Trails to the Past

Kent County, Rhode Island Biographies

Personal Paragraphs of Coventry

C

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

Charles Capwell, born in 1849 in Coventry, is a son of Randall, whose father Esek, was a son of James Capwell. Mr. Capwell lived in Providence and worked at the stable business twelve years and at present works at farming. He was married in 1885 to Mary E., daughter of Nelson and Huldah Walling. Mr. Capwell is a member of Ionic Lodge, No. 28, A. F. & A. M.

David O. Capwell, born in 1838 in Coventry, is a son of Henry J., whose father was Randall Capwell. Mr. Capwell is a thrifty farmer and lives on the homestead of his grandfather. He was married in 1867 to Mary A., daughter of Daniel L. Briggs, and has two children, William B. and Mary E.

Perry G. Carr (deceased), son of William S. Carr, was born in 1828 in Exeter. He was a blacksmith by trade and worked in Anthony about thirty-eight years. He was married in 1863 to Eliza, daughter of John Nason. They have one son.

William Chace is a son of Russel and grandson of Abram Chace, who died in 1795. When but seven years of age, William began working in a mill and made millwork his business until 1853, when he retired. Since 1885 he has had charge of the tenements and outside property for O. C. Wilbur's estate.

Leonard T. Colvin was born in Scituate in 1853. His father, William R. Colvin, was born in 1815 and was married in 1836 to Chloe Matteson. He died in 1886. He was a son of Moses and he a son of Benoni Colvin. Leonard T. is unmarried and lives with his mother on the homestead farm of William R. Colvin.

Lewis B. Colvin, born in Coventry in 1857, is a son of Henry B. Colvin who was born in 1822, married in 1846 Almira W. Knight, and died in 1877. Mr. Colvin is a farmer and lives on the homestead of his father. He was married in 1882 to Lillie F., daughter of Henry Andrews. They have two children: Bertha A. and Lena M.

Burrill H. Comstock was born in 1851 in Coventry. He is a son of Cyrus, whose father, Jowel, was a son of Jonathan Comstock, who came from England. Mr. Comstock built a saw mill in 1887 near Coventry Centre; he deals in lumber, ties and wood. He was married in 1873.

Abel Cornell, born in 1820 in Coventry, is a son of Dutee. He is a farmer and very pleasantly situated between Washington and Coventry Centre. He was married in 1848, and his wife died in 1871, leaving one son, Henry D.

Albert H. Cornell, born in 1836 in Coventry, is a son of John J., and grandson of Benjamin Cornell. Mr. Cornell is a wheelwright by trade. He was in the war of the rebellion three years as wheelwright in Company B, First Rhode Island light artillery. He has worked at carpentry some. He worked on repairs for the Peckham Manufacturing Company two years. In June, 1884, he took the store at Summit, succeeding Giles M. Nichols. He was married in 1856 to Lucy J. Brand, and has four children : John J., who was married in 1879 to Mary E. Tillinghast; Albert H., Ella F., now Mrs. Henry W. Congdon ; and Jane A., who died aged 6 years. Mr. Cornell is a member of Hope Lodge, No. 4, I. O. of O. F., and a member of the Summit Grange, No. 15, Patrons of Husbandry.

Charles W. Cornell, born in 1841 in Coventry, is a son of Ira, whose father was Captain Benjamin Cornell. Mr. Cornell has been boss farmer for the Quidnick Company two years, and for the Greene Manufacturing Company of River Point three years. He was in the civil war three years, in Company D, Fourth Rhode Island Battery, and aboard a man of war two years. He was married in 1866 to Sarah Matteson, and has one son-Herbert E. Mr. Cornell is a member of Washington Lodge, No. 11, I. O. of O. F.

William P. Cruff was born in 1847 in Coventry. His father. Henry A. Cruff, was a son of Thomas Cruff. Mr. Cruff has worked for Byron Read since 1872, making coffins and repairing furniture. He was a house carpenter three years prior to 1872. He was married in 1865 to Mercelia, daughter of Thomas Watson. He is a member of Anthony Lodge, No. 21, I. O. of O. F.

Cushing & Gerard established a partnership and began business in August, 1882, in the market part of the Quidnick store. In 1884 they built a small store where they are now located, and in 1886 and 1887 they enlarged the building. They deal in dry goods, groceries, clothing, furniture and house furnishing goods, stoves, crockery, hay, coal and wood. Samuel J. Gerard was born at Crompton in 1856, and was married in 1877 to Etta V. Cushing. She died in 1884, and he was married again in 1886 to Lelia Matteson. He is a member of Manchester Lodge,. No. 12, A. F. and A. M. Joseph H. Cushing was born in 1851, and was married in 1881 to Anna E. Reynolds.

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