1860-1870

OK, unedited, not spell checked, and raw.  Chrispy warts and all, here are the years 1860-1870.   I did this about 2 January 2012, and have not revisited it since.  Just no time, gentle readers.  So DO NOT USE this as gospel.  Use it only for a sounding board for your research, and fact check everything you see.

I have temporarily removed all illustrations as I just don't have time to fix the html issues with them.

- 23 July 2013, Chrispy.

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Lovecraft's Grandfather: The Business Career of Whipple van Buren Phillips

1860 to 1870: Years of Prosperity

Introduction

Previously the rise of Whipple V. Phillips from being an orphan to establishing a solid business as a grocer was covered. From Foster to a small crossroads outside of Coventry seemed to be a bold move, but he was married, growing a family, and eyeing opportunities under the auspices of Squire G Wood who rented to WVP. Coffin's Road was reasonably obscure, but situated in exactly the correct place for the Hartford, Providence, and Fishkill Railroad to stop for a refueling. Timber and coal was plenteous, and an easy load to take into the Providence depot for resale. By 1861, the war would begin and more opportunities would come.

An Amazing Meteor: 20 July 1860

One suspects that the 4 July 1860 celebration in Greene would have had its share of lively fireworks and fun.  On the evening of 20 July 1860, a spectacular meteor blasted through the air over the Great Lakes and as it sped past the Atlantic coast, it sailed back out into space.  This was an unexpected air show, and stunned all who saw it.  The newspapers across the nation were filled with reports.  For more on this meteor event, see the blog entry here.

The Civil War Years

Of the 1860's, little is preserved about the Phillips family. A number of inferences and logical conclusions can be conjectured, however. The first is that by all evidence, Whipple Phillips who was 27 years old when the war broke out, did not serve a day in reserves or the war. There is no evidence that he had a commission, nor that there was ever any pressure brought to bear. In later years, not a hint of scandal over this absence was uttered by individuals who only lauded his work in Moosup and Pawtuxet Valleys. It did not affect his later election in the legislature or any appointments he received on committees. He likely paid for a replacement conscript.

WVP was pro-Union. We know this not only from his location in Rhode Island, but his later arguments when his grandson, H. P. Lovecraft, decided he was pro-Confederacy about thrity-five years after the fact. WVP was pro-Business, and more than likely staunchly pro-Lincoln. He was a republican from the first day he could be a republican at the formation of the party. He was likely anti-slavery as an opinion, but most likely held no enlightened viewpoint. If there were blacks in western Rhode Island, no evidence by this writer has yet surfaced for these early years. If he followed common morality, he would have considered blacks and Native Americans as only partially human, a type of primitive or savage. Would he have honored their rights to vote or hold office – maybe. Theodore Roosevelt was as liberated and progressive a thinker as the party had in that era. He worked hard for civil rights, but privately held the conviction that American blacks were of a wholly different race and had to be gingerly introduced into Caucasian society. One might consider this a paternalistic viewpoint.

WVP was deeply Christian, but in a social not overt manner. He would not have been found preaching any particular gospel, unless is was a Congregationalist view. As a Mason, he would have believed in one God, and Jesus, and that one day he would either be in Heaven or that through some means an apocalyptic revelation would occur. He was never Baptist – parting company with his wife, Robie – and would have equally shunned Shakers, or other cultish figures. Yet he was a life long advocate of temperance. His medical opinions were probably already formed, and enlightened without a shred of superstition and included wholistic medical practices of balanced diets, and so forth.

All this said, it underlies that he would not have been pro-slavery. There is no evidence to believe he overtly reached out to free slaves, or support an Underground Railroad. Had a black, ethnic, or Native been thrust upon him, he would have given them medical aid, educated them, and may have given them work. He likely would not have sought them out.

Further searching may prove these statements incorrect, but let us say that if there were blacks in western Rhode Island they were considered by the population to be free, but unable to vote, and unable to have most civil liberties we might consider today - other than earning some small payment for any services. They would have to have mostly kowtowed to any wishes that an employer would say, and do so unerringly. Clearly there were blacks in Providence, and Whipple would have frequented Providence many times in the course of a business year. If he visited homes in Providence, he would have seen minorities of all kinds employed in servant tasks, or cleaning, gardening, or cooking. He would not have thought twice of them, most likely.

Whipple and Robie were of the most ethical and moral mind in accordance to the times. This did not mean he was not a hard task master, and would have considered all men Created Beings in some manner and gifted by One True Creator with abilities, and as such whatever the man's chosen fate, he would have worked hard and flawlessly, or suffer consequences. If he was lazy, shiftless, or ill-suited for a task – there is every reason to believe quick termination and expulsion would have been the verdict. This would have applied equally to Caucasian, ethics, or minorities of any type. Should a relative or member of his class come up short and be shiftless, stern words would have been quick. A man's word was his bond, and if a relative had no honor, he was likely to be encouraged to go elsewhere. In later years, many harsh words were given to his son Edwin. In the 1860's. WVP likely would have given many tasks to his foremen and clerks.

Timber work was dangerous. Predatory animals had to be shot, snakes dealt with, and in the case of illness, or injury, it seems likely he and Robie would have quickly provided a physician, medicine, and even paid some compensation during a recovery – this was Christian charity – and while it was expected of the leader (noblesse oblige) it would have been expected to show gratitude and respect back. That injuries were frequent is with little doubt. Clearing hundreds of acres of timber, injuries, severe animal bites, infections, broken bones, and even amputations likely occurred. Between 1850 and 1890, the calculated life expectancy at birth in the United States was between 38 and 43 years of age. If one made it past age 30, life expectancy to age 70 was not uncommon. Newspaper reports of that era showed rare cases of centenarians, and frequently celebrated birthdays over 80.

As to Phillips' business, we can only make logical projections, that as he grew the timber business at the Coffin's road station, he likely landed a refueling contract with the railroad.

In a letter dated 20 September 2011, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management began work for a bike trail that included the remnants of Greene, Rhode Island. They addressed a few pertinent historical and legendary issues.

In answer to the public statement, "There was a railroad stop at Camp Westwood Road that reportedly had off-loading of coal and fueling stations for the railroad." The reply included, "VHB {contractor Vanasse Hangen Brustlin} has reviewed several historic publications … while each of these documents discusses a depot in Greene where wood, coal, acid and fuel was stored there is no mention of any facilities at Camp Westwood Road…" The continuing on it states, "… the Greene depot was mentioned in each of the references above abd there were several references to storage of oil and / or hazardous materials. … No, the detection of substances found along the former railroad were anticipated …"

There is no doubt in this writer's mind that these details represent the depot at then-Coffin's Road which contained and loaded kerosene, coal oil, coal, timber, rosin, iron ore, iron, and other raw materials. Today's Haz-Mat was yesteryear's industrial fodder to build a new nation. This was all created by the powerful will, and business mind of WVP. That Squire Wood – alleged to be a mechanical wiz – was also a part of this must also be considered.

WVP understood what few do even today. "Money" was not an object or a representation of gold and silver, but a type of business velocity. It was not be horded, but to be leveraged to create. This, coupled with to other traits – being able to keenly judge other men, and embracing new and innovative technology – was the key to his future wealth.

In those long ago days, there were certainly legal contracts, and shrewd deals made. However, the population was significantly small that what might be referred to as tribal and clan conditions were prevalent. A man's word was his bond, so to speak. A handshake was significant. Credit to trustworthy individuals was likely common, especially among the elite who were either kin or distantly related. Significant retribution would occur to those who did not pay, or to slackers and those untrustworthy. Word of mouth was a powerful deterrent. One perhaps even suspects Shakespeare's “Neither a borrower nor a lender be” applied often, unless a significant return on investment could be seen.

At the opening of the Civil War, government expenditures slowly began and escalated from a trickle to a roar by mid-decade. The railroads were making rapid technological progress, and expanded to connect most towns of significant population. They would have been the primary beneficiary of this largesse, and therefore Phillips would have received a proportional increase in his contracts. More will be said on one player, Amasa Sprague, and Whipple V Phillip's quiet involvement in the rail system.

