode Island Homoeopathic Medical Society for twenty-two years.   He is a member of Union Lodge, No. 10, A. F. & A. M., of Pawtucket, R. I.;Unity Lodge, I. O. O. F.; Mazeppa Encampment, I.O. O. F.; and Excelsior Lodge, Knights of Honor, of Providence, R. I.   He has not taken an active part in public life, but in politics he is a Republican. In his religious views he is “ broad, liberal, and modern.”   “Although his ancestors were Quakers in the strictest sense, and worshipped under the rigid doctrine of that sect, he himself throws aside all creeds and dogmas, believing earnestly in the progress of the human race and of the spirit after death, which, together with the daily practice of the Golden Rule, must ultimately bring man to that perfection in the future world as designed for him by the Creator.”   He has had five children: Lita Barney, died in 1866 aged two years, William Huckins, Phanuel Bishop, Jr., Mary, Eliza and Hattie Ella Carpenter. [Source: Rhode Island Men in Progress - Submitted by Marie Miller]

CARROLL, WILLIAM A. - was born in Vermont in 1837, and came to Johnston in 1853. He is a son of Thomas and Mary Carroll of Vermont. He was married to Mary J. Chamberlin, and has one son and one daughter. Mr. Carroll was elected chief of police in 1886. He has been patrolman since 1865. He belongs to the order of Knights of Pythias. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

CHACE, Mrs. Elizabeth Buffum, anti-slavery agitator and reformer, born in Providence, R.I., 9th December 1806. She was the second child of Arnold and Rebecca Buffum, who were Quakers and were descended from some of the oldest Quaker families in the State. One of the mother's ancestors, Daniel Gould, the first of his name to settle in this country, was arrested on going into Boston in company with the two men who were afterwards hung with Mary Dyer, on Boston Common, for the crime of returning to Massachusetts after they had been banished thence because they were Quakers. Gould was sentenced to be whipped because of his religious opinions and the heretical company in which he was taken, and he received his punishment on the Common. Elizabeth Buffum was well educated for her times. During her childhood her family lived in Smithfield, R.I., the original home of her father. One of her teachers there was George D. Prentice. Later she attended the Friends' school in Providence. In her youth she was a very devoted Quaker. She became the wife of Samuel Buffington Chace and passed the first part of her married life in Fall River. In 1840, she removed with her husband to Valley Falls, R.I., and that place has been her home ever since. Her anti-slavery experiences have been given in her anti-slavery "Reminiscences" (1891, privately printed). That pamphlet has omitted to mention the important work she did in connection with Samuel May, Jr., who was then agent for the Anti-Slavery Society, in getting up anti-slavery meetings and conventions all over the State of Rhode Island. She seperated from the Society of Friends because she was dissatisfied with their course about slavery, and after that her religious opinions underwent much modification. In the latter part of her life she has engaged heartily in what was known as the "Free Religious Movement," and found herself in religious sympathy with such men as Theodore Parker, John Weiss, O. B. Frothingham, David Wasson, Samuel Longfellow, T. W. Higginson and Frederic A. Hinckley. Most of these men were personal friends and occasional guests in her house. After the Civil War Mrs. Chace's principal interests centered in prison reform and woman's rights. She was largely instrumental in establishing in Rhode Island a State School and home for dependent children, which should take them out of the pauper and criminal class. It was in great measure due to ther efforts that twenty years ago a board of women visitors was appointed to penal institutions, and the recent appointment of women on the boards of actual management of some State Institutions is in no small degree the result of her efforts. She was a delegate to the World's Prison Congress held in London, England, in 1872, and read there a paper on the importance of the appointment of women on the boards of control of penal and pauper institutions. Her husband died in 1870, and she had lost by death seven out of her ten children. She felt the need of change, and spent more than a year in travel in Europe with her daughters. Her work for woman suffrage has been unremitting, and she has been president of the Rhode Island Woman Suffrage Association for twenty years. She writes occasionally for the newspapers on such topics as interest her, and, while never a public speaker, she often reads papers at the meetings which she attends. She has always been a consisten believer in total abstinence from the use of alcoholic beverages, and is a strong prohibitionist. She disapproves war under all circumstances. With all her public interests, Mrs. Chace has always been an unusually domestic woman, devoted to her family, solicitous for their education and moral nature, and zealous in her careful housekeeping. [Source: A Woman of the Century, by Frances Elizabeth Willary, Mary Ashton Rice Livermore, 1893, Transcribed by C. Anthony.]

