Topic: Biographies

Major George Newman Bliss, son of James Leonard and Sarah A. (Stafford) Bliss, was born at Eagleville, Tiverton, Rhode Island, on July 22, 1837. He was one of an old family which numbered among its members Dr. James Bliss, great-grandfather of Major Bliss, who was a hospital steward in the Revolutionary War, and Thomas Bliss, the pioneer American of this branch of the Bliss family, who accompanied Samuel Newman from Weymouth when he founded his church at Rehoboth. With the exception of six months of school life in Tiverton, he received his elementary schooling in Fall River. In 1854, his … Read more

William Carpenter Bliss, distinguished lawyer and man of affairs, was born at East Providence, Rhode Island, on July 6, 1874, a son of George Newman and Fannie Amelia (Carpenter) Bliss. His father, also a lawyer, was judge of the Seventh Judicial District in this State for fifty-one years, until 1922. He was a man of genuine prominence in the State, a member of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, at various times, and for twenty-five years superintendent of schools at East Providence. During the period of the Civil War, he served as captain in the 1st Rhode Island … Read more

Superintendent of schools at Portsmouth and Middletown, Rhode Island, Roland Henry Chatterton, though still relatively young, has risen to a position of importance among the educators of this State. He was born on August 12, 1901, in Providence, Rhode Island, a son of William Henry and Katherine Etta (Thompson) Chatterton. His father was a mechanical engineer by occupation. Roland Henry Chatterton attended Providence public schools and, having early determined upon an educational career, later enrolled at Rhode Island State College, where he took the Bachelor of Science degree; Boston University, from which he was graduated with the Master of Arts … Read more

Mayor of the city of Providence, Rhode Island, since 1927, James Edward Dunne has been a well-known figure in the life of this section for many years. He has given much of his time and effort to the public service since the beginning of his active career. Mayor Dunne was born at Providence, Rhode Island, on October 3, 1882, a son of James and Mary Ellen (Reed) Dunne. His father, a veteran of the Civil War, in which he served with the First Rhode Island Cavalry, was later engaged in the grocery business at Providence. James Edward Dunne received his … Read more

Educator, lawyer, lecturer, author, and editor, Dr. Charles Carroll is well known in Rhode Island. He is a historian of established reputation, and in his busy life has had many contacts with the events of the past quarter of a century, in legal practice, in newspaper work, and as a college professor and educational administrator. Charles Carroll was born in Providence, June 8, 1876, a son of William and Mary Elizabeth (Sheehan) Carroll. His father was a newspaper printer. Dr. Carroll received his early education in his native city’s public elementary schools and at Classical High School, Providence, from which … Read more