As the lumber camp grew, more employees were hired. The proof of this is in remembrances printed in newspapers and books a few generations after this. One major historian, hitherto unknown by Lovecraft scholars, was Jeremiah S. McGregor. He not only was a notable local historian, and family chronicler, but had a museum of note, and frequently wrote requiems, poems, funeral memorials, and historical articles for the Pawtuxet Valley Gleaner

Phillips saw the opportunity as a local postmaster at Greene, and became a civil servant. Mail was handed off to the rail company, and received from the rail company.

The Union Army often handed out contracts, and Phillips has notable contracts on the record books supplying lumber and perhaps firewood to camps. It should be noted that in this era, whale oil was still common for lighting. Most fuel was wood. In this era, though, wood was turned into a type pf charcoal (high-carbon) called coke, and this was used to make iron and some steel. As techniques improved, coke was found insufficient to generate the temperatures necessary, and a slow transition to coal was made in this era. Locomotives were converted to burning coal, and Whipple would have seen this coming and transitioned.

This brings up a significant aspect of Whipple Phillips' genius. He was constantly ahead of his era. His mind must have been calculating variables, and economics. He was driven to succeed, but it did not seem that he was out to impress anyone, or that he was motivated by past poverty. He wore the mantle of progress, and it must have seemed to him that Manifest Destiny to conquer the North American wilderness was given directly by the Divine Sovereign. The Christian God, and Jesus, were as vivid to him as a person sitting next to him. If he forgot, it's likely Robie was there to remind him.

As the war ended, the U.S. Government might have been in turmoil, but not Whipple. He likely had already contracted with Joseph Hodges, and others, to provide lumber and coal. If not, he would between mid-1865 and early 1868, for there was destiny between those two men, and their enterprises.

The Political Circumstances of 1860

As will be stated often, this writer is not a professional historian. Many facts will be presented with this writer's interpretation knowing that in some cases the possibilities and probabilities proposed will turn out to be in error by new facts. Since the life of Whipple V. Phillips has not previously been exposition to this extent – save by Mr. Kenneth W. Faig, Jr. - this is entirely new unplowed ground.

One of these inferences will involve the Sprague family. Possibly known most for their rail road work, and a significant cotton mill, they were an incredibly powerful name in Rhode Island. The name of Amasa Sprague in 1860 was respected and honored. By his power, his son, William Sprague ran for the Republican ticket as governor. He was reported to be handsome, persuasive, and carried the family luck. The Sprague cotton mill had dodged the 1857 recession – though it should be recalled the Mount Vernon bank did not.

In that era, the election was held on 4 April 1860, and within a campaign nominating speech, Sprague's family was repeatedly singled out as creating jobs, or being fiscally responsible, not prone to "being a gentleman" a term thought to be derogatory and meaning what we might today call a bon vivant, or playboy.

Sprague had joined elements of the fledgling Republican party with conservative elements of the Democratic Party and began to refer to it as the Union Party. This countered the Abolition party, and others. One notable, named Bullock, who was called a Whig-Republican was a supporter of Sprague. Hoppin's Republican party was considered radical and corrupt and Sprague challeged it bya dding conservative Democrats and Reformists. A telling statement in the nominating speech (by Joseph M. Blake) called attention that Sprague – while sympathetic to stopping slavery – refused to be an abolitionist. He refused to split the party or the nation over this question. He would not be a sectarian. He would uphold both states rights and the constitution.

Was WVP one of these? Did he hold to these principles? We don't know, but this writer's thesis believes he was and did. He can be connected to the Spragues since he later was known to do business with them (see below). His business was dependent upon the Hartford, Providence, Fishkill rail road.

In his election speech, Sprague confirmed that the state was already of a majority Republicans. Yet results were interesting. The NYT (via the Providence Journal) gave the Kent County (Coventry) vote as (Pedelford 1,012; Sprague 1,460). This confirms the sparsely populated area. Providence County, which contained the town of Foster, and Providence totaled (Pedelford 6,007; Sprague 7.337). Sprague carried 13 of 32 Senators and 35 of 71 Representatives – less than a majority. It is uncertain if Lincoln had much influence, though he was popular. He spent only 28 and 29 February 1860 in Rhode Island, and gave a speech in Providence attended by the then-Republican governor, William Hoppin. This was hardly a majority, and Sprague appeared eager to engage and pressure another thin-margin-elected official – Lincoln – to help him. Lincoln needed allies, and Sprague pressured him on post office appointments.

Sprague tried to wrangle a signifcant military title, but lost it to Massachusetts and while offered a brigadier general title Sprague declined. He continued to write and pressure Lincoln. Losing a chance to appoint the Providence post master, Sprague leveraged another man - "my friend General James B. M. Potter" as army paymaster. This is a significant name. In 1866, the Rhode Island legislature passed approval for the incorporation of a strategically important rail spur into a new timber area. The names are telling: Amasa Sprague, David L. Aldrich, J. B. Potter, Edward Barber, W. F. Segar, Henry Whipple, Whipple V. Phillips, George Harris, Bela P. Clapp. This writer could not trace all these names, and leaves it up to others to engage this revelation. However, the J. B. Potter is very likely the same name. WVP was connected, and forms another theme of his career. He quietly supported a conservative wing of the Republican party and was very likely the go-to man for Coventry and perhaps all of Pawtuxet Valley. From this point forward, he would get numerous political appointments and use those to business advantage. In today's parlance, we might consider WVP a "Young Turk" and a rising star. His ruin in 1874, to be discussed later, changed his tactics forever. But for this decade, he chose the right side and seemingly could not lose.

In the months afetr the election, WVP silently became the post master of a new town named Greene, Rhode Island situated at the intersection of the old Coffin's Road and the depot of the Hartford, Providence, and Fishkill rail road. In 1861, this writer found in a document that WVP obatined a salary of $41.68 with a balance owed to him of $15.08. The implication is clear. Sprague pushed WVP's name on Lincoln, and perhaps even started the letter "You may recall meeting a young lad of good report who then lived in Illinois as you were a legal circuit rider..." or something akin to this. In any event, the new governor looking for further support gave to WVP the appointment. Thus, we conclude he was a staunch and trusted ally.

In the wake of war on 12 April 1861 (Ft. Sumter) , Sprague committed a folly. He pushed the legislature (17 April 1861) to staff a quick army, and personally led his "million dollar" army to Washington along with Ambrose Burnside. Burnside noted that Sprague outfitted himself in a special uniform. At Bull Run, Sprague's men scattered into disorder forcing a retreat. Lincoln did not send any back up, and Sprague gave up and withdrew back to Rhode Island. Burnside was replaced in 1863. Sprague was reelected in 1862, and leveraged this into a Senate seat almost immediately. Thus, WVP had a powerful ally and ear in Washington. In years to come, it will be seen, many Providence and Foster, Rhode Island connections would perhaps pay dividends with inside information and tips to increase WVP's business. This is another central thesis of this writer, that WVP's business ability was enhanced by knowing the right people.

References:

Providence Daily Post, Wednesday, 28 March 1860, p. 2 "Speech of Hon. Joseph M. Blake"

New York Times, 6 April 1860, "The Rhode Island Election, …"

Internet: http://www.abrahamlincolnsclassroom.org/Library/newsletter.asp?ID=40&CRLI=120 , accessed on 20 December 2011

1860: The Circumstances of the Move to “Greene” and the Railroad

Though much will be said in the section below about when WVP appeared in Greene, Rhode Island, we have the testimony of Squire Greene Wood 3^rd, grandson of Squire G. Wood who stated:

The first country store in the village of Greene was started in 1860 by W. V. Phillips in the basement of the home of Squire G. Wood which faced the street. For three years he conducted this store. He had as assistants Leonard {A.} Tillinghast, Amasa P. Taber and Henry Page, with Miss Lizzie Wood {wife of SGW} as bookepper. … In 1863 the store was sold to Leonard Tillinghast & Co. which ran a heavy grain trade in connection with the grocery and dry goods trade.

