Providence, Rhode Island Biographies

Source: Rhode Island Men in Progress - Submitted by Marie Miller

LAPHAM, Benjamin Newell, attorney at-law, Providence, was born in Smithfield, R.I., April 28 1821, the son of Alfred and Rebecca (Newell) Lapham. He is of Rhode Island stock, the paternal grandfather being William Lapham and his maternal grandfather Benjamin Newell. He received his early education in the public schools of Burrillville, then very poor ones, until he was sixteen years of age. About that time he heard Samuel T Atwell, and eloquent lawyer, argue a case, and was so much delighted that he determined to become a lawyer. He prepared for college by studying by himself and going on horseback to Chepachet, where he recited his lessons to the late Hon. George H. Brown a part of the time and part of the time to Alfred Bosworth, then a young lawyer in office of Mr. Atwell, and afterwards one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island. He entered Brown University in 1838. After three years' study his health gave out and he lived on his father's farm for a year. He then returned to college and graduated in 1843. He studied law in the office of Samuel Y Atwell in Chepachet for a year until the death of the latter and then for a year in the office of Richard W. Greene of Providence, who was then United States District Attorney and afterwards Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the state of Rhode Island. He was admitted to the Rhode Island bar in 1845, and commenced his practice in Providence , January 1 1846. He attended sedulously to his profession and acquired a large practice. He was City Solicitor of Providence 1863-65, member of the General Assembly 1863-64 and 1880-81 of the Providence Common Council 1869-71, of the Board of Alderman 1876-82 and of the State Senate 1876-77-82-83. He was also for many years a member of the School of Committee. In politics he was a Democrat until the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for President of the United States, when he became a Republican and has remained one ever since. He married June 24 1847. Miss Sophia M. Page; they have had four children: Sophie P now wife of John D. Lewis, Julia B., Eliza B. and Louis P., all deceased except Mr. Lewis.

Source: Rhode Island Men in Progress - Submitted by Erica Beatty

LATHAM, Joseph Augustus, civil engineer, was born in Providence, December 6, 1850, son of Joseph Stanton and Jane Ellen (Bulkley) I at ham. His father was born in Windsor, Conn., and is a descendant of the William Latham whose name appears on the tablet in Pilgrims Hall, Plymouth, as one of the passengers on the Mayflower. His mother’s ancestry, the Bulkley family of Connecticut, also came to this country in the Mayflower, so that he is of the best Pilgrim stock on both sides. He received his early education in the public and private schools of Providence, and left Bryant & Stratton’s Commercial College to enter the employ of John Howe, civil engineer of Providence, with whom he studied three years, and was subsequently employed by him until together they bought a large granite ledge in Smithfield, and for two years he took full charge, getting out a large amount of granite for the city of Providence for the work about the Sockanosset pumping station. They also furnished the granite for the caps and foundation stone for the Butler Exchange, Providence. In 1873 the ledge business was sold and he entered the employ of S. B- Cushing & Co., civil engineers, of Providence, where he remained for two years, leaving to take charge of the surveying department of a real estate establishment in Providence. He remained about three years with this firm when he opened an establishment for himself in civil engineering, and has continued in the practice of his profession until the present time. He has made bridge building a specialty and erected many in the vicinity of Providence. He was chief engineer for the Pontiac Branch Railroad, until it was leased by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Company. He made a preliminary survey of the Ponegansett Railroad from Providence to Danielson, Conn. He is a Methodist, was reared in and is a member of the Matthewson Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Providence. He has been Superintendent of the Sunday School for six consecutive years, has been a trustee of the church for several years, and is a member of the building committee for the erection of a new church edifice, which will be a model as well as a novel church building. He is also a member of the building committee for the erection of the new Edgewood Methodist Episcopal Church, now in process of erection. He is a member of Harmony Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Providence Chapter and Council, of Calvary Commandery, and is a “ Shriner “ and thirty-second degree Mason. He has always been an active member of the Republican party of Cranston, and was a member of the school committee for sixteen consecutive years, holding the office of Superintendent of Schools for three years. He married, November 28, 1874, Miss Hattie K. fuller, of Simsbury, Conn.; they have four children: Hattie L., Eva J., Charles B. and Arthur B. Latham.