KENYON, George Henry, M. D., A. M., Surgeon General of Rhode Island, was born in Providence, April 1, 1845, son of George Amos and Isabella Greene (Brown) Kenyon. On the paternal side he is of English ancestry, his American progenitors being among the early settlers of Southern Rhode Island. His maternal ancestors came from Wales, and located in the vicinity of Wickford, R. I., where Beriah Brown, the first of the family in America, settled in 1640, and twenty years later built the house now standing and still occupied by his direct descendants. Receiving his early education in the public schools, he prepared for college in a two-and-a-half-years course at the Friends' School in Providence, and entered Brown University, from which he graduated in 1864 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Subsequently he was honored with the degree of Master of Arts, conferred upon him by the same institution. Having an inclination for the profession of medicine, he gave considerable time to medical studies in the last two years of his college course, especially devoting himself to practical chemistry in the laboratory of the university. Upon leaving college he entered the office of Doctors Capron and Perry, and after a period of study there entered the Medical Department of the University of Vermont, where he graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in June 1866. Returning to Providence, he was elected a member of the Rhode Island Medical Society in the month of his graduation, and at once commenced practice in his native city, where he has since resided. Dr. Kenyon has found time in the midst of a busy life and the exacting duties of an extensive practice to devote some attention to matters outside of his profession, and he has been actively interested in social, military and general public affairs. In 1862 he enlisted as private in the Tenth Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers, and served in the Army of the Potomac for the term of his enlistment. After the war he became a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, joining Prescott Post of Providence, serving as Post Surgeon for two or three years, and later as Medical Director of the Department of Rhode Island. In the state militia he served a number of years as Surgeon of the United Train of Artillery of Providence, and resigned in 1883 to accept an appointment on the Governor's staff as Assistant Surgeon-General of Rhode Island, which position he held until May 1894, when he was elected by the Legislature Surgeon General of Rhode Island, which office he now holds. Dr. Kenyon has served as Secretary and as President of the Providence Medical Association, also as Treasurer of the Rhode Island Medical Society, and is a member of the American Medical Association. He is a prominent Mason, being a member of Rising Sun Lodge, which he has served in all the various official positions, also of Calvary Commandery Knights Templar and Rhode Island Sovereign Consistory Scottish Rite, and has held various offices in the Grand Lodge; he was Grand Master of Masons in Rhode Island for three years, 1889-92, and is now Commander-in-chief of Rhode Island Consistory Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rites. Biographie Index
MATHEWSON, Almy, proprietor of the Smithfield Granite Company, Providence, was born in Johnston, R. I., in 1842, son of Benjamin O. P. and Mehitable (Willey) Mathewson. He was educated in the public schools, learned the granite-cut-ting trade, and has been connected with the granite industry since 1877. In 1886 he came to Providence and established himself in business under the name of the Smithfield Granite Company, which has been very successful and filled many large contracts, and which has the reputation of having turned out some of the best building material ever used in the state. Among the buildings for which Mr. Mathewson has furnished granite are those of the Gorham Manufacturing Company at Elmwood, Providence Central Police Station, Brown & Sharpe Works, Merchant's Freezing and Cold Storage Company's plant, dormitory at Brown University, Corliss Steam Engine Works, bridge at Roger Williams Park, Providence Water Works, Pawtucket Water Works, Narragansett Electric Light Station and many others in and around Providence and throughout the state. Mr. Mathewson is a thoroughly practical granite mason of long experience, and possesses an accurate knowledge of all the requirements of his most exacting patrons. He furnishes estimates on and executes all classes of foundation work for buildings, stone and granite fronts, and cemetery work, also contracts for the erection of granite trimmings for buildings and the heaviest foundations. His company is noted for closely following specifications, and for performing work in the specified time and in a first-class manner. The quarry is situated at Pascoag, R. I., on the line of the New England Railroad. Mr. Mathewson is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Good Templars and the Free Baptist Church. In politics he is a Prohibitionist. He was married. May 10, 1863, to Miss Rebecca Eddy; they have six children: Herbert, Irving, Alice, Lester, Lillian and Arthur Mathewson. Biographie Index
McCLOY, John Aswould, manufacturing jeweler, Providence, was born in Newburg, New York, July 13, 1844, son of John and Jane (Gwenn) McCloy, and died in Providence, March 7, 1893. He received his early education in the public schools of Providence, graduating from the high school in May 1863, after which he took a business course in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College in that city. Following his graduation from that institution, in the latter period of the war of the Rebellion he was actively connected with the Quartermaster General's department of the state of Rhode Island. In 1865 he entered the employ of the Fall River Iron Works Company, where he remained as bookkeeper until 1870. Soon after, he engaged in the manufacturing jewelry business with his uncle, James W. Gwinn, in Providence, under the firm name of Gwinn & McClov. Mr. McClov was the market representative of the concern. which carried on a very successful business, their specialty being the manufacture of gold lockets. After a time Mr. McCloy purchased the interest of his partner and carried on the business in his own name, continuing until May 1877, when he retired from manufacturing to devote his whole time to the interests of the Manufacturing Jeweler, a weekly paper published in Providence, devoted to the interests of the jewelry trade, and of which he became Treasurer and Business Manager. Mr. McCloy was elected Major of the United Train of Artillery in May 1884, and he served four years on the School Committee of Providence. He was one of the leading spirits in the formation of the Providence Jewelers' Club, in 1879, was