We also learn:

Early in 1854, a stopping place was made {for the Hartofrd, Providence, & Fishkill Rail Road} where Greene now stands and the station was called Greene, by the officials of the Railroad Company in honor of General Nathanael Greene of Revolutionary fame …

For Lovecraft scholars this is a minor setback. H. P. Lovecraft oft told the story that his grandfather started the town, and owned the town, and named the town. It seems quite likely that some research done by Mr. Kenneth W. Faig, Jr. combined with Lovecraft letters made up at least a portion of the basis of the section on WVP in the definitive Lovecraft biography by S. T. Joshi.

In 1855 Whipple purchased a general store in Foster and ran it for at least two years; he then presumably sold the store and its goods, probably at a substantial profit, thereby commencing his career as entrepreneur and land speculator. At that time he moved a few miles south of Foster to the town of Coffin's Corner, where he built a “mill, a house, an assembly hall, and several cottages for employees; since he had purchased all the land there, he renamed the town Greene …

This is based on Casey B. Tyler's memoir – originally from the Pawtuxet Valley Gleaner – and reprinted and revised in 1892-1893. The pertinent passage occurs in the Pawtuxet valley Gleaner of 20 January 1893, p. 2, Col. 2. Tyler begins by reminiscing of his early (1844) pertnership in a “temperance store” (I.e. Refused to sell alcoholic beverages) with one Hiram Wood. Tyler sold out to Amos Fiske. He digresses stating how he had moved to Clayville of Scituate and then in 1869 lost $10,000 to one only referred to as “Hugag” (in other print versions this was “Hugog”).

Amos Fiske after buying out Casey B. Tyler, in 1854, put his son Edard in the store and continued one year … Fiske continued in the store until 1855 when Whipple V. Phillips, of Foster, came in and remained some two years, and then removed to Greene Station, in Coventry …

This writer has placed in bold the pertinent passage. However there is an immediate misunderstanding in Joshi's text. Yes, WVP was from Foster, but the store was in Mount Vernon, a subtle, but important point. As we discussed in the section dealing with the 1850's, the store was in the Mount Vernon bank and tavern.

An independent verification of WVP at Foster as late as 1856 comes from the The Rhode Island Register for the Year 1856 (Vol. 2, George Adams, Providence, Gladding and Brother, 1856) that lists “Phillips, Whipple V. B.” at Foster under the category of “store keeper: Who kep a general variety of of family articles , such as Dray Goods, Groceries, Hardware, Medicines, Agricultural Tools, &c”.

The 1860 Census (probably taken in Spring 1860) showed WVP already in Greene. See Mr. Joshi's footnote Chapter 1, # 27, “In a letter to Frank B. Long, 26 October 1926 (SL 2.88) HPL states that Whipple Phillip's last two children were born in Greene, which would date Whipple's arrival to around 1864, but the 1860 U. S. Census already lists the family at Greene.”

The bank went into bankruptcy by 1857-1858 (to be discussed below). We thus have a gap between Casey B. Tyler's memoir's date of abut 1856-1857 and Squire Greene Wood 3rd's memoir date of 1860 and a missing 3 years. This cannot be accounted for by this writer, so the best guess is that WVP waited until he could wait no longer, and moved to Greene when an opportunity arose.

The next probable error in Joshi's statement is that of “Coffin's Corner”. Even in various exposes of the place, Coffin's Corner, it is referred to as a place where coffins were made or transported. Not so. Coffin Road, now referred to as Carr's Trail, was named for the Coffin family who originally came from the Island of Nantucket and settled in the area -one notable being Mary Coffin Nichols (1815-1899).

By S. G. Wood's testimony, the railroad named the place Greene. Lovecraft declares his grandfather did. It seems unlikely that in 1860, WVP had the influence to do this, and the railroad did. However, as a key player, he may have had some persuasive ability. We have no direct documentation of incorporation available.

Still, can we find additional and independent verification? Indded. In the 1858 copy of Geer's Express Directory Vol. 1 (George P. Geer, Springfield, C. R. Chaffee and Co.) on pp. 204-211 it specifically calls the stop “Coffin's Station” at Coffin's Road, Coventry T{ownship}. Ah, but it lists numerous other “Cofins Stations” at Hemlock in Foster Township, at Nipmuc, Coventry Township, at Clayville, Scituate Township, at Hopkin's Mills, Foster Township, at Mount Vernon, Foster Township, and at Coffin's Road, Coventry Township. The “catch-all” stop for all of these villages and businesses was “Coffin's Station. One suspects until the Greene stop became notable, the railroad had little interest in calling it a specific name. The name was not officially changed until at least after the printing of the 1858 book.

We also have another independent source printed February 1858 showing two stops to “Coffin's Road” from Providence at 3:47 PM and 8:06 AM and from Hartford at 5:13 PM.

The Banking Collapse of 1857

While we cannot be certain that the “Whipple Phillips” listed as a director of the Mount Vernon Bank in 1856 is either Whipple Phillips (d. May 1856) the uncle of Whipple Van Buren Phillips, or WVP (then about 23 years old), it must be one. As Whipple Phillips lived in Providence, this is not necessarily an objection, since as early as 1850 the Mount Vernon bank had a significant presence in that growing city.

However, we can get many details of boom and coming collapse of the banking industry in a cogent essay in Chartered banking in Rhode Island, 1791-1900 (Howard Kemble Stokes, Mason Publishing Co., 1901). The population of Rhode Island increased a staggering 70% in the decade between 1840 and 1850, precisely the coming of age of WVP. In 1854, precisely the time WVP returned to start store keeping, money was free. Of the estimated 5 million dollars in banking specie, 1.5 million was under $5. Almost all of this money was in state, especially notable in this was the Mount Vernon bank. The legislature had put fiscal restraint to those who did circulate money outside of Rhode Island, thus increasing risk. Discounts doubled between 1850 and 1856, from 14.3 to 28.6 million. This had an immediate impact in rail road building, including our favorite subject, the Hartford, Providence, and Fishkill system. The Sprague mills also benefited from this, and a crack down by high duties on mill work from outside the country.

A familiar scene to Americans who live after the year 2008, the banks' primary duty was absorbing debt that corporations incurred.

In January 1857 – again a watershed date for this biography – the legislature panicked and re-instituted a wave of bank examinations on top of increasing in rapid secession taxes from 25 cents per $100 (1849) to 35 cents (1854). Mount Vernon could not take this, and in 1857 Raymond G. Place left as cashier (Whipple's brother-in-law) and the bank collapsed by mid-1858.

It can hardly be a coincidence that at the time a bank panic occurred, WVP “got out of Dodge”, so to speak. Therefore, did he sell his stock at a profit? We do not know, but it seems highly unlikely. He did not go to Coventry and begin to buy land, he came and rented a store from a kindly and elderly mechanical genius, S. G. Wood, realizing that the railroad was his business salvation. It was a calculated move, and typical of his keen and exact business judgment, and his ability to immediately judge men (SGW) and their intentions.

I Am Providence, S. T. Joshi, Hippocampus, 2010, Vol. 1, p. 6

ABC pathfinder railway guide, Issue 107,  By A. E. Newton, George K. Snow, C. H. Bradlee, George S. Chase, N. E. Weeks, New England Railway Publishing Company, New-England Association of Railroad Superintendents, February 1858, p. 11 internet: http://books.google.com/books?id=I1o3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PT7&dq=-hartfor+providence+fishkill+railroad+greene-station&hl=en&sa=X&ei=7XH1TtC9Lc-gtweKuI3QBg&ved=0CEIQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=-hartfor%20providence%20fishkill%20railroad%20greene-station&f=false accessed 23 December 2011.

Who was “Hugag”?

