Notable Natives
Although mainly a rural community, Glocester has had a number of famous natives and residents ...
WARREN O. ARNOLD Senator.
GEORGE HUNTINGTON BROWNE Senator.
MAUDE (READ) FARNUM Daughter of Walter A. Read listed below, Farnum was a philanthropist and Rhode Island's first woman banker.
LT. GOV. CHARLES FOGARTY Charles Fogarty has served his town and his state earnestly and honorably for many years, most recently rising to the post of Lieutenant Governor of the State of Rhode Island. Before taking office in January of 1999, Mr. Fogarty served for eight years as State Senator representing the 27th District. His leadership roles in the Senate included Majority Whip and Senate President Pro Tempore.
DANIEL OWEN Owen was Lt. Governor of Rhode Island and also President of the Constitutional Convention at Newport and North Kingstown that accepted the U.S. Constitution (Rhode Island was the last colony to do so). He forged and manufactured fine farm implements which were exported to England and was also instrumental in the coining of the first American cent.
ELIZABETH (PHETTEPLACE) PERRY Ms. Perry was the author of "A brief history of the town of Glocester, Rhode Island: preceded by sketch of the territory while a part of Providence," the first published history of the town.
WALTER A. READ Treasurer of the State of Rhode Island, Read was also a store owner and merchant.
COL. SHERWOOD C. "WOODY" SPRING U.S. Army Colonel and NASA astronaut Woody Spring was born in 1944 at Hartford, Connecticut, but considers the village of Harmony in Glocester, Rhode Island, to be his hometown. He is currently the Director of the U.S. Army Space Program Office in Fairfax, Virginia. Click here for more info about Glocester's own astronaut, and visit Appleby's Bar & Grille in nearby Greenville to see Woody's flight suit and other memorabilia.
COL. REUBEN STEERE Chepachet native and world traveler Col. Reuben Steere, just 44 inches tall and 43 pounds at maturity, was a member of the famous Lilliputian Opera Company. On March 7, 1880 Reuben married fellow Lilliputian Rebecca Ann Myers of Indiana (41 inches tall and 41 pounds) at Rochester, New York. Their attendants were also members of the Company. The couple settled down in Chepachet in 1882, where Reuben made a living as Chepachet School's Truant Officer. His wife "Annie" operated a restaurant and confectionary shop next to the Masonic Hall, just north of the present-day Sunoco Station.
ABRAHAM TOURTELLOT A Huegenot, Tourtellot was the first permanent settler at Chepachet. He was also the first in the town to own a tavern license.
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