Trails to the Past

Kent County, Rhode Island Biographies

Personal Paragraphs of Warwick

V - Y

Source: The History of Washington & Kent Counties
Written by J. R. Cole published in 1889 by W. W. Preston & Co.

Samuel J. Vickery was born in Bristol, R. I., in 1816. He learned the cooper's trade and made several voyages as cooper on whale ships. He made fifteen voyages to the West Indies in merchant vessels. He was three years in Cuba as superintendent of a cooper's business for Israel Thorndyke, of Newport. In 1842 he purchased, in the northeastern part of Warwick, the homestead part of the Simon Smith allotment in the Pawtuxet tract, and has since improved and beautified it and its surroundings. In 1888 he laid out Silver Hook park, eight acres on the river, which he has liberally opened and set apart as a summer breathing place. Mrs. Vickery is a daughter of Captain Samuel Phillips, of Bristol, R. I. The old residence of Simon Smith, with the date 1711 cut in its frame, is now a part of Mr. Vickery's residence.

Daniel Warner was born in 1824. His father was James Warner, son of William, and grandson of John Warner, who was a descendant of John Warner, once town clerk of Warwick and secretary of the house of deputies of the colony. James Warner' died in July, 1877, aged 99, being then the oldest Mason in Rhode Island. Daniel Warner was engaged in the River Point Company store for thirty-three years as clerk, book-keeper or superintendent. In 1881 he bought a part of the old Rice farm. He was a republican member of the town council for two years. His wife (deceased) was Amy, daughter of William Hall.

Isaac Walker was born in Coventry in 1828. About the year 1630 a Widow Walker and her sons, Philip and James, came from England and settled in Rehoboth (East Providence), Mass. Mrs. Walker is named in 1643 as one of the first owners of Rehoboth. Her son Philip died in 1679. His son Philip was the father of Philip Walker, whose son Joseph was a soldier in the revolutionary war. He settled at Summit, R. I., in 1767. Joseph's son Stephen (1767-1833) had a son, Ezekiel Walker, father of Isaac. In 1870 Isaac Walker came to River Point, where he still lives, engaged as a contractor in mason work. He built by contract the Crompton mill, and rebuilt the Phenix and Hope mills. Since 1876 he has had charge of most of the mason work at the State farm. Isaac Walker's first wife was Maria, daughter of Corey Matteson. She died, leaving two sons, Byron and Ezra M., both masons. Isaac Walker's second wife, Mary E., was a sister of his first wife. She also died, leaving two children, Elmer E. (now an architect in Boston) and a daughter, Mrs. Lucian Searle.

Lewis Walker was born in Coventry in 1838. He is a son of Ezekiel Walker, whose father, Stephen, was a son of Joseph, and grandson of Philip Walker. Mr. Walker's business was that of carpenter and builder, at which he worked when he removed to Clyde in 1867. In 1884 he opened a general hardware store here. He is now located in the Pike block. His wife is a daughter of Sheldon Briggs, of Coventry. They have two children—Lewis M. and Mary F. Walker.

Ezra M. Walker, son of Isaac Walker, was born in 1856. His mother (deceased) was Maria, daughter of Corey Matteson. In early life he learned his father's trade and worked with him. He had charge of building the brick work at Natick Mills for B. B. & R. Knight. He is now foreman of the mason work at the State farm. He has been a contractor for eight years. His wife, Mary, is a daughter of Lucian Searle (deceased), of Warwick. They have one son, Howard, who is of the tenth generation of Walkers who have lived in New England.

James E. Whitford, born in 1822, is a son of Joshua, and grandson of Thomas. Mr. Whitford worked in a mill from the time he was twelve years old until he was forty. He has lived here and been a farmer about nineteen years. In 1842 he was married to Sarah A., daughter of David Johnson. Their children are: Edward N., E. A., Mary H. (Mrs. Thomas H. Thurston), James H., and John Charles, who is in California. In politics Mr. Whitford is a republican. He has been a member of the First Baptist church of Crompton about twenty-three years.

Oliver A. Wickes was born in 1820. His father, Stukely, was a son of Stukely and grandson of Benjamin Wickes. Mr. Wickes spent several years as a sailor, was in California three years, and built the house where he now lives in 1855. He is a farmer. He was married about 1858. His wife died, and he married again in 1878. He has four children : Alma W., Mary L., William S. and Edward S.

Henry J. Wightman, son of Samuel W., grandson of George and great-grandson of Colonel George Wightman, was born in 1816. Samuel W. Wightman was a cabinet-maker in Pawtuxet. His father, George, was a farmer on Quidnessett Neck, in North Kingstown. Colonel George Wightman was a resident of this colony before the revolution, and left the colony to take a commission in the British army, and died in London. Mrs. Henry J. Wightman is Ann M., daughter of James and grand daughter of John Harris, of Cranston, R. I. They have three living children : Maria A., Albert H. and Walter W. Their oldest son, James Harris, is deceased.

Oliver C. Williams was born in North Providence in 1822. He is a descendant of Roger Williams. His home was in Massachusetts until he was about twenty-seven years old. In 1849 he went to California and remained there for four years. His business for the last thirty years has been putting in electrical apparatus. He has charge of all the electric lines, including fire and telephone lines connecting the state farm with Providence. Mrs. Williams is a daughter of Randall Carder, who was one of the pillars of the democratic party here. He was a descendant of Richard Carder, one of the twelve who purchased this town. His name was one of the ten in the original deed from Miantonomi. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have two daughters, twins, Ada S. (Mrs. Elihu Brownell, of Providence) and Ida D. (Mrs. George W. Pearce, of Hillsgrove).

Louis Windsor was born in Smithfield, R. I., in 1869. He was educated in the public schools and at the Lapham Institute at Springfield, and subsequently taught a few terms. He worked several years for the Providence, D. B. & C. Company, and became their assistant superintendent. Since 1885 he has managed the farm property in Warwick for the Nicholas Brown estate.

Gilbert H. Wood was born at Exeter, R. I., in 1852. He is a son of Henry G. and a grandson of Joab Wood, of Coventry. He was associated with the acid works at West Greenwich about five years. He came to Natick Hill ten years ago, and five years later bought the Elisha Brown farm, where he still resides. His brother is pastor of the Baptist church at Natick. He was married in 1871 to Harriet M. Straight. They have one son, Edgar A., a boy of ten years.

Charles H. Young was born in Burrillville, R. I., in 1837. He has lived in River Point since 1852. He was overseer in the cotton mills until about 1866, and has since worked as carpenter in constructing buildings to let as tenements. In 1875 he bought a plot of land at River Point and laid out twenty-four building lots. On one of these in the following year he erected his present residence, and upon the others he has built substantial houses, which he rents. This portion of the town is called Youngstown. Its principal street bears also the name of the proprietor. Mr. Young has been police, constable and auctioneer, and has held other offices in the town. He has been a member of the school board nine years.

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