In an aside, the long sought after mystery of “Hugag” or “hugog” may have been resolved by this writer. At the very least, a new possible explanation is discussed here. A typographical error in a print version had Casey B Tyler refer to a Hugog who swindled both he and Whipple V. Phillips. Years of work has been attempted in uncovering this person, but even genealogical and newspaper searches show virtually no existence of that last name spelling, nor first name. In fact this may be a sort of “red herring”, as it was always Casey B. Typer's intention to say “Hugag” and at least once in quotation marks, and thus the “noted demon” may be a mythical devil. Besides numerous mid-19^th century or later aphorisms and anecdotes appearing using the term “hugag” as either a sort-of-humbug, or as a terrible beast, a humor book titled Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods (William Thomas Cox, Washington, D.C., 1910, pp. 8,9) begin the book with a moose-like cryptid with humorous and satirical description.

Internet link: http://books.google.com/books?id=w61ZAAAAMAAJ&pg=PT14&dq=Hugag&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FVr1TufPEI6ltweM8NHPBg&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Hugag&f=false accessed 23 December 2011.

Whpple V. Phillips, Post Master

A small passage from a Tercentenary summary reads, "The Post Office at Greene, (Coventry Township, Kent County) was established on November 22, 1859. The first Postmaster was Whipple V. Phillips. Whipple V. Phillips was born in 1833 and in the Census of 1870 is listed as dealing in lumber and coal."

It can be stated here that Whipple V. Phillips life was not a public life. Enough cannot be said for the diligence of Kenneth. W. Faig, Jr. who has researched through countless library references and genealogies to give Lovecraft scholars what we do know about WVP. He has been quick to state that he relied on other researchers, and they, too, must be lauded.

However, as has been stated, the opening by Google to innumerable primary documents with advanced search technology has accelerated the understanding of WVP. The window opened with little warning in the mid-decades of the 2000's and began to deteriorate by late 2011 possibly due to a series of court cases on copyrights, and a change in leadership at Google. Search engines are not currently as efficient, so it was extremely lucky that researchers quickly moved in to take advantage of these records. (This writer spent hours using these tools during these years, each hour possibly equivalent to a month of research circa 1980's. )

It is due to these electronic records that this writer was able to assemble the sparse records of WVP's life together. So, we have two puzzles that we must try to piece. When did WVP get to Greene, Rhode Island, and when did he become post master? We have only a few scant records. One is the official government record showing his payments dated 30 September 1861. That is a terminus ad quem, but do we have a terminus a quo? This writer proposes (above) that his post office duties were politically connected and could only have happened after the election of William Sprague in April 1860. We have anecdotes decades and even generations after the fact. How does one approach these critically? The only possibility is to play them one against the other and use comparative chronologies. We have material by H. P. Lovecraft, Jeremiah S. McGregor, and Squire G Wood, 3^rd, newspaper articles (though very rare), court documents, and so forth..

One very important, but hitherto unknown source for information was Jeremiah S. Mc Gregor a contemporary of WVP. He may possibly be one source used in a 1930 book by a member of the Wood family. H. P. Lovecraft had both his family stories, and met a few individuals who remembered his grandfather, including S. G. Wood. Cross contamination of these elements are inseparable, and yet dates do not seem to precisely match up.

Mr.. Faig originally tracked down WVP's obituary in the Providence Journal. It also appeared, verbatim, in a weekly named Manufacturer's and Farmer's Journal which was distributed in Providence and rural Rhode Island and contained condensed regional news and business information. In this announcement, "… he returned to this state {from Illinois} and opened a general store at Moosup Valley {i.e. Mount Vernon, Foster, Rhode Island}. After a few years, he moved his business to Greene, where he soon enlarged his interests to a considerable extent."

In this same obituary notice, his marriage was given as 1855. This writer is indebted to Mr. Faig for providing official Philips family documents and other notes. It is well known that Mr. S. T. Joshi and others have often quoted 27 January 1856 as WVP's marriage date (discussed elsewhere), and we know that the year "1855" was used to prevent the revelation that Lillain was conceived out of wedlock. So we know that WVP was in Foster no later than 1854. A "few years later" would make his arrival at Greene between 1856 (the birth of Lillian on 20 April 1856) and 1860. Mr. Faig's research from an unpublished early manuscript [Some Phillips Family Sketches] indicated arrival at Greene in 1859, but does not give a source.

In the Pawtuxet Valley Gleaner obituary of Robie Phillips (11 February 1896) "Mr. Phillips was for a long time engaged in the mercantile business at Moosup Valley and was very successful. After the Providence, Hartford, and Fiskville {sic, i.e. Fishkill} Railroad was completed he moved to what was then called Coffin Road Station, opened a store and commenced business on a large scale." So McGregor gives us a relative scale, but again no exact date.

McGregor wrote another article that included this.

It is enough for my purpose to say that a railroad was laid out, built and equipped without going into all the particulars concerning the mode of building said road or giving description of the riots and free fights along the line while it was being built.  Soon after the road was graded and the rails laid engines came snorting along while the smoke puffed from their smokestacks; they resembled a messenger from the infernal regions, and the train thundered through the said swamp to the annoyance of some and the pleasure of others.  It was then called the Providence, Hartford & Fishkill railroad.  The company concluded to locate a depot at the place where it crossed the Coffin's road and said depot for a long time was called Coffin's Road depot.  A slab shanty was erected and used for a depot for a number of years.  The depot masters have been too numerous to allow their names to be mentioned.  Daniel Tillinghast, S. G. Wood and a Mr. Burnap were among that motly throng.  The first store was kept by Edward Fiske, who is now located on Exchange Place, Providence.  Time passed on, business increased, new roads leading to said depot were laid out and built, old ones repaired and everyone in that section seemed to look forward as if a new order of things was to commence.  At this time, as far as the eye could reach, a vast forest which had adorned the hills and valleys ever since the first white man refreshed himself beneath its mighty shades was presented to view.  Soon lumber men came flocking in, mighty steam saw mills were erected, large tracts of forest land were purchased.  The woodman's axe and the lingo of the numerous teamsters were heard throughout the land.  About this time S. G. Wood erected a large and commodious house with a store in the basement near the depot.  As soon as it was finished he rented it to W. V. Phillips, a young and enterprising man, who had been in the store business at Moosup Valley in the town of Foster.  Phillips made things lively around the depot.

From "A Glimpse at Greene by Jeremiah S. McGregor", Pawtuxet Valley Gleaner, Friday 22 August 1890, p. 7

This gives us more detail, and so if we assume that the Coffin Road station opened about 1854, and given a few years for migration, road opening, and for Squire Green Wood to build his building, and then have Phillips move to it, this easily gets us to the 1859-1860 time period.

A very different source has a much different – and somewhat incorrect chronology – to tell.

Greene. — This hamlet is in the western part of the town, and is a station on the Providence, Hartford and Fishkill railroad. The station was established here in 1856, and the business at this point has had its growth since that time. It was named in honor of General Nathanael Greene by the officials of the road.

In 1867 Whipple V. Phillips, an enterprising citizen, erected a saw mill, in which he put a shingle machine, a planer, and started a box factory, and carried on the business successfully for some years. … Mr. Phillips also kept store for a time in the house built by S. G. Wood. The house was built just before the war, but Mr. Phillips did not take charge of the store until 1863. During the war he lived in a house now owned by Daniel Tillinghast. He kept store in all six years, and was succeeded by Leonard Tillinghast, who kept store about ten years

HISTORY OF Washington and Kent Counties, RHODE ISLAND, including Their Early Settlement and Progress to the Present Time; A Description of their Historic and Interesting Localities; Sketches of their Towns and Villages; Portraits of some of their Prominent Men, AND Biographies of many of their Representative Citizens. By J. R. COLE. New York: W. W. PEESTON & CO. 1889. pp.1207-1208

We have an official government document that tells us that WVP was postmaster no later than September 1861, so Cole has used a source that is somehow incorrect. Is is conspiratorial? The involvement of Leonard Tillinghast – a later party in a significant lawsuit against Phillips – gives us pause to question. It is possible that the implication is more mild, that WVP simply took ownership of the store from S. G. Wood in 1863, and before that merely rented.

