History of Cumberland, (Providence County) Rhode Island United States of America

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Biographies:

Thomas Allen Jenckes, representative, was born in Cumberland, R.I., Nov. 2, 1818; son of Thomas B. and Abigail W. (Allen) Jenckes. He was prepared for college by the Rev. Adin Ballou, and was graduated from Brown university, A.B., 1838, A.M., 1841. He was a tutor in mathematics in Brown, 1839-40, at the same time studying law, and was admitted to the bar in 1840. He was married, in June, 1842, to Mary Jane, daughter of Belotes Fuller, a native of Attleboro, Mass. He was clerk in the Rhode Island house of representatives, 1840-41; secretary of the landholders' convention of Rhode Island, in 1841, and secretary of the constitutional convention, in 1842. He served in both houses of the legislature, and in 1855 was appointed a member of the commission to revise the laws of the state. He was a Republican representative in the 38th, 39th, 40th and 41st congresses, 1863-71, serving as chairman of the committee on patents. He was prominent in urging upon congress the adoption of the civil service reform, and in carrying through the bankrupt law, and spoke in behalf of both measures before the New York chamber of commerce, and before Cooper Union audiences, and after the close of his congressional Career he became a prominent lawyer in New York city. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Brown in 1873. He published reports on the bankrupt law, civil service, and the ventilation of the capitol. He died at Cumberland, R.I., Nov. 4, 1875.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Latimer Whipple Ballou, representative, was born in Cumberland, R.I., March 1, 1812; son of Levi and Hepsa (Metcalf) Ballou; grandson of Levi and Comfort (Thompson) Ballou, and a descendant of Mathurin Bellews, Providence, R.I., 1646. He learned the printing business at the University Press, Cambridge, Mass., and helped to establish the Cambridge Press in 1835, where he remained until 1842, when he engaged in mercantile pursuits at Woonsocket, R.I. He was cashier of the Woonsocket Falls bank and treasurer of the Woonsocket institute for savings, 1850-'99. He was presidential elector in 1860; a delegate to the Republican national convention in 1872, and a Republican representative from the 2d Rhode Island district in the 44th, 45th and 46th congresses, 1875-'81. He was treasurer and president of Dean academy, Franklin, Mass. He died May 9, 1900.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor