Providence County Biographies   

MARTIN MANN, born in Smithfield April 4th, 1837, is a son of Daniel and Anna Colwell Mann, natives of Smithfield. Mr. Mann came to Johnston in 1888, and was elected chief of police and town sergeant June 10, 1889. He was educated at the Powers Institute, Bernardston, Mass. He held several offices in Smithfield, including president of town council and court of probate one year, chief of police three years, judge of civil and criminal court four years. He was married in 1866 to Mary C. Maguire, of Newport. They had one son, Edward M. Mrs. Mann died July 23d, 1873. He married Mary F. Remington in 1878. She was the daughter of Honorable George W. and Olive Remington, of Exeter, R.I. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

JAMES O. MATHEWSON, born in Johnston in 1824, is a son of Parris and Phebe Mathewson, who had ten children. James O. married Ruth A., daughter of William Sweet, in 1850. They have three children: Ann E., born 1852; Byron, 1853, and Phebe O., 1860, all married. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

PHILIP L. MATHEWSON, a son of Isaac and Patience (Olney) Mathewson, was born in Providence in 1824. Isaac and Patience had three children. Patience died in 1824. Isaac married for his second wife Eliza Arnold, by whom he had two children. Philip L. married Sarah B., daughter of Jeremiah Thornton of Johnston. They have no children. Mr. Mathewson has been in the town council, and a member of general assembly one term. He lives on the Deacon Olney Farm in Johnston. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

WILLIAM H. MATHEWSON, born in 1867, is a son of William H., Sr., (who died in 1887) and Mary F. Westcott, daughter of Joseph Westcott. William H., Jr., the only son, married Nellie V. Burchard, daughter of Horace E. Burchard, of Johnston. William H., Jr., carries on a large vinegar manufactory and a farm. He owns the old Mathewson store. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

ALVIN M. MOWRY, born in Smithfield in 1855, is a son of Simon and Nancy Mowry. He came to Johnston in 1887 and is a wholesale and retail milk dealer. He married in 1879 Ida E., daughter of Edward E. Hale. They have two children: Alice M., born 1881, and M. Ethelyn, born 1884. Mr. Mowry is a member of the Baptist Church of Georgiaville. Mrs. Mowry is a member of the Episcopal church of Olneyville. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

HARLAN A. PAGE, born in Glocester in 1842, is a son of William Page of the same town. He enlisted in 1862 and served through the rebellion. He came to Johnston in 1866 and engaged in building and contracting. He has built nearly 100 houses in the vicinity of Olneyville. He was married in 1867 to Emma R. Randall, who died in 1868, leaving a son. He next married Sarah R. Mathewson, who died in 1873, leaving a daughter. He married Malvina S. Mathewson in 1874. She died in 1882, leaving a son and a daughter. In 1883 he married Sarah A. Garnett. They have had three children, one of whom died in 1888. Mr. Page is a member of the I.O.O.F. He was a member of the town council in 1884 and 1885 and assessor of taxes previously in Johnston. He was on the committee to build the Free-will Baptist church, Plainfield Street, and is one of the committee of house at the present time. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

SIMON S. PAGE, born in Glocester, R.I., in 1834, is a son of William and Mary (Steere) Page. He came to Johnston in 1877. He learned the carpenter trade in his younger days and after coming to Johnston became a real estate dealer. He has held several offices. In 1880 he took the United States census for the town of Johnston; in 1885 he took the town census. He has been justice of the peace, assistant trial justice, special constable, deputy coroner, and on committees of the town, two years water and light commissioner and assessor of taxes six years, trustee of school district No. 15 five years, and also a member of the school committee, and is now notary public. Mr. Page has been twice married, his first wife being Mary E. Hudson, granddaughter of Doctor Samuel Hudson of Cranston. They had two children, a daughter and son, the daughter is now living. Mrs. Page died in 1868 and he married in 1870 Corlista A. Bachelder. They have four children. Mr. and Mrs. Page are members of the Free-will Baptist church of Olneyville. He was superintendent of the Sunday school five years, and has been superintendent of four other Sunday schools. He is now teacher of a Bible class. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

LEANDER W. PECKHAM, born in Westerly, R.I., April 21st, 1846, is son of Daniel and Betsey M. (Clark) Peckham. He came to Johnston in 1871 and engaged in the manufacturing business, first in the Brown Mill at Thornton. In 1885 he leased the mill from Mr. Fletcher, known as the Bag Mill. He employs 30 hands. He does an annual business of from thirty to forty thousand dollars. Mr. Peckham married Josephine A. Bennett of Johnston, in 1879. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

ALVA O. PIKE, born in Johnston in 1852, is a son of Thomas and Phebe (Harris) Pike, and grandson of Isaac Pike. Thomas was born in Connecticut in 1822, married in 1850, and had two sons and two daughters. Alva O. married in 1883 Adaline E., daughter of George G. and Sarah Pierce of Providence. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