We have data that indicates that there was a post office without a post master. Now how do we reconcile the opening of a post office without an official post master? It may simply have been a branch office supervised by agents from Coventry, or other locations.

A memoir by Squire Greene Wood 3^rd (1861-1935) sheds additional light upon the subject. He was a local historian, friend and relative of Jeremiah S. McGregor, and knew the Phillips well. His father, Caleb Thomas Wood, helped WVP start the first lodge, and his grandfather, also named Squire Green Wood, was the man who rented the store to WVP.

S. G. Wood 3^rd stated:

In the early days the mails were carried on the stages {i.e. stage coaches} … the first post office for this territory was located at Rice City {home town of Robie Phillips, WVP's wife} … this continued until about 1860, when Whipple V. Phillips set up a store and post office under the home of Squire G. Wood {the writer, SGW 3rd's grandfather}, the mails having been transferred to the railroad baggage cars ...

We have independent evidence of a specific date, a terminus a quo.

Much ink was spilled above to get us to a probable conclusion that WVP moved his family not much earlier than mid-1859, and wrangled an appointment as post master in late 1860 just as William Sprague was pressuring Lincoln for favors.

Previously, due to the bankruptcy of the Mount Vernon bank WVP had to know that the local Foster store was going to fade, and he was a man of vision. From 1854, the railroad had been growing in commerce, and he wanted a piece of this advanced ethnological action. While it may be hard to understand, railroads were as startling and radial development as the internet and personal computer was to the late 1990's or airport-hub cities will be to the late 2010's.

References:

Internet, http://thesaltysailor.com/rhodeisland-philatelic/rhodeisland/tercentenary182.htm accessed on 20 December 2011 and other times.

Official register of the United States, page 38 of appendix "Post Office" of the Register published 30 September 1861.

A history of Greene and vicinity, 1845-1929 / by Squire G. Wood. Self-published in 1930.

Article by Jeremiah S. McGregor, "Memoirs of Mrs. Whipple V. Phillips", Pawtuxet Valley Gleaner, 11 February 1896, but even with his great powers of recollection, there are some typographical errors – or simple errors, and he gives no specified dates.

4 March 1904, p. 8, Manufacturer's and Farmer's Journal

The War Breaks Out

Students of history will know that what is referred to as the Civil War began in 1861. The hamlet of Greene was already supplying acids, wood and coal to manufacturers in Providence, and likely to the Eerie Lake region. The railroad was the life line, and every leader in Rhode Island would realize the war would be won or lost based on the railroad system. They also had to realize that the powerful men surrounding Lincoln would spend extraordinary sums to keep the Union together, and would have wanted to take advantage of that. It was not yet an age of cynicism. Leaders would have believed in the inevitability of conquering the continent, and that it was God's Manifest Destiny that they would prevail.

As the summer months of 1861 came, the surrounding area would have been tapped for significant amounts of lumber for houses, rail ties, barracks, shipping and packing crates, and more. We read earlier that WVP"s relative (brother-in-law) Rayond G. Place had a coal yard for a while, but based on future business endeavors, another Providence warehouse and coal yard was probably the received of his materials.

As to iron, this was extracted and shipped. WVP would have seen that need coming as well, and seized the opportunity. Iron would win the war.

(As an aside, this writer's location is Louisville, KY. At the same time Providence was growing to be a major city, so too were Cleveland, Ohio and Louisville, KY. Louisville was immediately seized by Lincoln as the Falls of the Ohio were critical. So too was the Louisville and Nashville railroad. Hills all around still conatin "slag" where locals stripped the iron ore. Current Bernheim Forest south of Louisville was one of these areas, and the rocks still lay bare. Images exist where the entire forest in which Lincoln grew up with trees 4 feet across were stripped to bare earth. It took decades to regrow the forest, and areas still have not rebounded. This is exactly what happened in the five or six years WVP's men stripped the land for the war effort and to build the metropolis that his grandson H. P. Lovecraft grew up in.)

The Phillips Status Circa 1862

By this time, WVP (then about 29 years old) had a burgeoning family. Robie (b. 1827) was now 35. Lillian (b. 20 April 1856) was 6 years old. Sarah Susan (b. 17 October 1857, H. P. Lovecraft's mother) was now 5. Her younger sister, Emiline Estella Phillips (b. 15 July 1859) was 3. It seems likely they were home schooled. There was a school in Greene, but their names are not listed for attendance. This could also mean that records no longer exist for that period.

The store was bustling, and we know that WVP had a staff of people working for him both in the store and in the fields. He was surrounded by Tillinghasts who owned adjacent land and worked closely with him.. (This was a name that would continue to play a part of both WVP's life, and in H. P. Lovecraft's fiction.)

When a couple has young children, the wife demands stability and sufficiency from her husband, and they begin to make plans for school and religious service. Robie was a life long Baptist diverging sometimes into community and Methodist services. WVP was a determined Mason and attended lodge meetings whenever he could. In these early days, most of the negative reaction to secret societies had been tamed, but it was likely that Baptists would have looked askance. Whatever esoteric spirituality Whipple needed he got from and was guided by Masonic teachings.

(This writer attending a Southern Baptist church in the 1960's as a child knew well that Masons were still frowned upon.)

(Masonic teaching is by no means to be taken as some odd Satanic rite. This needs to be stated because often H. P. Lovecraft is accused of being an unknowing conduit of paranormal activities. Internet claims also state that Whipple inculcated mysterious circumstances. This writer found nothing of this on either count, though portions of the Tillinghast clan is a very different matter.)

Did WVP “Own” Greene, Rhode Island?

This seems highly unlikely. By 1862-1863 WVP had accumulated enough wealth to buy land, and hold sway over vast timber territory. The Wood family, and Leonard Tillinghast, were a good team, but Wood had not relinquished his vast holdings yet. There were also other large land owners, and WVP could not even prevent another store from opening. Yes, he had leverage and began to have wealth, but the “rose colored glasses” of the Gilded Age and the Providence halcyon years may have overstated the case of the early 1860's. He had not yet arrived – and still had a major collapse (1870's) ahead of him.

Whipple V Phillips and the Independent Order of Good Templars

Due to Lovecraft's myriad letters, and the work of Mr. Kenneth W. Faig, Jr, and others, we know that WVP was a life long mason. Though Mr. Faig knew and quoted from Squire G. Wood's 1936 memoir, this worter does not believe that the very early and first masonic contact of Whipple V. Phillips was not starting an Ionic lodge, but much earlier at the behest of one Peleg L. Berry a lifelong resident of Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island. Westerly, now lies in the southern tip of Rhode Island smack on the border with Connecticut. Today it lies slightly off of I-95. By all accounts in contemporary literature, Berry was a zealous and evangelical missionary for temperance and the fledgling Independent Order of Good Templars. Far from a cult, it was intended to bridge the gap between “secret socities” and “family values”. Starting in New York in 1851, it proposed that men, women, and children all belong for the sole purpose to fight off alcohol use, moderate behavior, teach the highest moral standards possible and keep children from being unruly by giving them social occasions and specialized training during lodge meetings. This was very radical, especially at a time when secret societies were being banned in many states as being un-American.

We know from the testimony of Squire G. Wood 3^rd that in the very early 1860's Whipple V. Phillips and Caleb Thomas Wood (SGW3's father) started a "secret society" at a Hopkins Hollow church. Hopkins Hollow was somewhat north of Greene and the WVP store. This was to serve as a Temperance league site, as well as being in alliance with the Independent Order of Good Templars.

But from whence? WVP had virtually no contact with New York, save he may have been sening lumber or receiving dry goods from the Eerie Lake region via the Hartford, Providence, and Fishkill rail system. No, it was through Peleg Berry.