CHAGNON, Charles Emile, physician and pharmacist, was born in St. Dominique, Province of Quebec, Canada, October 7, 1863, son of J. B. and Victoria (Des Noyers) Chagnon. His family is of old Norman descent and came to Canada in 1750. He received his early education in the common schools. He attended the Seminary of St. Hyacinthe, Canada, from 1875 to 1879, and the college of Ste. Marie de Monnoir in 1883-85. From 1879 to 1883 he was engaged in the drug business with his father in Fall River, Mass.   In 1885, shortly after leaving college, he went to New Orleans during the World’s Exhibition, and while there became interested in a company to explore the gold region of Honduras. He remained in Central America for three years, visiting all five of the republics and travelling in all parts of that wild country. While there he perfected his linguistic acquirements, so that he speaks fluently Spanish and Portuguese as   well as French and English.   On his return to New England he en-tered the Medical Department of the University of Vermont, and continued the study of medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Baltimore from which he graduated in 1890.   After gradu-ating he entered his father’s office in Fall River, and practiced with him for six months, after which he opened an office in Centerville, R. I.   He is a registered pharmacist and proprietor of the” Family Drug Store,” one of the finest drug stores in the Pawtuxet Valley, with one of the best clienteles of any young physician in the state.   He is now serving his third term as Councilman for the town of War-wick In politics he is a Republican “in even’ sense of the word,” but does not let party govern his actions in matters of public welfare. He is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity; of Washing-ton Lodge, No. ix, Knights of Pythias; Red Men; Foresters; St- John the Baptist Society of Centerville; the Providence Athletic Association, and the Rhode Island Mortar and Pestle Club. He married, August 4, 1891, Miss Victorine Beaudry; they have three children: Estelle, Colombe, and Jeannette Chagnon [Source: Rhode Island Men in Progress - Submitted by Marie Miller]

CHILD, Benjamin Ham, Chief of Police of the Cily of Providence, was born in Providence, May 8, 1843, son of John Oriswold and Mary Ann (Ham) Child, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Providence.   He attended the common schools in Providence until fourteen years of age, when he was apprenticed to Granville Greenleaf, a wireworker in Westminster Street. He was a youth of eighteen at the opening of the civil war, and in June 1861 he enlisted as private, and was mustered into the United States service in the Second Rhode Island Battery, afterwards Battery A, First Regiment, Rhode Island Light Artillery, for three years, or for the war. At the first Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, he was slightly wounded, and in August following was promoted to corporal.   He was again slightly wounded at the Battle of Antietam, on which occasion he was promoted to Sergeant.   At Gettysburg, in Pickett’s charge, he received a severe wound — “ shot through the left shoulder,” — and was sent to the Satterlee Hospital at West Philadelphia.   And in August 1863 he was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Battery A (afterwards transferred to Battery H, same regiment) by Governor James Y. Smith.   After serving forty-three months in the Second Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, and three times wounded, he was honorably discharged on account of wounds, by special order of General Meade, commanding the Army of the Potomac.   In 1868 he was appointed patrolman in the police department of Providence, by Mayor Thomas A. Doyle, and was successively promoted to Doorman- of Station 1 in 1874, Sergeant of Station 4 in 1877, Captain in 1879, and was appointed Chief of Police. January 5, 1881. He is Past Department Commander of the Rhode Island G. A. R., Past Grand Chancellor K. of P. of Rhode Island, also a member of Swarts Lodge No. 18, I. O. O. F., and Massachusetts Commandery of the military order Loyal Legion of the United States. In politics he is a Republican. He was married November 14, 1872, to Mrs. Ruth Avery; they have one daughter : Mary Elizabeth Avery, who married Abner E. Claflin, of Providence, November 12, 1895. [Source: Rhode Island Men in Progress - Submitted by Marie Miller]

