George M. Hull — Having become connected in his youth with the Union Oil Company of Providence, Mr. Hull continued to be identified with this concern in various positions of ever-creasing importance and responsibility for more than three decades and until its local plant was discontinued, some ten years ago. Since then he has served with great efficiency and faithfulness as town treasurer of East Providence. Even prior to his election to this important office, he had been prominently active for many years in civic affairs and had held various important public offices. His patriotism found expression by several years’ service in one of the units of the State Militia, while during the World War he held the difficult and responsible office of Fuel Commissioner for East Providence. These varied activities are rounded off by active membership in numerous fraternal, civic and social organizations, and by active participation in religious work, thus making Mr. Hull one of the most representative and most useful members of the community.
George M. Hull was born in Providence, September 10, 1869, a son of the late George B. and Emily (Smith) Hull. His father, likewise a native of Providence, was for many years a well-known master mariner. Foi several years he served as manager of the Providence and New York Steamship Company. At other times in his long career, ended only by his death in I9I2, he was captain of many well-known steamships sailing from Providence and New York. During the Civil War he served as a blockade runner, carrying foodstuffs for the Union Forces. Mr. Hull’s mother, also now deceased, was a native of Fall River.
Mr. Hull himself was educated in the public grammar and high schools of East Providence and then attended the Rhode Island Technical School. Having completed his education, he served as purser on various excursion steamers in Narragansett Bay for some five years. In 1889 he became connected with the Union Oil Company of Providence. His first position with this well-known concern was that of a clerk. In 1893 he was made superintendent, continuing in that capacity until 1917. when he was made plant manager. In this position he served until the plant was closed in 1921. At that time he was elected town treasurer of East Providence, which important office he has continued to fill with great ability and success ever since. Since 1916 he has also been a member of the Rhode Island State Harbor Commission. Prior to that, during 1907-12, he served on the East Providence Town Council, of which he was president for four years, and during these four years he was also a member of the Metropolitan Park Commission and of its executive committee. Ever since the East Providence Branch of the Industrial Trust Company has been organized, Mr. Hull has been a member of its board of managers. During his youth, from 1888 until 1895, he was a member of the 1st Light Infantry, Rhode Island State Militia. For many years prominently active in Masonic affairs, he is a member of numerous Masonic bodies, including the following: What Cheer Lodge, No. 21, Free and Accepted Masons; Rising Sun Lodge, No. 30, Free and Accepted Masons; Gibbs Chapter, No. 13, Royal Arch Masons; Calvary Commandery, No. 13, Knights Templar; Palestine Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Craftsman’s Club, as well as of the Barrington Yacht Club, of which he is a life-member and a past commodore; and of the East Providence Business Men’s Association, of which he is a past president. In politics, he is a supporter of the Republican party, while his religious affiliations are with the First Universalist Church of Providence, of which he is a trustee. His favorite form of recreation is yachting.
Mr. Hull married, in 1893, Josephine Mayno, like himself a native of Providence. Mr. and Mrs. Hull are the parents of two sons: 1. Thomas M., a veteran of the World War, during which he served overseas in France with the American Expeditionary Forces as a member of Battery C, 103d Regiment, 26th Division, popularly known as the Yankee Division. He was wounded in action and invalided home. 2. George C., also a veteran of the World War, during which he served with the same unit as his older brother, seeing eighteen months of overseas’ service in France. He is now a member of the editorial staff of the Providence “Journal.”
Source: Carroll, Charles. Rhode Island: Three Centuries of Democracy, vol 4 of 4. New York: Lewis historical Pub. Co., 1932.