>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 327. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. CHAPTER X. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES – WESTERLY. Rowse Babcock. – The Chapman Family. – Peleg Clarke. – Benjamin F. Clark. – Charles B. Coon. – Calvert B. Cottrell. – Amos Cross. – Daniel F. Larkin. – Azro N. Lewis. – Jonathan Maxson. – Charles Maxson. – Charles Perry. – James Monroe Pendleton. – Eugene B. Pendleton. – Thomas Wells Potter. – Joseph H. Potter. – William D. Potter. – Thomas Wanton Segar. – Orlando Smith. – Orlando R. Smith. – Thomas V. Stillman. – Thomas Vincent. – Wager Weeden. – John E. Weeden. ROWSE BABCOCK was born in May, 1803. He was the eldest son of Rowse and Hannah Babcock. He was educated in the local schools of Westerly. In the early part of his business life he was engaged in miscellaneous retail trade, but fortunately for himself and for his country his ambition soon outgrew that limited sphere, and of more than forth years the industrial history of Westerly, without the conspicuous name of Rowse Babcock, would be the play of Hamlet with the part of Hamlet left out. He commenced the manufacture of woolen goods at Niantic, in Westerly, in 1830, and accordingly was one of the pioneers in that business. He was by no means a timid man, but exceedingly cautious. He began in a very small way, so small that he was himself afterward much amused at the anxiety he had over the few looms he was running. But when he boldly started up a few more at Ashaway his father told him his "failure was only a question of time." But Mr. Babcock's business, as well as personal, character had one solid foundation to rest on and that was his clear headed and strong common sense. There was nothing imaginative or visionary about him. In 1834 the White Rock Company was formed, Mr. Babcock taking two-thirds of the stock, which was before owned by parties in Providence. It was the purchase of a part of this property before which led to the formation of the partnership between Rowse Babcock and Jesse L. Moss, which continued with the [328] happiest results during Mr. Babcock's life. They were both of them preparing to purchase the property, but wisely decided to unite in the purchase and avoid competition. This became one of the most distinguished firms in the state, doing a large business, with a credit as undoubted as the Bank of England. The property at Stillmanville on the east side of the river belonged to Babcock & Moss, and these two establishments constituted all the manufacturing property in the village of Westerly at that time. They turned out between two and three million yards of plaid linseys a year. In 1849 the White Rock cotton mill was built by this firm. It was and is now one of the finest mill estates in New England. It will be seen that Mr. Babcock not only furnished the largest part of the capital which sustained the business of Westerly, but was himself an active worker in the business, for which he was by nature admirably fitted. Always cool, deliberate and self-possessed, no man could ever tell by his appearance whether he was making or losing money. Being always absorbed in his business and a favorite in his father's family, he did not marry early in life. But when he came to it, he did it as he did everything else, judiciously. In 1852 he married Miss Mary Townsend, of Newport, daughter of Solomon and Ann Pearce Townsend; a lady of superior culture and refinement, who made him an attractive and happy home during the last twenty years of his laborious and useful life. Notwithstanding his large and constant business cares, Mr. Babcock devoted a reasonable part of his time and money to the improvement of the village, especially the churches and schools. In regard to Mr. Babcock's Christian character, I am happy to be able to quote a much better and competent authority than my own. In an address delivered at the funeral of Mr. Rowse Babcock by Bishop Clark, of Rhode Island, he said: "The relation which Mr. Babcock sustained to this community as a citizen was very peculiar. No man living, no man who has ever lived, is so identified with the welfare and prosperity of the town of Westerly, and has done so much to advance its best interests as he. Blessed by a kind Providence in his temporal affairs, he has not, as so many rich men have done, sought only for those investments which would yield him the largest pecuniary profit, but he has used his means to advance the general good of society, and contributed generously to every object which commended [329] itself to his judgment and consideration. Singularly kind to those who were in his employ, and always ready to promote their best good, he has attached them to himself by the strongest bonds of respect and affection; and to-day they mourn the loss of their best friend. At an age when such an example is sorely needed, he has stood forth as a conspicuous illustration of the loftiest integrity and honor; no man ever suspected him of questionable practices; no man ever doubted his integrity. The heaviest blow that could have fallen upon the business prosperity of Westerly has come upon it in the loss of his worth, and the sweetness and evenness of his temper was such as to disarm opposition. You who have lived with him here day by day are more competent to express his goodness than I am, and I feel that it is not possible for me to do justice to his merits. The Christian character of our departed friend has been equally conspicuous and pure. The loss which the church in this place and the whole diocese has sustained by his death is irreparable. Prompt in the discharge of every duty, liberal in his benefactions, an example to believers in every good word and work, consistent in his walk and conversation, reproducing – as far as a frail mortal may – the life of Christ, he was invaluable to us in his relation to the church, of which he was a member. He was not of an excitable temperament, and his religion was not of an emotional type, but it was symmetrical, well balanced, genuine and earnest. You knew that it could be trusted, and that in any emergency his faith would not fail him. His trust in the Lord Jesus was absolute and firm. While his doctrinal views were generous and broad, they were also clearly defined and scriptural. He made no parade of his piety, and talked little of his inward experiences; but he lived the Sermon on the Mount." During the late war Mr. Babcock was requested by some of our leading citizens to represent his town in the legislature; to which he consented, "provided there should be no political squabble about it." He was elected by the unanimous vote of all parties. He was the colleague of the writer of this notice. He was diffident and unobtrusive, and spoke but little. But his views and opinions were always conservative and sound. He had great influence in the house, especially in financial affairs. Mr. Babcock had no children, but no man in town took a greater interest in our schools, and no other man did or perhaps was able [330] to do as much for the general education of the people as he did. Fifty years ago the state and towns did not appropriate money enough to run the common schools the year through. Mr. Babcock suggested that the schools in the village be continued through the year, and the tuition of those whose parents might be supposed to feel it inconvenient to pay, he paid by a private subscription, himself leading with a very liberal contribution. This made the schools practically free, and was continued for several years. To give a detailed account of all the acts of Mr. Babcock's active life would be incompatible with the limits of the work for which this sketch is written. But the facts given will enable us to grasp the character of the man. Mr. Babcock's mind was not distorted by the preternatural development of any one faculty, and the consequent deficiency of others. He had a strong mind, and it was equally strong in its component parts, in its reasoning powers. It was the source of his unerring judgment in his own business, and the affairs of the state and the community. In short, he had as much of the wisdom derived from the gifts of nature as any man in the state. Mr. Babcock died in March, 1872, and no man in this or any other country has left a more honorable and unsullied record than Rowse Babcock.