CLARK, Henry Clinton, President of the Rhode Island Coal Company, Providence, was born in Providence, November 28, 1822, son of Sterry and Julia Ann (Morse) Clark. He came of good old New-England stock, his grandfathers on both sides having been Revolutionary soldiers. His first American ancestors settled in Southbridge, Mass., where his father, Sterry Clark, was born. He received his early education in the public schools of Providence, commenced active business life in 1841 as a clerk in the employ of Jackson & Clark, and held that position until his admission into the firm, whose name was changed to Jackson, Clark & Company. The firm name underwent successive changes to S.Clark & Co., Clark & Coggeshall, Clark & Webb, H. C. Clark & Co., and later to the Providence Coal Company, as the head of which Mr. Clark has conducted one of the largest coal concerns in New England. He has always taken an active interest in public affairs, and has been influential with voice and pen both in and out of office. He was a member of the State Legislature, and of the Common Council of Providence from 1882 to 1885, and was a member of the Board of Aldermen in 1876. In 1892 and 1895 he was an independent candidate for Mayor. In politics he was originally a Whig, later a Freesoiler, and then a Republican. He is not a member of any society or club, preferring to devote his time to business and his family. On February 27, 1895, Mr. Clark presented to his native city a bronze statue of Kbenezer Knight Dexter, a philanthropist who gave his large property for the benefit of the homeless and the public. He was married, January 21, 1844, to Miss Martha E. Field, who died December 8, 1888; they had one child, a son Harry C. Clark. He married, second, Miss Mar)’ Caroline Phillips. [Source: Rhode Island Men in Progress - Submitted by Marie Miller]

CLARKE, Charles Kendall, physician and surgeon, Fiskeville, was born in North Scituate, R. I., January 9, 1851, the son of Daniel A. and Mary E. (Harrington) Clarke.   He received his early education at the public schools and at Lapham Institute. He adopted medicine as a profession, and studied at the Believue Hospital in New York, from which he graduated March    1874, with the degree of M. D. He established himself as a physician at Fiskeville, in the town of Scituate,R. I., in 1875, where he has since remained in the enjoyment of a large practice. In addition to his professional work Dr. Clarke has been Superintendent of Public Schools and Assessor of Taxes in the town of Scituate.   He is a member of the Rhode Island Medical Society and of the Royal Society of Good Fellows.   In politics he is a Republican. He married, January 8, 1875, Miss Lizzie M. Manter; they have had two children: Daniel A. and Mary M. Clarke; the latter died in January 1888. [Source: Rhode Island Men in Progress - Submitted by Marie Miller]

CLEMENCE, STEPHEN H. - born in Glocester, January 13th, 1834, is a son of Richard R. and Mary Clemence. Richard R. was born in 1791 and had ten children. Stephen H., the youngest son, came to Johnston in 1864. He married Elsie A., daughter of Mathewson W. and Fidelia Paine. They have four children: Mary A., born in 1862; Ida M., born in 1864; Stephen H., Jr., born 1867, and Richard R., born 1870. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

