Washington County Biographies

Personal Paragraphs of Exeter

T - W

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


Olney Tanner, born in 1820 in West Greenwich, is a son of William and grandson of Stillman Tanner. His mother was Sarah, daughter of Noah Parker, whose father was Stephen Parker. Mr. Tanner is a farmer. He built the house where he now lives in 1860. He is one of eight children, three of whom are now living. In 1840 he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Nathan Palmer, son of Stephen Palmer. They have had four children : Mary E. (deceased), Dorcas Ann (Mrs. Henry Austin), Ambrose O. (deceased), and Susan Abbie, now Mrs. Joseph T. Hopkins, of Coventry.

 

James Tefft, born in 1809 in Richmond, is a son of Thomas, who was a son of Thomas Tefft. His mother was Lucy, daughter of George Tefft. Mr. Tefft is a farmer and owns the same farm that his father owned at one time, a good many years ago. He has owned it since 1867. He was married in 1842 to Olive, daughter of Othenial Wilcox. They have had twelve children, eleven of whom are now living.

 

Franklin P. Tefft, born in 1852, is a son of James, whose father, Thomas, was a son of Thomas Tefft. His mother is Olive, daughter of Othenial Wilcox. Mr. Tefft is a farmer, and built the house where he now lives in 1881. In 1880 he was married to Sarah F., daughter of Seth W. Terry. They have three children : Silas F., Melissa J. and Cora. Mr. Tefft has been a member of the West Kingstown Agricultural Society about twelve years.

 

George A. Thomas, born in 1840 in North Kingstown, is a son of William A., whose father Coggeshall, was son of George, and he a son of John Thomas. His mother is Betsey, daughter of William Brown. Mr. Thomas received most of his education in the district schools, and attended Greenwich Academy a short time. He is a farmer and has taught thirteen winter terms of school, beginning at the age of twenty-two. He was elected to the legislature in 1885, 1886 and 1888. He has been on the school committee about twelve years, and superintendent of schools about six years. He has been town auditor and assessor of taxes several years. He was married in 1865 to Harriet F., daughter of Amos Whitford. They have three children: Francis W., Roy E. and Myra A. He is a member of the Exeter Grange, No. 12, P. of H., and a member of the Seventh Day Advent church of Slocumville. His father William A., was captain of the state militia at one time.

 

John Tillinghast, born in 1836 in Exeter, is a son of William B. and grandson of Job H. Tillinghast. His mother was a daughter of Richard Vaughn. Mr. Tillinghast is a carpenter and has worked at that trade about ten years. He has been superintendent of the Millville Mill for David L. Aldrich about sixteen years. He was married in 1867 to Abbie E., daughter of George T. Collins. He was in the war of the rebellion thirty-nine months in the Third Rhode Island Volunteers.

 

William B. Tillinghast, born in 1835 in Exeter, is a brother of John Tillinghast mentioned above. Mr. Tillinghast has been superintendent of David L. Aldrich's print works at Arcadia about seventeen years. Prior to that he was superintendent at Millville about five years. He is a carpenter, having worked at that trade about seven years. He was married in 1856 to Julia, daughter of Charles Thompson, and has two sons, George E. and Frank W., living, and one, Charles, that died aged five years. He was a member of the general Assembly in 1874, 1875 and 1879, and has been on the school committee several years.

 

George H. C. Watson, born in 1836 in North Kingstown, is a son of Thomas C, whose father, Robert, was a son of Benjamin Watson. His mother was Ruth, daughter of Benjamin and Ruth Northup. Robert Watson's wife was Amy, daughter of Thomas Champlin. Mr. Watson is a farmer and occupies the homestead where his father, Thomas C, lived from 1839 until his death in 1877. Mrs. Watson is still living in her 86th year, with George H. C. He is one of six children, three of whom are living. He is a republican. Thomas C. Watson was a stone mason by trade. He was in the war of 1812.

 

Stephen B. Weeden, son of Samuel L. and Phebe Weeden and grandson of Anthony Weeden, was born in East Greenwich in 1821. Samuel L. Weeden was lost at sea when about thirty-three years old. Mr. Weeden has lived on his present farm since 1851, and built the house in which he now lives in 1854. He has been senator two years, member of the town council a number of terms, collector of taxes several years, overseer of poor fifteen years, and town moderator five years. He was married in 1845 to Dorcas, daughter of Benjamin, son of Benjamin Dawley. They have three children: Samuel L., Harriet F. (deceased), who was Mrs. Charles F. Brown, and Charles H.

 

John W. Whitford was born in 1829 in Exeter. He is a son of Samuel S., whose father, Amos Whitford, was married twice. His second wife, Molly, daughter of " Molasses " Pardon Tilling-hast, was the grandmother of John W. His mother is Clarissa, daughter of Amos Mowry. Mr. Whitford is a farmer, owning and occupying the homestead of his father. The house where he lives was built by his father in the fall of 1828. He is one of seven children, three of whom are now living. He was married in 1856 to Mercy T., daughter of Charles Wilcox. She is also connected with the Tillinghasts. They have six children: Anna G., Mrs. Jonathan N. Arnold; Mary T., wife of Lewis F. Whipple; Clarissa, now Mrs. Svlvester R.Gardiner; Abbie F., Hannah T. and Samuel S.

 

Joseph L. Wightman was born in 1818 in Connecticut. He is a son of Reverend John, whose father. Reverend George, was a son of Reverend Timothy, whose father, Valentine, was a son of George, who came from England. His mother, Bridget, is a daughter of Reverend Rufus Allen. Mr. Wightman has given some attention to agriculture all his life. He was ordained as a Baptist preacher in 1859. He was the pastor of " Frenchtown " Baptist church about four years, and has been pastor of several churches in Washington county. He was married in 1843 to Sarah M. Latham. She died in 1844, and he was married in 1854 to Laura Tefft, who died in 1879.

 

John T. Willcox was born in 1852 in Exeter. His father and grandfather were both named Noah Willcox. His mother is Mary, daughter of Samuel W. Sherman. She was married in 1838 to Noah Willcox. They have had six children, four of whom are living. John T. Willcox is a farmer, occupying the homestead of his father and grandfather, his father having died in 1883.

 

 

 

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