WALDO M. PLACE is a son of William H., who was a son of H.N.F. Place and he a son of Dutee Place, who was born in Glocester, R.I., November 25th, 1783, and lived to be nearly 103 years old. William H. Place married Adelaide J. Steere, daughter of Smith Steere of Glocester, and Waldo M. is their only child. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

WELCOME A. POTTER, born January 17th, 1810, in Cranston, is a son of Benjamin, born August 11th, 1774, died 1853. He was a cotton manufacturer. He had ten children, of whom only two are living-Asa K. and Welcome A. Welcome A. married Maria M. Pettis August 18th, 1839. She was a daughter of James M. Pettis of Johnston. They have one son, Benjamin J., engaged in the furniture trade in Providence. Mrs. Potter died in January, 1890. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

JAMES B. RANDALL is a son of James B. and Amanda Randall, grandson of Samuel Randall and great-grandson of Captain James Randall. His grandfather, Samuel Randall, was known as Judge Randall. James B. Randall Jr., lives on the old homestead in Johnston where he and his father were born, and which has been in the Randall family over 150 years. He married Sarah E. Mead, of Elmira, N.Y., and they have three children: William M., Sadie F. and Harry T. Mr. Randall belongs to the Independent Order of Good Fellows of Olneyville. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

ETHAN T. SHELDON, born in Johnston in 1847, is a son of Angell, Jr., and grandson of Angell, all natives of Johnston. Mr. Sheldon is a milk and ice dealer. He is a member of the I.O.O.F. and of the Rough and Ready Fire Company. He married in 1871 Esther, daughter of William and Ellen Walch. They have four children living: Newell B., Rowena, Dora and Mary B. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

BENJAMIN F. SMITH, born in Glocester in 1830, is a son of Benjamin. He was married to Almira R. Olney in 1851. They have four children: George A., born in 1852; Ella F., 1858; Ann A., 1861, and Frank E., 1869. Almira R. Smith was born in 1827. Benjamin and Almira have ten grandchildren. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

NICHOLAS S. SMITH, son of James W. and Sarah A. Smith, was born in Johnston in 1834. His father, James, was born in 1804, and his mother in 1804. Nicholas S. married Sophia, daughter of Olney Angell. They have two children: Clarence A., born 1868, and Eva M., born 1867. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

STANTON J. SMITH is a son of James W., whose father, Nicholas, was a son of Benjamin, all born in Johnston. James W. had two sons: Stanton J., born 1831, and Nicholas S. Stanton J. married for his first wife, Susan J. Corbin. They had four children. Mrs. Smith died in 1868. In 1870 he married Sarah E., daughter of Henry Davenport, of New Jersey. They have one son, Henry D., born in 1880. Mr. Smith has served eight terms in the town council, and one as member of the general assembly. He is a member of Roger Williams Lodge, No. 32, F.&A.M. of Centredale. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

WILLIAM M. SMITH, born in Johnston in 1808, is a son of Harry Smith, who was born in 1783. Harry was a son of Benjamin. William M. Smith's mother died when he was three years old. Her name was Lydia Manchester. William M. Smith was married in 1846 to Eveline G. Marble, who died in 1869. He married in 1871 Amey A., daughter of William Eddy. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

MRS. CHARLOTTE STEERE is the widow of Benedict Steere, and lives with her brother, William Sheldon. He was born in Johnston in 1817, and is a son of Angell and Eunia Sheldon. They had 14 children. William Sheldon married Julia A., daughter of Harry Smith, in 1842. They have four children, all married and settled in Rhode Island. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

BYRON O. SWEET, son of Joseph Sweet, was born in North Providence in 1864, and came to Johnston in 1888. He is a milk dealer. He married Maggie T. Walsh in 1884. They have two children: Fannie L. and Madeline M. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

DANIEL THORNTON was born in 1798 in Johnston, and had seven children. Eliza S. And Sylvania (Mrs. Carrie E. Brown), sisters, live on the Thornton homestead. Their brother, Albert O. Thornton, lives in Johnston. Daniel Thornton was born, married and died in the same house now occupied by his daughters. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

ELIJAH W. THORNTON, born in 1828, is a son of Jeremiah, born in 1786, he a son of Solomon, he a son of Daniel. Elijah W. married in 1859 Zilpha E., daughter of Olney and Almira Angell. They have four children: Sarah J., Fenner A., Emory C. and Alfred M. There have been seven generations of the Thorntons born in the house Elijah W. now occupies. On his farm stands the largest and oldest apple tree in the state, nearly five feet through and 250 years old. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

MISS ANN E. THURBER, born in Johnston in 1836, is a daughter of Ira and Amey Thurber, both born in RI, the former in 1806, and the latter in 1808. They had three daughters and three sons. The sons are in California. Miss Ann E. owns the old homestead. The father of Ira was Esquare Thurber. The mother of Ann E. is living. She married Ira Thurber in 1831. She lives with her daughter, Eleanor B., who married Ephraim A. Winsor in 1861. They have two children. Esquare and his brother Samuel both served in the revoluntionary war. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

