History of Peace Dale, (Washington County) Rhode Island United States of America

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Biographies:

Rowland Gibson Hazard, financier, was born in South Kingstown, R.I., Oct. 9, 1801; son of Rowland and Mary (Peace) Hazard; brother of Thomas Robinson Hazard; and a direct descendant in the seventh generation from Thomas Hazard, an original proprietor of Aquidneck island. He acquired his education at the schools of Burlington, N.J., Bristol, Pa., and finally at the Friends' boarding school, Westtown, Pa. In 1819, with his eldest brother, Isaac Peace Hazard, he engaged in manufacturing at Peace Dale, R.I. In 1866 he retired from business, having amassed a fortune, leaving his factories in the charge of his sons, Rowland and John Newbold Hazard. He was a member of the Rhode Island general assembly in 1851-52, 1854-55, and 1880-81, and served in the state senate in 1866-67. He was early identified with the Free Soil and AntiSlavery parties and was one of the founders of the Republican party, attending its first convention in Pittsburg, also going as a delegate to the Philadelphia convention of 1856 and the Chicago conventions of 1860 and 1868. His early connection with this party was so prominent that the southern newspapers warned southern people not to buy "Hazard's goods," and he was obliged to give up his trade in that section. In 1851 he introduced to the legislature of his state and caused the passage of a bill limiting the assumed absolute right, then claimed by railroad corpo rations, of taking private property, and obliged them to give certain public benefits for property taken. The principles which he then advocated were universally acknowledged to be sound and equitable. He united with the Union Pacific railroad company with the understanding that he was to have no part in its business management, but when the affairs of the company became involved he put the company on a solid basis by personal labor and direct advances. During the civil war he did much to sustain the national credit, and was offered an official position in the treasury department, which he declined. He visited Europe three times and while in England formed a friendship with John Stuart Mill, the philosopher. His own philosophical writings were read with interest throughout the English speaking world of learning. On Sept. 25, 1828, he was married to Caroline, daughter of John Newbold of Bloomsdale, Pa. He was a trustee of Brown university, 1869-75, and a fellow, 1875-88. From Brown he received the honorary degree of A.M. in 1845 and that of LL.D. in 1869. He gave to the university $40,000, which was used to endow the "Hazard" professorship of physics. Though constantly employed in business he found time for much writing, and published among other works: Essay on Language (1834); The Adaptation of the Universe to the Cultivation of the Mind (1840); Causes of Decline of Political Morality (1841); The Philosophical Character of Channing (1844); The Relations of Railroad Corporations to the Public (1849); The Duty of Individuals to Support Science and Literature (1855); The Resources of the United States (1864); The Freedom of the Mind in Willing (1866); Essays on Finance and Hours of Labor (1868); Causation and Freedom in Willing addressed to John Stuart Mill (1869). He died at Peace Dale, R.I., June 24, 1888.

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

Caroline Hazard, educator, was born at "Oakwoods," Peace Dale, R.I., June 10, 1856; daughter of Rowland and Margaret (Rood) Hazard; granddaughter of Rowland Gibson and Caroline (Newbold) Hazard; and of the ninth generation from Thomas Hazard, a founder of the town of Newport, R.I. She was liberally educated, primarily in a private school and for ten years as a member of a class of twenty young women, conducted by Prof. Jeremiah Lewis Diman, D.D., of Brown university, where she was trained in literature, history and political economy. She was elected president of the board of trustees of the South Kingstown high school; maintained a kindergarten in Peace Dale; was president of a King's Daughters circle in Peace Dale and became a member of the Society of Colonial Dames. She also assisted in organizing the Narragansett choral society in 1889, and instituted free Sunday afternoon concerts held for one hour every Sunday in the Hazard Memorial building, Peace Dale. This building was erected as a memorial to her grandfather, Rowland Gibson Hazard. During her tour of the Old World, 1876-77, she added to her knowledge of political economy, art and literature. In 1899 she was elected president of Wellesley college, Wellesley, Mass., as successor to Mrs. Julia J. Irvine. She was elected a member of the Rhode Island historical society and of the New England historic, genealogical society, and in October, 1899, a corporate member of the A.B.C.F.M. The University of Michigan conferred upon her the degree of M.A. and Brown university the degree of Litt.D. in 1899. She published: Memoirs of Prof. J. Lewis Diman (1886); College Tom; A Study of Life in Narragansett in the Eighteenth Century, by His Grandson's Granddaughter (1893); Narragansett Ballads, with Songs and Lyrics (1894); and The Narragansett Friends' Meeting in the Eighteenth Century (1899). She also edited the philosophical works of her grandfather, Rowland Gibson Hazard, published in 4 vols. (1889); and contributed to the magazines.

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