He and George Olnet (Hope Valley) were attending conventions. They were at the 13^th convention for the Right Worthy Grand Lodge during 28 – 30 May1867 as guests.

Oft quoted in reference books, “the first Grand Lodge rganised in the year 1867 was that of Rhode Island, January 15^th at Westerly. T. H. L. Talcott, G.W.S. Of Connecticut, who had been commissioned as Deputy, presided as instituting officer. After the appointment of a number of Connecticut G{rand}. Lodge members as officers pro tem , the committee on Credentials reported thirty delegates from fifteen Lodges. They were admitted, and the following officers were chosen and installed...” The names as far as this writer has researched have minimal connection, if any, to WVP. Thus no conclusions can be drawn as how he learned other than … “Bro. P. L. Berry, having been requested to prepare a report on the Rise and Progress of the Order in Rhode Island, read the same, showing eight Lodges and five Degree Temples as the result of his personal labours.”

There is an implication here, that although the national group did not recognize the Rhode Island lodge until 1867, Berry had been working diligently. He likely gave speeches in churches and homes.

So, we can guess then that sometime in either late 1863, 1864, and not much later than 1865 WVP began the lodge in Hopkins Hollow's church, but it quickly faded. However, he kept these principles as a life long creed as far as can be determined. One quirk of the movement was that not only was liquor and alcohol banned, save as a doctor's prescription but so too were apple juice (cider) and grape juice. Even unfermented, they were banned as too tempting. Long passages in the rules books state this over and over. In the 13^th National Convention, controversy erupted. A lodge had allowed a black member, and the superior lodge had expelled that lodge. The national group maintained that it was not only allowable, but encouraged for blacks to be admitted – whether previously slave or free. This goes to whether WVP felt blacks were equal or not. His grandson, H. P. Lovecraft was adamant about blacks and ethnic minorities that they were inferior in many if not most ways. Great scholarly debate exists as to whether H. P. Lovecraft spoke for his mother, Susan, and his grandfather, Whipple. We cannot answer this question here.

Journal of the Proccedings of the Thirteenth Annual session of the R. W. Grand Lodge of Nrth America (Detroit), printed Cleveland, OH, 1867, p. 516, 602 internet link accessed on 23 December 2011 (http://books.google.com/books?id=6_jhAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA602&dq=Peleg-L-Berry&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Tw30TovDKIXGtgff6YHQBg&ved=0CEYQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=peleg&f=false )

History of the Independent Order of Templars Complete Up to the Year 1868, Isaac Newton Pierce, Birmingham, Eng, 1973. p. 210, 213 interent accessed on 23 December 2011 (http://books.google.com/books?id=MGlHAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA180&dq=%22independent+order+of+good+templars%22+1864&hl=en&sa=X&ei=qQz0TtinHMK9tweMj5XQBg&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=peleg&f=false )

Spiritual Values and Other Resources – mid-1860's.

Robie and Whipple were well educated for their time, though certainly not college professors or the like. Still we know that Robie was always fascinated with astronomy and kept up with it. Elder and Reverend George Kennedy (1824-1898) was a stalwart of faith in Moosup and Pawtuxet Valleys and tended to “ride the circuit” and preach at various churches. The clergy were familiar names to WVP and his wife: Rev. Mason Hopkins, Rev. George W. Kennedy, and Rev. John A, Perry.

Originally, S. G. Wood's son-in-law, Proctor K. Hutchinson was the physician in Rice City (then of some size) who cared for all in the the local villages. Hutchinson died in 1869, and a new doctor was called and lived with Phillips. That story will wait until the next decade is discussed.

WVP lived, by now, in a nice home with a barn and carriage house. A new son, Edwin Everett had been born on 14 February 1864, and Whipple now had a legacy. He had acquired land and was beginning to fill contracts. Only at this point are we beginning tosee a glimmer of the portrait that H. P. Lovecraft painted. We can only sum up this time period through the end of 1863 by quoting a few anecdotes derived from S. G. Wood 3rd. WVP was beginning to have neighbors, but S. G. Wood had decided to relocate to the farm in 1861. S. G. Wood's son-in-law Gustavus Wilbur lived there, instead, until August 1865 when his wife, and Wood's daughter, Huldah died. South were S. G. Wood's blacksmith shop, and a barn. Jerry Knight moved to work in the blacksmith shop, and built a home nearby. Therefore, sociologically this seemed of a “clan” or “tribe”. Many individuals bonded by tight or loose family marriages, long time neighbors, or otherwise hired hands. Much land was already owned by or controlled by WVP, but there was other land in Greene owned still by S. G. Wood and by E. Jordan, Joseph Tillinghast, J. Camwell, J. Hart and O. Briggs. He did not yet “own the entire town”.

Oliver Lewis moved to Greene, built near WVP, and lived there until 1887. Deacon Otis Foster also built a home, but we do not have a date. It was likely to have been there by the mid-1860's. In 1863 Caleb Jordan came from Clayville {named after Kentucky's Henry Clay} to start a store. He was still there in 1865 and a few years after until he relocated to Cranston.

School was held in Hopkins Hollow and likely taught by Joseph Tillinghast (b. 1813) then about 52 years old. We pause here to state that his wife was Lydia {b. 1822} and they were the parents of Leonard A. Tillinghast {b. 1843} then about 22 years old.

The Civil War Ends

Though most everyone knows, the Civil War ended with Lee's surrender on 9 April 1865. The news spread via telegraph, so anyone near the Greene telegraph office would have known the news before the newspaper was delivered by train. The immediate effects upon Phillips were nil, as the rapid growth of Providence continued to drive his business affairs. Only days, alter, Lincoln was assassinated on 15 April 1865, along with Secretary of State Seward (3^rd in succession then).

Whipple and Robie might ordinarily have mourned the loss of Lincoln, but their darkest day had come – their beloved daughter, Emeline Estella, died that same day of 15 April 1865.

Her name would be remembered in the next birth as on 10 July 1866 Annie Emeline Phillips was born.

Whipple Phillips: Mining Industrialist

We find a casual note in the Acts of the Providence Legislature for May 1864 (p. 66) that reads simply:

Whipple Phillips, James W. Phillips, Earl C. Potter, and David Heaton, 2d, their associates and successors, are hearby made a body corporate … by the name of the Providence Mining and Smelting Company.

What?

We immediately see that James Wheaton Phillips was Whipple's brother. Earl C. Potter (b. 1829, Providence) and his father Nathaniel F Potter (b. 1809 Coventry) were brick makers and experts and clay soil and firing bricks at their factory, the Nyatt and Narangasett Brick Co (begun 1847). David Heaton appears to have been a jeweler in Providence. Other details have been surmised as follows.

It is astonishing to see how rapidly that Whipple went from being a grocer (1855), to lumber tycoon (post 1861), to contemplating mining (late 1863). Whipple Phillips believed in the velocity of money, and it is highly likely that future research will uncover even more land deals and industrial deals that are as yet hidden during this time period.

An Aside: Population Estimates of 1865

We have nearly exact census records for Foster as 1,873 and Coventry as 3,995 because of the Rhode Island census of 1865. Greene would have been, and was, a part of the Coventry census. This puts in context how few were the residents in this area, and how important WVP's business activities were for the local population.

Coventry consisted of several clusters of villages. Greene was situated with Hopkins Hollow south, and Rice City north. They might have been considered more “suburbs” of Foster than of Coventry.

Anthony, Washington, and Quidnick lay towards Providence, and nestled between Cranston, West Warwick, and East Greenwich.

Coventry Centre lay nearly equidistant between these two village clusters. Above it lay Scituate, and below West Greenwich. Potterville and Summit were the other hamlets.

