Topic: Biographies

One of the well-known residents of Woonsocket is Charles Nourse Cook, president of the Woonsocket Institution for Savings, who has been identified with the banking interests of that city for more than thirty years. He was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, March 28, 1872, son of Theodore M., who was cashier of the Producers National Bank and treasurer of the Producers Savings Bank for many years, and Mary Adelaide (Nourse) Cook. After attending the public schools of his native city Mr. Cook enrolled as a student in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, at Boston, Massachusetts, where he completed his course … Read more

Samuel E. Hudson, editor and publisher of “The Woonsocket Call,” Woonsocket, Rhode Island, who is well known in the newspaper fraternity in New England, was born at Coventry, Rhode Island, March 12, 1870, and is a son of Mrs. Elizabeth (Austin) Hudson and the late Marinus Willett Hudson. Marinus W. Hudson, who died in 1919, was in early life a mill superintendent and later was associated with the business department of “The Evening Call,” now “The Woonsocket Call.” After finishing his studies at the Woonsocket High School, Mr. Hudson, in 1887, started to work at the stationery store, in Woonsocket, … Read more

A native of Nova Scotia, Mr. Mackenzie has been a resident of Rhode Island for many years, having come here as a young man in 1885. Neil D. Mackenzie was born in Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada, July 27, 1863, a son of Neil and Margaret (Martin) Mackenzie. Both his parents were born in Scotland, from which country they came to Nova Scotia during their early youth. Here they were married and spent the balance of their lives engaged in farming. Neil D. Mackenzie came to the United States as previously mentioned, in 1885, and for a short time was … Read more

Becoming connected with the public school system of the town of Burrillville, Providence County, almost immediately after he had completed his education in the schools and colleges of his native State, Maine, Mr. Sweeney served as the principal of Burrillville High School for five years, and has been superintendent of schools since 1910. In this capacity he has proven himself a very able teacher and educational administrator, and has gained, to a remarkable degree, the respect and goodwill of pupils, teachers, and parents. Naturally, he is regarded as one of the useful and representative members of the community, to the … Read more

A native and, with the exception of several years of his youth spent in Woonsocket, a life-long resident of the town of Burrillville, Mr. Goldrick as a young man, served as assistant postmaster and since 1924 has been postmaster of Pascoag, Burrillville Township. A veteran of the World War, he is a member of several military organizations and he also takes an active interest in fraternal and religious affairs. Thomas D. Goldrick was born in the town of Burrillville, Providence County, March 30, 1895, a son of Dennis and Catherine (Pendergast) Goldrick. Both his parents were natives of Rhode Island, … Read more

Since June 8, 1928, Rev. Francis J. Wilk has been actively building up the resources of St. Hedwig’s Church of Providence, Rhode Island. St. Hedwig’s parish, which has a Polish membership of about one thousand souls, was organized in 1916. In that year the old Church of the Redeemer, located on North Main Street, was purchased as a place of worship for the newly-formed parish and Father Dutkiewicz was made the first pastor. The task of organizing and laying firm foundations for the future growth and development of St. Hedwig’s was vigorously undertaken and splendidly carried to completion by the … Read more

For forty-four years George H. Corliss was a resident of Providence, where he invented and developed the steam engine that today is known throughout the civilized world by the name of its creator. He has been named as the man who did more for the development of the steam engine than any other individual in the history of the country. His fame was world-wide and his activities throughout his life were devoted to this one purpose. His loss to the commercial world was irreparable and language unequal to expressing the void that was created in inventive circles when he passed. … Read more

President and treasurer of the Brown and Sharpe Manufacturing Company, of which his father was one of the founders, Henry D. Sharpe came to this business as a young man and later succeeded to executive control. Under his guidance the high standards of excellence always associated with the company name have been carefully maintained, while the varied mechanical product has found even wider sale in the markets of the world. The Sharpe family is one of the older families of New England, Robert Sharp, the American progenitor, coming from England to Massachusetts in 1635, and settling at Brookline. His descendants … Read more