COLT, Samuel Pomeroy, President of the In-dustrial Trust Company, Providence, was born at Paterson, New Jersey, January 10, 1852, the son of Christopher and Theodora (DeWolf) Colt.   On his father’s side he is descended from the Colts of Hart-ford, Conn., his grandfather being Christopher Colt, and his uncle Samuel Colt (for whom he is named) was the inventor of the Colt’s Revolver, and founder of the Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Com-pany, Hartford, Conn.   His grandfather’s brother was Peter Colt of New York, and his son was Ros-well Colt of Paterson, New Jersey. On his mother’s side he is of the DeWolfs of Rhode Island. His grandfather was General George DeWolf, who, in 1810, built the colonial mansion at Bristol, R. L, the present summer residence of the subject of this sketch.   The DeWolfs were extensively engaged in East and West India trade in the early part of the century, and in privateering, in which they amassed large fortunes for those days. James DeWolf, his great-uncle, was United States Senator from Rhode Island in 1821, and drove from Bristol to Washing-ton with his own four-in-hand; the coach used is still preserved.   Henry Goodwin of Newport, R. I., Attorney-General of Rhode Island, 1787-1789, was also a great-uncle.    His great-grandfather was Gov. William Bradford, who was of the sixth generation from Gov. William Bradford of Plymouth Colony, who crossed in the Mayflower.   He received his early education from five to ten at New Hartford, Conn., ten to fourteen at Hartford, Conn., and afterward at Bristol, R. I., and Anthon’s Gram-mar School, New York.   At eighteen he entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated at twenty-one in 1873.   He passed a year travelling in Europe, 1873-74.   On his return he entered the Columbia Law School, New York, autumn of 1874, graduating in the spring of 1876, and was admitted to the New York bar May 1876. He was admitted to the Rhode Island bar January 1, 1877.      He was Aide-de-Camp on the staff of Gov. Henry Lippitt, with rank of Colonel in 1875-76-77.   He was elected a member of the General Assembly from Bristol 1876-77-78-79, was Assistant Attorney-General of Rhode   Island 1879-80-81, he was elected as the Republican candidate for Attorney-General of Rhode Island 1882-83-84-85. After his term of office he again visited Europe. He founded the Industrial Trust Company, Providence, 1887, and reorganized the National Rubber Company of Bristol, 1888. He has been President of the Industrial Trust Company and National India Rubber Company since their organization. He is President of the National Eagle Bank and Vice-President of the First National Bank, of Bristol, also a Director, member of Executive Committee and Legal Adviser of the United States Rubber Company. He married, January 12, 1881, Miss Elizabeth M. Bullock, daughter of J. Russell Bullock, Ex-Judge of Supreme and United States District Courts of Rhode Island; they have two children: Russell Griswold, born October 1, 1882, and Roswell Christopher, born October 10, 1889. [Source: Rhode Island Men in Progress - Submitted by Marie Miller]

COLWELL, Francis, City Solicitor of Providence, was born in Cranston, R. I., April 7, 1833, the son of Francis and Harriet B. (Tucker) Colwell. He is a lineal descendant of Robert Colwell, who came to Rhode Island with Roger Williams, and the family became connected with that of Williams by marriage, and located in the town of Glocester. His father, Francis Colwell, was a prominent physician of Providence for many years. The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Providence, and entered Brown University in 1852, but did not graduate. He adopted the law as a profession and entered the office of the late Hon. Abraham Payne, whose partner he became after his admission to the Rhode Island bar in 1856. He has since practiced his profession in Providence, and has taken a somewhat active part in public affairs. Early in his professional life he was elected Judge of the old Court of Magistrates, and held the office for several years under re-election. He was elected City Solicitor in 1866. He was a member of the House of Representatives in the General Assembly for several years, and was elected Senator in 1875-76 and again in 1884.   He was a member of the Common Council in 1870 and President of that body in 1875-76, was again elected to the office of City Solicitor in 1892, and has since held that position.   He is a member of the Rhode Island liar Club, and of several social associations.   He was for four years President of the Unitarian Club. In politics he is a Republican.   He married, March 17, 1864, Miss Anna F. Packard, daughter of Henry Packard of Providence; they have had two children : Augusta M. (deceased) and Henry F. Colwell, a banker in Boston. [Source: Rhode Island Men in Progress - Submitted by Marie Miller]

COLWELL, HURLEY - born in Glocester in 1818, is a son of Uriah and Deborah Colwell. Uriah was a son of Stephen, he a son of Joseph, all born in Glocester, R.I. Uriah had ten children. Harley, the eldest son, married Eliza Brown for his first wife. They had ten children. She died in 1869. Mr. Colwell married Catharine H. Bickford, of Maine. They have one son, Leon S., born in 1873. Harley Colwell came to Johnston in 1845. He has held several town offices and was a member of school committee 16 years. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

