Trails to the Past

Kent County, Rhode Island Biographies

Personal Paragraphs of East Greenwich

G - K

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

William C. Greene is a brother of Lauriston H. Greene, of East Greenwich. He was born in 1826. At the age of eighteen he learned the jeweler's trade at Providence, and in 1849 established a business there as Mathewson & Greene. Since 1866 he has been at the head of the firm now known as William C. Greene & Co.

William W. Henry was born in 1828 in South Kingstown. His father, Eben Henry, came when a young man from Sterling, Conn. William W. was raised on the farm. He was overseer of the carding room in the Centreville cotton mill some nineteen years. Within that period he bought his present home at Barton's Corners, in East Greenwich, and is now engaged in agriculture. This farm was a part of the old Christopher Vaughn property. He was married to Elizabeth M., daughter of Edmond Bagley, of Richmond, R. I. Their only son, William W., Jr., married Eva Briggs, a granddaughter of Daniel L. Briggs, and has two children-Edith and Frank B.

Abel C. Kenyon was born in Richmond, R. I., in 1811. He is a son of George, and grandson of George, who was known as " Quaker George." His mother was a Sheffield. Mr. Kenyon is a machinist by trade, and worked several years at Hope Valley, R. I. He came to East Greenwich in 1856. He married Miss Perrin, of Woodstock, Conn., and has had five children : George H., Harriet (deceased), Oliver P., Abel C, Jr., and Julia A.

Abel C. Kenyon, Jr., was born in 1846. He began business in East Greenwich as a grocer and grain dealer in June, 1874, as junior partner with John F. Knowles. Mr. Knowles retired in 1881. Mr. Kenyon's store is in the old Baptist church, which was dedicated in 1847. His business has been in this building since June, 1887.

John R. Kenyon was born in 1834. He is a son of Thomas E. Kenyon, of this town. His wife is Clara Nichols, whose father, Charles Nichols, lived and died in this town south of Mr. Kenyon's present residence, which is the Howland farm. They have four children living: John H., Frank T., Eunice N. (now Mrs. Lewis A. Walton, of Cranston), and Solomon Kenyon.

Samuel M. Knowles, cashier of the East Greenwich National Bank, was born in Westerly in 1835. His father was John T., and his grandfather Joseph M. (residents of Westerly). Mr. Knowles came here as a resident in 1861. In 1886 he became cashier of a state bank organized here. In 1864 he was elected treasurer for the town of East Greenwich, and held the office until 1887, excepting two years. He married Sarah A. Pierce, of East Greenwich.

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