for two years its President and three years a member of its Executive Committee, and since then Secretary until his death in 1893, the club meanwhile, in 1883, having changed its name to the New England Manufacturing Jewelers' Association. He was one of the founders of the Manufacturing Jewelers' Board of Trade, was its first Secretary and subsequently for many years its Treasurer. He was also a member of What Cheer Masonic Lodge; Olive Branch Lodge of Odd Fellows; Sterling Division, No. 10, Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias; Sterling Lodge, Knights of Pythias; Golden Rule Lodge, Knights of Honor; Unity Council, Royal Arcanum ; What Cheer Assembly, Royal Society of Good Fellows, and Providence Lodge Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. McCloy was a very active man in both social and business life, and had many friends, by whom he was greatly missed, on account of his geniality, sociability, kindness of heart, and boundless energy, which made him the life of any company in which he mingled. He was twice married: first, November 26, 1868, to Miss Clara Wardwell, who died November 16, 1877, leaving two children : William Wardwell and John Howard McCloy; second, April 23, 1884, to Miss Elizabeth C. Chace, by whom he had one child, Beatrice McCloy. Biographie Index
MITCHELL, John Waite, M. D., Providence, was born in Norwich, Chenango county, N. Y., April 6, 1848, son of John and Caroline D. (Foote) Mitchell. He is of old New England ancestry on both sides; the Mitchell's came originally from Scotland, and his grandfather Mitchell came to New York state from Connecticut; the Foote's were also from Connecticut, and his maternal ancestor, Isaac Foote, was an officer in the Revolutionary army, and with Washington at Valley Forge, and later was a Judge in Chenango county, N. Y. John Waite Mitchell received his early education in the public schools and prepared for college at Williston Seminary, East Hampton, Mass., from which institution he graduated in 1868. He then entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York city, graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1871, and after graduation served for a time as Interne of the hospital, under Dr. James R. Wood and Dr. John J. Crane of New York as preceptors. In October 1872 he began his career as a medical and surgical practitioner in Providence, and has continued in active practice ever since. Dr. Mitchell served as Attending Surgeon of the Rhode Island Hospital Dispensary in Providence from 1873 to 1875 was Visiting Physician to the Rhode Island Hospital from 1873 to 1882, and since the latter date has been Visiting Surgeon to that institution; is Consulting Physician to St Joseph's Hospital, St. Elizabeth's Home and the Catholic Orphan Asylum; and was one of the original incorporators of the Providence Lying-in Hospital, of which he has been Consulting Physician and President of the Board of Trustees ever since. He became a member of the Providence Medical Association in 1886 and of the Rhode Island Medical Society in 1889, and is one of the most influential members of those organizations, frequently contributing valuable papers to both associations, as well as to various medical journals. In politics Dr. Mitchell is a Republican. He was married, April 15, 1875, to Miss Frances E. Mason, who died in 1876. In August 1878 he married Miss Lydia Pearce; they have one child, John Pearce Mitchell. Biographie Index
MONROE. William C, M. D., Woonsocket, was born in Woonsocket, February 21, 1850, son of Abel Collins and Rebecca (Coe) Monroe, the former of Plainfield, Conn., and the latter of Smithfield, R. I. His ancestry on the maternal side is traceable directly back to John and Priscilla Alden of the Mayflower. His early education was acquired in the public schools of his native place, and at the Friends' School in Providence, where he fitted for teaching. He taught as Grammar Master for the next five years, during which period he carried on preparations for the study of medicine. He then entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York city, graduated February 21, 1876, and entered upon the practice of his profession in Woonsocket, where he has since remained. Dr. Monroe is a member of the Rhode Island Medical Society, and has served on the staff of the Woonsocket Hospital since its establishment in 1888. He was for eight years Coroner of Woonsocket. He has also served a number of years on the School Board of that city, and as a member of the Board of Management of the Friends' School in Providence. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion a member of the Society of Friends. He was married, June 8, 1876, to Miss Carrie M., daughter of William W. Remington, of Phenix, R. I.; they have no children living. Biographie Index
OLNEY, Frank Fuller, Mayor of Providence two years, 1894-6, was born in Jersey City, N. J., March 12, 1851, son of Elam W. and Helen (Fuller) Olney. He is descended from Thomas Olney, one of the associates of Roger Williams in the settlement of Providence in 1636. The Olney family has always held a prominent place in the commercial and social life of Providence, and from it is derived the name of Olney street and of Olneyville, the principal manufacturing suburb of the city. The subject of this sketch acquired his early education in the public schools and the University Grammar School of Providence, to which city he removed at the age of nine years. At seventeen he entered mercantile life as clerk in the office of a woolen manufacturer, but after a short time abandoned this occupation to engage in the study of law, in the office of W. W. & S. T. Douglas, with the purpose of adopting that profession. But the continually increasing demands of private business interests have claimed so large a share of his time and attention that he has never engaged in professional practice. Mr. Olney has always held an active interest in military affairs, and served for three years as Commander of the First Light Infantry Veteran Association. He is also a member of the National Lancers and the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston, the Continental Guards of New Orleans, and a Captain in the Boston Light Infantry Corps. In politics he is a Republican, and has long been prominent in the public life of the city. He was a member of the City Council in 1889-90-91 and 1893, and for a number of years served as Chairman of the Republican City Committee. In 1894 he was elected Mayor of Providence, and administered the affairs of the executive office with honor to himself and credit to the city for two terms, being re-elected in 1895. Mayor Olney is a member of the Hope, Squantum, Pomham and West Side clubs of Providence, and of the Providence Athletic Association. Biographie Index
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