Topic: Biographies

A lifelong resident of Woonsocket, and its mayor from 1926 to 1930, J. Hector Paquin has been an important and familiar figure in city affairs for many years. His career includes such varied activities as newspaper reporter and editor, banking official and city clerk, and also from 1926 to 1930, in addition to his civic duties, he retained his position as manager of a broker’s office. Mr. Paquin was born in Woonsocket, on April 14, 1890, and received his education in local schools. While still a boy he decided upon a newspaper career and, for one year, during 1907 and … Read more

Chief executive of the State of Rhode Island, Governor Norman Stanley Case, now (1931) serving his third term, has been a familiar figure in its public life for the past ten years. He was born at Providence, on October 11, 1888, a son of John Warren and Louise Marea (White) Case, the father a gold and silver refiner by occupation, and a member of the school committee at Providence for several terms. He was a man of considerable local prominence. Norman Stanley Case attended the Providence public schools. He was graduated from Federal Street Grammar School in 1900, from Classical … Read more

For more than forty years Thomas Zanslaur Lee, who died in Providence, Rhode Island, April 13, 1931, carried on the practice of law in Rhode Island courts. He held a distinguished position among the members of his profession, and by his efforts built up a large practice. Mr. Lee was born at Woonsocket, Rhode Island, on September 26, 1866, a son of Thomas and Eleanor M. Lee, the father a merchant. He attended Woonsocket public schools, including the high school, and was later graduated from St. Bernard’s Academy and from Boston University. He early determined upon the practice of law … Read more

President of Brown University for a period of thirty years, Dr. William Herbert Perry Faunce was one of the most distinguished of American educators and a figure of genuine prominence in the nation’s life. As a minister he was one of the most liberal and able in the Baptist faith. As an educator and administrator he guided Brown in its development from a provincial New England college to a leading university of the country. His writings and public utterances won him a reputation for fearlessness and demonstrated his enlightened devotion to the finest principles of thought and conduct, as well … Read more

The Church of the Holy Trinity, Central Falls, Rhode Island, is fortunate in having for its pastor the able leader and distinguished writer, Monsignor John F. Sullivan, D. D., who has been in charge here since 1912. Holy Trinity Parish of Central Falls was formed from portions of St. Patrick’s Parish, Valley Falls; Sacred Heart Parish, Pawtucket; and from a portion of the parent parish of the first two, St. Mary’s of Pawtucket. Land was purchased in July, 1889, more was bought that same year, and on September 15, 1889, the cornerstone of the church was laid. The building was … Read more

Long active in the work that he had chosen and followed in his career, William Eaton Foster had been, since 1877, librarian of the Providence Public Library, of Providence, Rhode Island. He also held numerous other positions in this field of human endeavor, and in all of them performed, like most members of his craft, duties which have won all too little respect and admiration from his fellowmen. For, routine workers though librarians appear to be, they are more than that; they have within their handling the knowledge of the centuries, all that has come down from ancient times in … Read more

Descended from a long line of patriotic and professional men who served well their respective generations, William Bates Greenough, distinguished member of the Rhode Island bar, has filled, among other offices of a public character, that of Attorney-General of the State. He has also discharged several important commissions. His rise in the legal profession has been steady and sustained in the nearly two-score years of his practice; and he is a former vice-president of the American Bar Association and is at present a member of the Executive Committee. Providence recognizes him as one of the foremost of her citizens, one … Read more

Ernest LeGrand Sprague, son of Daniel Henry and Elleanora Sinclair (Rhodes) Sprague, was born at “Woodward Villa,” East Providence, Rhode Island, December 22, 1876. Through his father’s line he is a direct descendant from Edward Sprague of Upway, Dorsetshire, England, through his son Ralph, who was one of the original settlers of Charlestown, Massachusetts, 1628-29; and through his paternal grandmother, Juliaette Diana (White) Sprague, is a descendant of Peregrine White, the first white child born in New England; through his mother, Elleanora Sinclair Rhodes, he is descended from Zachary Rhodes, born in Massachusetts, November 5, 1687, son of John Rhodes, … Read more

Pastor of the Central Baptist Church at Providence, Rhode Island, from 1911 to 1931. Dr. Clarence Mason Gallup has been an important figure in the city’s life for many years, and one of the leaders in the work of his denomination in the North. He was born at Norwich, Connecticut, on October 2, 1874, a son of Loren Aborn and Elizabeth Hooker (Kinney) Gallup. This family is a very old one in New England, being descended from John Gallup, who came from County Dorset, England, to Boston in 1630, with the party of Governor Winthrop, and who served as captain … Read more