Thus the population of Coventry was spread about numerous and various sized villages. An historical retrospective from 1978 (see reference) discusses a few things that WVP built, though if we are to take the Squire G Wood 3^rd memoir as accurate, their white paper shows some inaccuracies. Despite this, the white paper begins with the 1643 purchase that would contain Coventry, and expands upon the numerous villages, sometimes waxing, sometimes waning in population. What does seem important, is that Anthony seemed to be far more prestigious than Greene. From there came two consecutive State Senators. So, in those latter few years of the 1860's, WVP became politically motivated and known to the rest of Coventry's voting population (still mostly land owners, but slowly liberalized to include others). At some point he would have had to have given “sump” speeches and other flesh-pressing endeavors. It also helped to have powerful friends.

Reference: page xvi of Report upon the Census of Rhode Island 1865, Edwin M. Snow, Providence Press Company, 1867.

Historic and Architectural Resources of Coventry Rhode island: A Preliminary Report., Rhode Island Historical Preservation Committee, February 1978

Whipple Phillips and the Wood River Railroad (1966)

This writer has found some circumstantial evidence that Whipple was part of a larger exploratory group to build a branch railroad off of the Hartford, Providence & Fishkill. It may have been spearheaded by Amasa Sprague (cotton mill owner), as he later did incorporate and create a small rail lineⁱ.

The Acts of Rhode island (1866) declare “An Act to Incorporate Wood River Railroad Company: Amasa Sprague, David L. Aldrich, J. B. Potter, Edward Barber, W. F. Segar, Henry Whipple, Whipple V Phillips, George Harris, Bela P. Clapp ...”.

This writer researched some of these names. J. B. Potter was the cashier's name on a bank in Alton, adjacent to the Wood River area, and the bank was named The Richmond Bank. David L. Aldrich was associated with the town of Hopkinton and by 1888 he was president of the then-Wood River Branch Rail Road Company. This writer believes that Edward Barber was president of the Hopkinton Savings Bank associated with Hope Valley. William Francis Segar (b. 1826 in Hopkinton) went to the same school as WVP (East Greenwich Academy), spent several years in Providence, and later moved to live in Wyoming. Along with his father, Francis B. Segar, was a director of the Richmond Bank. Bela Parsons Clapp (1830 - 1907) was a key figure in Pawtucket running a large ammonia factory (made from swamp gas). George Harris, unfortunately, was such a commonplace name, it was impossible to find specific data.

So, we have three industrialists (Sprague, Clapp, and Phillips) with several interested bankers to exploit this new area. Of these, Phillips – then only 33 – was the least notable. This indicates that at the time, he had a great deal of expendable cash reserves, and still was on the short list of the powerful Sprague family. Undoubtedly, this was a ground floor opportunity for WVP. (Sadly, it seems not to have materialized at this point). This writer speculates that Clapp would have tapped into the methane in the region, while Phillips would have access to timber, and solid mineral reserves. Huge profits for all.

It seemed clear that Providence would continue to grow at a rapid pace. That meant it needed wood, and lots more of it. Five years of non-stop chopping and sawing must have made a dent in the vast timberland around Greene. As the Wood River flowed, huge timberland lay in that swampy area. In addition, the small settlement there needed access to the main rail line to sell their goods or perish. A survey however, would show that this would be hard territory to rail, and a bridge would be essential.

The immediate predecessor of the Wood River Branch was the Wood River Railroad, incorporated in January, 1867, to construct a line from Richmond Switch, on the Stonington Road, through Woodville and Hope Valley, both stirring industrial non entities, to a final enigmatic destination of Greene, on the Hartford, Providence & Fishkill. The corporation was capitalized at $600,000 for the approximately twenty miles of route and was authorized to merge with either of the connecting railroads. Apparently the main intent here was to give Hope Valley competitive service. The Wood River line was never built, however, and in May of 1872 a new corporation was formed to build an abbreviated section from Wyoming to Richmond Switch. Even this was later cut back to Hope Valley, or "Locustville".

The 1867 issue of the legislative acts of Rhode Island were not available to this writer, and the 1872 and 1873 issue, as well as news articles do not discuss Whipple Phillips participation. It is this writer's opinion, that as the rail line went to “enigmatic” Greene, then Whipple had either an influence of a desire to open up that territory for more growth and business enterprise exchanges. That it did not get off the ground in 1867 could have been a set back, and diverted his interests elsewhere.

This would have been fortuitous, because one of the worst disasters in Rhode Island history occurred on the finished rail line. The tarin crashed off of the bridge to disastrous effect. A bridge washout caused the train to flip over on 19 April 1873. The rail system (then called Boston & Providence Railroad) used stoves rather than steam piping. As a result, not only did the train crash injure numerous riders, but it caught fire. Nineteen people died, and the national media picked up on it immediately (New York Times editorials beginning 20 April 1873). Not many days after the recovery of bodies, temporary repairs, and immediate hospitalization of the survivors, inquiries were called for. Had WVP still been a significant part of this, he would have had serious questions to answer.

References

See pp. 44-45 of Railroad Wrecks, Edgar A. Haine, Cornwall Books, 1994, or see internet http://books.google.com/books?id=S7t8DW4iYDMC&pg=PA44&dq=wood+river+disaster+rhode+island&hl=en&sa=X&ei=OBb5Tr7pHYLetgejl73QBg&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=wood%20riv accessed on 26 December 2011.

An Aside: Whipple V. Phillips and James Wheaton Phillips, 1866

While there are essentially no other details other than a single auction listing dating to 1911 (see clipping below), we find that Whipple Phillips, who sometimes worked business deals with James, deeded on 30 May 1866 a tract of land. Was it a sale? A gift? A barter for cooperation in a business deal of some sort – for instance the Wood River Railroad? We do not know. It does signify a close relationship to his family several months after the Civil War

Whipple V. Phillips Builds a Saw Mill (1866 - 1871)

In Liberty, which lay about 3/4 of a mile from West Greenwich Centre, lay a cotton mill originally built about 1808 by one John Manchester. It burned in 1822, but was restarted by Manchester. He died in 1843, and the cotton mill lay fallow. In 1866, Whipple V. Phillips purchased this land, remodeled the remains of the structure into a saw mill for shingles, and crates. It burned in 1871.

About this same time, in 1866, a man named Albert Wells began a carriage shop not far away. When the fire erupted in 1871, Wells purchased the Phillips property and rebuilt it for his own use.

Not far from Greene, it should be noted, that an important physician in Whipple V. Phillips life haled from West Greenwich Centre. Dr. George D. Wilcox, a son-in-law of one Joseph Fry (a son of John Fry) practiced medicing about this time, and later relocated to Providence. Sometime in the future, Wilcox became WVP's family physician.

The Political Climate in 1868 to 1870

Much more will be said about politics when the 1870's are discussed at length. But a short summary is necessary to set that stage.

In the legislature, Dr. Job Kenyon, from the town of Anthony (town begun in 1806) was the State Senator from Coventry. A Civil War participant, and well known, he had established residency in 1853, and represented the town as Senator in 1868. Asahael Matteson (also residing in Antony) was State Senator for Coventry in 1869 and 1870.

Representatives came and went. For instance, in 1868, the representatives were John J. Kilton, Jr. and John Potter, 2^nd. The representatives from Coventry in 1869 were Horatio Alonzo. Stone and Mason W. hale. Of course, as we will discuss later, the state representatives for 1870 were Horatio A. Stone and Whipple V. Phillips.

That same year, the election results (April 1868) showed Coventry landsliding for the incumbent gubernatorial candidate, former General Ambrose Burnside 212 to 67 (76%). In those days, the governor was elected annually, and Burnside won in 1866, 1867, 1868. He retired from office, did international and other work, and would go on to be U. S. Senator in 1874.

One might compare this to Foster, Rhode Island that year – WVP's old homeplace – which went democratic for Pierce 146 to 59, a complete opposite.

Coventry was to remain a Republican stalwart. In 1869 it went for Paddleford over Pierce 180 to 34 (84%), and repeated in 1870 for Paddleford over Pierce 208 to 89 (70%).