COLWELL, WILLIAM B. - born January 4th, 1857 in Johnston, is a son of Harley and Eliza Colwell. He married in 1879 Betsey A., daughter of George W. Bliss of Massachusetts. They have one son, Elmer W., born October 24th, 1882. Mr. Colwell is a farmer, has been in the town council three terms, is a democrat and takes an active part in the councils of his party. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

CONLEY, John Edward, attorney-at-law, Providence, was born in Warren, R. L, September 7, 1868, son of Michael F. and Catherine (Dolan)Conley. His father died when he was about fourteen years of age, and he has been in a great measure dependent on his own exertions for successin life. He received his early education in the public schools of Warren and the Perry Business College of Providence. He attended Brown University for two years, after which he was bookkeeper and clerk until November 1885, when he entered the office of the Hon. George J. West, Providence, for the study of law. He was admitted to the Rhode Island bar July 29, 1889, and has since been associated with Mr. West in practice.   He has taken an active part in politics and public life.   He served as a clerk of the Committee on Corporations in the Rhode Island General Assembly in 1889-1890, and was elected Clerk of the House of Representatives for the political years 1893-94.   He has been Secretary of the Democratic State Central Committee for the past two years and still holds the office. He has also been Chairman and Secretary of the Democratic Town Committee of Warren for the past five years, and has held other offices of importance and responsibility in his party.   He is a good speaker, and occasionally writes for the current magazines and newspapers.   He served in the Rhode Island militia for over two years as First Lieutenant of Company A, Second Regiment, and was elected Captain in May 1892, resigning in February 1893. He is President of the Catholic Club of Warren, is a member of Burnside Lodge Knights of Pythias, Bristol, R. I., of Massasoit Council Royal Arcanum, Warren, and a member of the Democratic Club of the city of New York.   He married, September 22, 1891, Miss Esther J. Murphy;   they have two children : Gertrude and Esther Conley.

Source: Rhode Island Men in Progress - Submitted by Marie Miller
COOK, Samuel Penny, City Treasurer of Woonsocket, and banker, was born July 20, 1852. in Albion, R. I., the son of Ariel Lindsey and Mary Harris (Phillips) Cook. He received his early education in the public schools of Woonsocket, and entered the high school, but did not complete the course. He commenced his business career in July 1870 as clerk in the Producers’ National Bank, which position he held until August 1885, when he was elected Treasurer of the Producers’ Savings Bank, and later Cashier of the Producers’ National Bank He has been a Trustree of the Producers’ Savings Bank since 1874, and Director of the Producers’ National Bank since 18S6. He has been Treasurer of the Woonsocket Opera House Company since 1889.   He was a Director in the Woonsocket Klectrie Machine and Power Company from 1888 to 1894; has been Treasurer and Director of the Woonsocket Land Company since 1893 ; Treasurer and Director of the Rhode Island Granite Pressed Brick Company since April 1895, and a Director in the Perforated Pad Company since November 1885. He was Town Treasurer of Woonsocket from August 1885 to January 1889, and since that time City Treasurer, and has been Trustee of the Consolidated School District since April 1889. He was recorder of Woonsocket Commandery Knights Templar from October 1876 to October 1878, and from October 1883 to October 1889- In politics he is a Republican. He married, January 31, 1883, Miss Lucia Grey Moses; they have two children: Theodore Phillips and Gertrude Nourse Cook. [Source: Rhode Island Men in Progress - Submitted by Marie Miller]

