Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/639

PROMINENT ACTORS. 521 ored him with the senatorship during the years 1862, 3, 4. Mr. Mathevvson was a liberal supporter of the St. John's Episcopal Church, and became a loyal friend in Council and in contribution when such friends were few. Among those Mr. Mathewson influenced to come to Barrington was Mr. John C. Burrington, who became one of our most valuable citizens, an earnest friend of all town interests, and a devout supporter of St. John's Church, with which his name will ever be associated. Prior to the advent of the railroad, the town received a substantial gain in the coming of Mr. George R. Kinnicutt to establish a central station of the stage route between Providence and Bristol, on the Kinni- cutt homestead. Mr. Kinnicutt and his family were valu- able accessions to the town, and his enterprise afforded the accommodations of a public house, a post-offlce, a public stable and a stage offlce. Another loyal son of Barrington, who brought back to his native town the results of a suc- cessful business career in Providence, was Mr. Allen Brown, son of Deacon Kent Brown. His mature judgment, wide experience in public matters, and his generous and hospitable spirit, made him a strong support in the new career of the town. He promptly joined his progressive townsmen in their plans to advance the social and civil concerns of Bar- rinsfton and in return the town honored him as it did another son, Mr. Mathewson, with the senatorship, in 1859-60-1. Mr. Henry Staples, son of Judge William Staples of Providence, moved to Barrington in the fifties, and immedi- ately took a hand in public matters. His brain was fertile in plans ; his activities were constant and versatile in their execution. Though often defeated in his proposals, he was never disheartened. He felt that he was born to lead, and the town appreciated his abilities in accepting his leadership on many matters, while in others his enthusiasm was in excess or in advance of the popular judgment. His services during the Civil War were especially valuable and appreci- ated. Mr. Staples advocated the building of good roads, and, as surveyor of highways, built the first piece of Macadam highway in the town, between the meeting-house