FRANK W. TILLINGHAST, born in Richmond, Washington County, RI, in 1859, is a son of William B. Tillinghast. He graduated at Boston University Law School in 1883, came to Johnston in 1886, and engaged in the manufacturing business at Thornton, purchasing the Brown Mill. He was married to Grace G., daughter of Thomas C. Peckham. They have one son, Carl K. Mr. Tillinghast is a member of the Providence Bar. He was elected member of the legislature from Johnston in 1889. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

CHARLES E. TOURTELLOT, born in Scituate in 1849, is a son of Asa, who was born in the same town in 1805, and married Eliza L., daughter of Elder Joseph Manchester. They both died in 1887. Eliza was born in 1811. They had three sons-Asa M., Charles E. and Edwin A.-and six daughters. Charles E., Mary M., and Abbie F. live together on the homestead where the father died. The other daughters are: Phebe R., wife of Nehemiah R. Angell; Sanondess A., wife of Ethan A. Jenks; Angeline E., wife of John S. Paine, and Elizabeth W., wife of William R. Wilder, all living. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

HENRY S. TURNER, only son of Henry B. and Mary J. Turner, was born May 1st, 1858 in Johnston. He married Sadie F. Eaton, of Connecticut, in 1887. He has held the office of town councilman, and was elected member of the general assembly in 1889. He is a republican. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

ALBA WADE, born in 1819, is a son of Jonathan, and grandson of Willard, all born in Glocester, R.I. Jonathan had eight children. Alba came to Johnston in 1861. He married Maria Mann. They have six children. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

JAMES H. WALCH, born in Cranston in 1851, is a son of James and Elizabeth Walch. He came to Johnston in 1854 with his parents. He engaged in the ice trade in Olneyville in 1876 and does a wholesale and retail business. He married Louise E. Stokes in 1876. They have two children. Mr. Walch is a republican. He held the office of town councilman in 1884, 1885, and 1886. He was elected member of assembly in 1887 and 1888, and served in the committee on printing and military. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

ABRAHAM A. WATERMAN, born in Johnston, is a son of Christopher and grandson of Resolved Waterman. He was married in 1869 to Sarah A. Rogers of Johnston, daughter of Abner B. Rogers. They have six children. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

CALVIN T. WATERMAN, born in Johnston in 1816, is a son of John (2), whose father William, was a son of John. John (2), married Mercy Randall. They had five children, Calvin T. married Amey, a daughter of Stephen and Marcy (Sweet) Belknap. They have two children: Anna M., born 1843, and Stephen B., born 1850. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

EDWARD H. WATERMAN, brother of Calvin T., was born September 28th, 1820, and was the youngest son of John (2). He has had four wives. His first wife was Marcy Belknap. They had one son, James H. (deceased). She died in 1847. His second wife was Laura J. Trowbridge; his third wife was Esther Belknap, by whom he had one son, John E. (deceased); and his fourth wife was Sarah Belknap, daughter of Benjamin Belknap. They were married in 1863 and have one daughter, Mary F., born in 1866. Mr. Waterman has two grandchildren who live on the farm with him, James E., and William M. Waterman. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

ANSON P. WINSOR, born April 20th, 1845, in Johnston, is a son of Ephraim and Rhoda T. (Brown) Winsor. Ephraim had four children, of whom Anson P. was the youngest. Anson married Georgiana, daughter of Nelson and Martha Ballou, in 1882. They have no children. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

HENRY A. WINSOR, son of Elisha and Lucy Winsor, was born in Glocester in 1848. Elisha was born in 1821. He had six children, of whom Henry A. is the eldest. Elisha was a son of Isaac. Henry A. married Emma C., daughter of Martin Winsor in 1871. They have six children: Edith F., Bertley T., Lucy B., Jennie E., Chester P. and Isabel A. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

ALFRED A. WILLIAMS, born in Providence in 1834, son of Larned and Sarah A. Williams, came to Johnston in 1856 and married Sarah Hendrick in 1855. They have five children: Alfred H., Sarah A., Hattie C., Olney H. and Larned. Mr. Williams is a market gardener. He has been member of the general assembly several times as a republican. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

GEORGE W. WHITE, born in New Hampshire in 1826, is a son of Williams White of New Hampshire. He came to Johnston in 1846, and married in 1848 Eunice L., daughter of Ephraim Winsor of Johnston. They have five sons and one daughter. George W. has been a member of the general assembly two years and is employed a large share of his time in settling estates. [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

LEROY A. WHITE, born in 1853, is a son of George W. and Eunice L. White. He married in 1886 Alice M., daughter of John Bentley of Providence. They have two daughters: Claribel E., born in 1886, and Alice M., born in 1889. Mr. White has been in the town council and highway surveyor.(source: History of Providence County by Richard Bayles, 1890-'91, pp811-821). [Source: "Town of Johnston" Rhode Island - Sub. by J. Scott]

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