COVELL, William Henry, of Providence, mer-chant, was born in Killingly,Conn. January 27, 1836, son of Willis and Lydia (Perrin) Covell. His grandfather, Ebenezer Covell, was in the Revolu-tionary war, serving as body guard to General Washington; and his father, Willis Covell, was one of those who answered to the call for men in 1812. His early education was obtained in the public schools and academy of Thompson, Conn., and East Greenwich, R. I. In 1858 he commenced farming in Thompson, Conn., and continued until 1861, when he took up the meat, poultry and produce business, and carried it on until July 1866. He then removed to Olneyville, R. I., and entered the grocery trade, in connection with R. S. Rouse, under the firm name of R. S. Rouse & Company, continuing toMay 1871. In October 1871 he opened a new- store in Olneyville under the name of Win. H. Covell & Company, continuing until obliged to close out on account of ill health. In 1878 he opened a store at No. 589 Atwell’s Avenue, formerly the Cove Store, owned by the Richmond Manufacturing Company, in connection with S. N. Davis, under the old name of Wm. H. Covell & Company, where the firm now carries on the hay, grain, wood, coal, groceryand market business. Mr. Covell was a member of the Town Council of North Providence in 1873-74,and for several years was trustee of North Providence School District No. 8, now the Tenth Ward of thecity of Providence. He served on the School Committee of Providence in 1878-80, was elected to the Common Council in 1883 and again in the succes-sive six years 1888-93; was a member of the Committee on Highways six years and chairman four years; and served on the Railroad Committee three years, Finance three years, Lights one year and on Committee City Engineer’s Department three years. He was appointed in 1888 on a committee to purchase land for sewerage purposes, and is still acting in that capacity. He has also served upon committees to confer with owners of the shore between Hill’s Wharf and Sassafras Point, relative to improved navigation ; to examine and report relative to taxation upon special franchises; to confer with owners of real estate relative to the widening of Elmwood Avenue, and other important committees. He was elected a Representative to the General Assembly in 1886-87, 1891-92 and 1894-95, and in 1892 was appointed on a committee to examine into the condition of the roads and public highways of the State.Mr. Covell is a Republican in politics, and belongs to the Young Men’s Republican Club of Providence, and the Mount Pleasant Republican Club of the Tenth Ward. He is also a member of the Butchers and Marketmen’s Association of Providence, and President of the Olneyville Business Men’s Association. He was married June 2, 1858, to Miss Mary Jane Davis; they have four children : Agnes M-, Alice L., Lucy F. and William H. Covell, Jr. [Source: Rhode Island Men in Progress - Submitted by Marie Miller]

CRAM, JOHN A. - son of Abner A. Cram, was born in New Hampshire in 1829, and came to Johnston in 1849. He is a veterinary surgeon (Homeopathic). He commenced study and practice in 1859 and has followed it ever since. He is very successful and has a large practice in the towns of Johnston, Smithfield and Cranston. He married Lydia W. Thornton in 1849. She was the daughter of Benjamin Thornton. They have seven children. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

CROOKER, George Hazard, physician and surgeon, Providence, was born in Providence, February 25, 1865, son of Josiah Whipple and Eliza (Hazard) Crooker.  He is descended from old New England stock on both sides, the Crooker family of Richmond, New Hampshire, and the Hazard family of Wakefield, R. I., both very well known and distinguished for generations.   He received his preparatory education in   Mowry & Goff’s Classical School, Providence, from which he graduated in 1883.  He then entered Brown University, from which he graduated in 1887 with the degree of A. B-, receiving that of A. M. in 1890. He adopted medicine as a profession and entered the Harvard Medical School, from which he graduated in 1893 with the degree of M. D.   In 1890 he went to Europe to complete his education and spent two years in studying in Heidelburg, Vienna, Berlin, Dresden and London.    In the winter of 1892-93 he took a course of hospital work in Boston.  He began the practice of medicine in Providence in the spring of 1894.   He holds the positions of Externe of the Rhode Island Hospital and House Physician of the Providence Lying-in-Hospital. Dr. Crooker is a member of the Rhode Island Medical Society and the Providence Medical Association, also of the Providence Art Club and the Providence Athletic Association.  He is unmarried.  [Source: Rhode Island Men in Progress - Submitted by Marie Miller]

Curtis, George - banker, legislator, was born in 1794 in Worcester, Mass. He moved to Providence, R.I., at an early age, and was several times speaker of the assembly. He moved to New York in 1840, and was appointed cashier of the Bank of commerce; and later became president of the Continental banks. Died in 1856 in Jacksonville, Fla.
[Source: Herringshaw's National Library of American Biography: Contains Thirty-five Thousand Biographies of the Acknowledged Leaders of Life and Thought of the United States, by William Herringshaw, 1909 - TK - Sub. by a FoFG]

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