Reference:

Providence Morning Herald, Thursday 2 April 1868, p.3

Providence Morning Herald, 7 April 1870

Whipple V. Phillips Almost Dies

We know from three independent sources that in Christmas Day 1869, one of the worst tragedies in Greene occurred. The Providence Journal, Squire G. Wood 3^rd, and Jeremaih S. McGregor all record the event at one time or another.

A new building in Greene was constructed, and the entire town assembled. It had grown considerably, and some support beams were moved to make way for tables and other items to be moved indoors. However, people moved into the building faster than expected perhaps, because the supports were not replaced. As Jeremiah S. McGregor came in dressed as Santa Claus, the upper floors crushed the lower supports, and the building collapsed with everyone inside.

From the Providence Journal, other wire (telegraph) reports recorded the event as it made national news. Below records the Journal article.

Sacramento Daily Union, Saturday, 8 January 1870, p. 2, Column 4.

A Sudden Interruption of the Festivities.

[From the Providence Journal, December 25th.]

We learn that an unfortunate accident occurred at Greene, in Coventry, last night, but which might almost be called fortunate, so many persons were put in mortal jeopardy, and yet escaped with unimportant hurts. A Christmas party had assembled under the auspices of the Ladies' Sewing Society, in the hall of a new building recently erected near the depot at Greene, and were engaged in pleasant festivities appropriate to the occasion. The company numbered something more than 200. About ten o'clock, just as Santa Claus, in full costume, entered the hall on his beneficent errand, the floor gave way without warning, and the party were precipitated upon the floor below with so much force as to carry that down also, and crushed humanity and broken floor timbers were tumbled in one promiscuous heap into the cellar.

Nearly half an hour elapsed before all could be extricated. Then, wonderful to relate, it was found that no one was killed, that probably not more than three or four had received fractures of their limbs, and that not more than twenty-five had suffered very serious injury from the terrible crash.

Our informant, who soon started for this city for surgical assistance, did not wait to learn definitely the particulars of the hurts. An elderly man named Humes was thought to be in a precarious condition.

Whipple V. Phillips was somewhat injured, but it was hoped not seriously. Dr. P. K. Hutchinson was one of the company who went down, but recovered himself so far as to be able to devote himself assiduously to the care of the others. It seems almost a miracle that the half dozen kerosene lamps were harmlessly extinguished in the crash, and that the stove, filled with glowing anthracite, was so near the chimney that it did not fall. If the burning coals had gone down upon that struggling mass in the cellar, the result might have been appalling. We hope to hear that no loss of life or limb will follow this disaster.

In 1869, it is likely the entire Phillips family was present: Whipple then 36, Robie (42) , Lillian (13), Susan (12), Edwin (5), and Annie (3). Dr. Hutchinson was still there, and shaken himself. The Woods were there. If things had went differently – the stove set fire, the kerosene burned, then the entire town could have been wiped out. Fortuitously, Fate was kind.

Whipple Phillips Expands His Coal and Lumber Business

In the late 1850's, Phillips moved rapidly from handling dry goods and sundries in a store, to providing wood for fuel to the Providence-Hartford & Fishkill Railroad. This is not only stated and implied in various memoirs, but stated precisely in Whipple's obituary. Sometime between the very late 1850's and the mid-1860's, Whipple made some type of contract with Joseph Hodges to supply various types of lumber (see advertisements below). As early as 1855, Joseph Hodges was selling coal and stoves in Providence at South Water Streetⁱⁱ.

While it seems that the people at Greene were lively about what Whipple Phillips was doing – bringing in jobs and investments – he seemed initially to go out of his way not to garner attention. Pouring through hundreds of contemporary town, railroad, year books, newspapers, and other documents this level-headed, ambitious business tycoon is rarely mentioned. Many men he associated with have prominent biographies in leading books, encyclopedias, and newspapers. Today they are nearly instantly Googled for results. It has taken a few years, hundreds of reading hours of looking for rare clues, and many thousands of searches to find and piece together the puzzle pieces of the 1860's for this outline. It is no wonder that previous researchers have come up short, or not cared to try – save the diligent Mr. Kenneth W. Faig, Jr. Prior to the “Google window” opening about 2008 there simply was no earthly way to locate this many clues about the man Whipple Van Buren Phillips. Even so, many previous researchers have had errors in their details, including Howard Phillips Lovecraft.

Through various contemporary and historical sources, we know that Whipple Phillips had his eye on a Providence location to directly sell coal and lumber. (After the exit of cashier Raymond G. Place about 1856 from the Mount Vernon bank, he opened a coal company for a while.) We can pinpoint down almost exactly when this happened through a series of newspaper advertisements in mid-1869ⁱⁱⁱ. On 26 June 1869 Joseph Hodges & Company had the last of their long running ads in the Providence Morning Herald. Unfortunately the 27 June 1869 newspaper is either non-extant or unavailable to this writer, but the 29 June 1869 newspaper has the first change stating “Whipple V. Phillips & Co. successors to Jos. Hodges & Co.”

If this were not enough, we have independent witness from a biographical article composed years later^iv.

Smith, Hon{orable} Robert … was born in Pawtucket … March 27, 1837 … in April, 1859, he entered the office of Joseph Hodges, on South Water Street, as clerk. He was admitted as partner with Mr. Hodges in November, 1867, the firm name being Joseph Hodges & Co. In June 1869, Mr. W. V. Phillips bought out the interest of Mr. Hodges in the concern, and the firm became W. V. Phillips & CO. In April, 1871, the firm name was changes to Phillips & Smith. In December, 1873, Mr. Phillips retired, though the name remained the same. In January, 1876, Mr. Smith {continued business changing the name, adding a new partner, and the company continued onwards}...

This indeed confirms to what the newspaper evidence alludes, though Joseph Hodges' life has not yet been uncovered. Adding details to what is known, we also see another change by October, “Office and yard, 78 South Water st., orders received at 5 Weybosset st.” As was Phillips continual process (see his use of Leonard Tillighast early in the '60's), he now has a managing partner, “Robert E. Smith”. Essentially, we can believe that Smith was long term clerk (we might consider this a chief operating officer position today), and was running the day to day business.

WVP: Into 1870

Starting in 1860, WVP was a store keeper who had been thrust out of Foster, Rhode Island amidst banking turmoil. Step by methodical step, he capitalized on business opportunities, used Masonic, Republican, and social ties to cement relationships throughout the region and in Providence. He was known as a man of integrity, a man of his word, and exuded what we would call “Family Values”. This writer takes him at his word that he abstained from alcohol, tobacco, and any and all immoral taints even if and when others did. He did not serve in the Civil War – but there is not a hint that anyone anywhere held this against him. It was a non-issue. He made it through recessions, inflation, the War, the assassination, the loss of a daughter, and deep into Reconstruction.

It is at this time, we can now declare that Whipple Van Buren Phillips was beginning tp exude the wealth we later associate him with, and he would take his largesse and begin to benefit the community of Greene.

Dickens stated in the Tale of Two Cities, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. So, too, were the 1870's for Whipple V. Phillips.

Above, facsimile of Whipple Phillips and his live-in workers from an 1870 census. It includes Whipple (36), Robie (43), Lillie D. (14), Sarah S. (12), Edwin E. (6), Annie E. (4), and Edward (24) and Charles (19) Valentine.

i Volume IV, Number 2 NARRAGANSETT NEWSLETTER THE WOOD RIVER BRANCH RAILROAD COMPANY By Merle K. Peirce, see http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/RIGENWEB/2001-02/0981208620 accessed 26 July 2011

ii Manufacturers and Farmers Journal, p 19 November 1855, column 5, page 3, advertisement. In 1858 the same materials were sold (English Cannel coal).

iii Mr. Kenneth W. Faig, Jr. uncovered a city directory that lists Whipple Phillips as an associate with B. W. Persons and Robert E. Smith in 1868.

iv A History of New England: Containing Historical and Descriptive … Volume 2, page 26, R. H. Howard, Henry E. Crocker, 1881. a long biography on