from "Printers and Printing in Providence, 1762 - 1907" prepared by a committee of Providence Typographical Union #33 as a souvenir of the 50th anniversary of its institution printed in 1907 "The Journeymen" (part 150) p. LXVI - LXVII. "CHARLES HENRY PARTRIDGE - Born Franklin, Mass., April, 1860; died (suicide) Woonsocket, R. I., April 11, 1903; began to learn printing in Franklin about 1876; initiated into Providence Union Feb. 27, 1887. His father, G. I. Partridge, of Franklin, wrote: 'The reason of his death, or why he took his life, will always remain a mystery. He had worked in the offices of the Woonsocket Reporter nearly five years, was always steady, and received a good salary.' WILLIAM J. PASSMORE - Committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor in this city Oct. 10, 1895, owing to despondency caused by illness; he was initiated into Providence Union May 31, 1895, and had worked in various job offices here. ALFRED W. PEARCE - In 1857 worked at 24 Westminster street; lived in Pawtucket; name in list of members in 1865 constitution. BENJAMIN W. PEARCE - Born Swansea, Mass., April 9, 1819; died Newport, R.I., April 15, 1904. From his eighth to his eighteenth year he was employed in a Fall River factory; then he was apprenticed to the printing business in the office of the Fall River Patriot. Without finishing his apprenticeship, he came to Providence in August, 1837, and entered the employ of Knowles, Vose & Co., at $3 per week. His work was printing lottery tickets on a hand press. At the end of six months he went to New York city to work as a 'two-thirder.' No man in the office would correct his first proof for the price it would bring. While in New York Mr. Pearce started the Sunday School Monitor probably the first Sunday school paper published in America. He did all the work on it himself, but it was not successful, and he returned to Fall River, working along the shore for two years. In June, 1840, he went to Pawtucket, where, in partnership with Elder Tappan H. Bacheller, he printed the 'Christian Soldier,' occupying all positions from devil to assistant editor. Later he published a weekly temperance paper called 'Sparkling Fountain.' In its columns he waged a bitter warfare against liquor selling. He was repeatedly threatened with bodily harm, and one night his type was thrown into the Blackstone river. In 1843 he sold out his business and accepted the position of foreman in the office of Ray Potter & Son. In June, 1852, Mr. Pearce went to Boston to work in the office of J. E. Farwell & Co. While in their employ he occupied the dual position of editor and foreman of a weekly political paper through two political campaigns. Here Mr. Pearce acquired the rare accomplishment of putting his thoughts into type without having previously written them. Standing at the 'case,' apparently engaged in the manual occupation of typesetting, ideas flowed from his fingers in lead, as in the case of others from a penpoint, in ink. This practice he followed thereafter. The fall of 1856 found Mr. Pearce in Providence again, at work in the office of A. Crawford Greene. April 3, 1857, in company with Noel A. Tripp, he started the Fall River Daily Evening Star, the first daily paper in that city. The Star suspended March 27, 1858. He went to Biddeford, Me., for a month, and then entered the employ of George T. Hammond, publisher of the Newport Daily News, to have charge of its local department. In 1861 he entered the employ of the Providence Evening Press as their Newport local and marine correspondent, in which capacity he continued for 25 years, during which time he was elected Harbor Master for eight years. In 1886, when he was 67 years of age, he started the Newport Enterprise, and continued its publication 11 years, when failing health compelled him to abandon the work. For this paper he was editor, reporter, typesetter, office boy, pressman, printer's 'devil,' poet, advertising agent, bill collector, manager and newsboy. His poems have been collected and printed in a small volume, and he also printed a book, 'Recollections of a Long and Busy Life,' probably doing all the work himself. ROBERT M. PEARSE - Born Rehoboth, Mass., Oct. 21, 1803; learned printing in the office of Miller & Hutchens, Providence, beginning in 1819. While an apprentice he set some of the type for the first number of the Journal in 1820. After his apprenticeship he worked in this city, Boston, Cambridge, New Bedford and Taunton, varying his work at printing with two attempts at farming. In 1863 he entered the job office of Knowles, Anthony & Co., and continued until 1876, when sickness compelled him to leave his 'case.' From Feb. 13, 1877 until his death, Dec. 8, 1886, he was the oldest printer in the State. [illustration: Robert M. Pearse.] continued in part 151.