Trails to the Past

Kent County, Rhode Island Biographies

Personal Paragraphs of West Greenwich

F - R

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

Dexter B. Frye was born in 1838 in West Greenwich. He is a son of Benjamin, whose father, Joseph, was a son of Thomas Frye. Mr. Frye is a farmer, and lives on the farm that his uncle, Samuel Frye, formerly owned. The latter was a cooper by trade, and spent several years of his life at whale fishing, visiting the West Indies several times. He died about 1863. Mr. Frye was married in 1865, and has one daughter, Mary L., now Mrs. Horace B. Matteson. They had one son, Charles D., who died aged thirteen years.

John W. Howard, son of Ephraim and grandson of Captain John Howard, was born in 1836 in West Greenwich. He has been a member of the town council four years. He was married in 1859 to Elizabeth M. Wood, who died in 1884, leaving four children : Anna E., Frank W., Walter E. and Clarinda. He was married again in 1887 to Hannah E., daughter of William C. Sweet and granddaughter of Reverend Pentecost Sweet. She graduated from the Boston Training School for Nurses in 1880 and practiced until her marriage in 1887. Pentecost Sweet was in the war of 1812. He was married in Rhode Island to Eliza Fairman. They removed to Pennsylvania about 1819, where they spent the rest of their lives.

Benjamin W. Kettelle, born in 1834 in West Greenwich, is a son of Samuel, whose father Silas was a son of Edward Kettelle. His mother was a Spencer and his grandmother was Margaret Tarbox of East Greenwich. Mr. Kettelle is a farmer living on the homestead of his father near Carr's pond, in the eastern part of the town. He has taught school. He pays some attention to the raising of fruit. He has been a member of the town council, and one of the board of assessors six years. He was married in 1860 to Mary A. Spencer of East Greenwich, daughter of Benjamin Spencer. They have eight children: Samuel, S. Grant, Minnie I., Geneva B., Louis G., Benjamin E. and Mary E., twins, and one that died in infancy.

Samuel Kettelle, oldest son of Benjamin W., was born in 1861 in West Greenwich. Pie is collector of taxes and road surveyor. He was married in 1882 to Phebe, daughter of William H., granddaughter of Simon and great-granddaughter of Amos Reynolds.

Dorcas W. Matteson is a daughter of Benoni, son of David, son of David, son of Josiah Matteson. Her mother was Alice, daughter of Colonel Edward Barber, of Hopkinton. Her grandmother, Edward Barber's wife, was Phebe (Tillinghast) Barber, daughter of Thomas Tillinghast, a descendant of Elder Pardon Tillinghast. Miss Matteson lives with her father, Benoni, on the farm where her great-great-grandfather, Josiah, first settled. Benoni Matteson was born in 1798 in West Greenwich. He was married in 1829 to Alice Barber, who was born in 1807. They have three daughters : Phebe, who married William Tanner, who died in the war of the rebellion ; Eunice, now Mrs. R. L. Waite, of Providence, and Dorcas W.

James Rathbun, son of Robert and grandson of John, was born in 1847 in East Greenwich. He lived in East Greenwich until about 1870, then in Coventry about sixteen years, and has lived in West Greenwich two years. He owns about four hundred acres of land. He was married in 1869 to Melissa D. Capwell. Their children are: Elmer J., James E., Frank E.. and Fred. B.

John W. Rathbun, born in 1851 in North Kingstown, is a son. of John A. (Nathan D, John, John, Samuel, Thomas, John). John Rathbun settled at Block Island near the middle of the seventeenth century. Mr. Rathbun is a farmer, and has taught school about twenty terms. He bought a farm on the Pike road near the Exeter line in 1883, where he now resides. He has been a member of the school committee six years, school superintendent four years, and trial justice four years. He was married in 1874 to Lydia F., daughter of William Palmer. They have three children.

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