Biographies taken from Books


History of RI and Providence Plantations p. 375
CLARENCE EDMUND COLVIN
Clarence Edmund COLVIN, one of the successful farmers of Oak Lawn, Cranston, township, RI A native of this place was born April 2, 1893. He is a son of Albertus Mervin and Julia Maria (WHITMAN) COLVIN, grandson of Samuel Alfred and Mariah (HOPKINS) COLVIN and great-grandson of Holden and Sally (TAYLOR) COLVIN. The COLVIN family has resided in this state for many generations and its members have been intimately identified with the affairs of this region. Albertus Mervin COLVIN, the father of this sketch, was born in Hopkinton, RI May 28, 1866, and there resided until he had completed his twelfth year, when his parents removed to Scituate. He studied in the schools of both these places, but while still a mere lad, began to work in the local mill. He later assisted his father on his farm in Scituate and attended the public schools there during the winter months. He then worked at Warwick on the farm of Stephen HARRIS and after one year was made superintendent. In 1890 he came to Cranston, where he engaged in farming and lumbering and made a specialty of the retail milk business. In the latter he began with only six cows, but developed his business until he had a herd of more than eighty cows, and produced over seven hundred quarts of milk per day. His farm also became one of the model properties in this region and he erected upon it a splendid hay and cattle barn, measing sixty by eighty feet, which has been accounted the finest of its kind in this section of the country. Mr. COLVIN also built, in 1907, one of the handsomest residences hereabouts and fitted it with every modern improvement. He married, December 24, 1887, Julia Mariah WHITMAN, a daughter of Alfred Young and Sylvania (COLVIN) WHITMAN, and they were the parents of the following children: Mabel, Mariah, born Nov. 21, 1890; Erlo Alvin, who is now in the United States Army and was born May 6, 1892; Clarence Edmund, with whose career we are here especially concerned; and Elmer Everett born March 25, 1897. Clarence Edmund COLVIN received his education at the public schools of Oak Lawn and Knightsville, and early in his life assisted his father in the latter's agricultural operations, his first occupation being to drive a milk wagon in the surrounding region. He is now engaged independently in the milk business and is owner of a small but highly improved farm, possessing his own sterilizing plant and producing about six hundred quarts of milk per day. Mr. COLVIN, in addition to his large farming business, is active in the general life of the community, and is a member of the Oak Lawn Grange. In politics he is an independent voter, casting his ballot for the candidate and issue which he himself believes most likely to benefit the community and without regard to partisan consideration. Although not a member of any church, Mr. COLVIN attends the Oak Lawn Baptist Church and is active in the work of the congregation. He is regarded as one of the most prominent of the rising young men of his community. Clarence Edmund COLVIN was united in marriage on September 20, 1911, with Miriam Ester COTTRELL of Cranston, and one child has been born of this union, Edmund Lester COLVIN October 7, 1917. Back to Colvin Opening Page
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