The Political Graveyard: Washington County, R.I.

Washington County
Rhode Island

Washington County information:

Population: 123,546 (2000); 110,006 (1990)
Land area 333 square miles.
County seat: West Kingston
Capital Impact: Washington County -- officials, addresses, and political, economic, education data
Fedstats/Mapstats: Washington County -- data on agriculture, population, immigration, business, crime, environment
Washington County RIGenWeb page -- genealogical, historical information and queries
(if this link doesn't work, find the new one through the USGenWeb national site).

Neighboring areas:

The Political Graveyard:

Politicians who were born in Washington County
Politicians who lived in Washington County
Politicians who died in Washington County
Cemeteries and Memorial Sites of Politicians in Washington County

Assignment of birthplaces, deathplaces, and cemeteries to counties is subject to error. The intent is to locate places according to current county names and boundaries. If you don't find what you're looking for, check other nearby counties, the unassigned page, or the Gazetteer. Any corrections to county locations would be greatly appreciated. See contact information on the Main Page.

Politicians who were born in Washington County

Ashaway, Hopkinton: Alexander B. Briggs 1850 Albert S. Babcock 1851
Charlestown: Joseph Stanton, Jr. 1739
Exeter: Samuel W. Hopkins 1845 John Nelson Lewis 1847
Hopkinton: Josiah Peckham Palmer 1828 Alva Crandall 1835 Robert Scott Hirst 1922
Little Rest (now part of Kingston): Elisha R. Potter 1764 Elisha Reynolds Potter 1811
Narragansett Pier, Narragansett: Lincoln MacVeagh 1890
North Kingstown: John Whitman 1780 Samuel W. K. Allen 1842
Richmond: Alfred Whitman Kenyon 1836
South Kingstown: Sylvester Gardner c.1730 Nathaniel Niles 1741 John Gardner 1747
Westerly: Nathan Fellows Dixon II 1812 Nathan F. Dixon 1847 Charles P. Bennett 1861 G. Benjamin Utter 1881 Thomas D. Santoro 1922 Paul F. Palumbo, Jr. 1926 John O. Matson 1946 Scott Bill Hirst 1953
See also R.I. birthplaces not assigned to counties.

Politicians who lived in Washington County

No city given: Kenneth Carter - Amanda A. Doescher - Brian P. Kennedy - Donald J. Lally, Jr. - Harriet E. Powell - Joseph H. Scott
Allenton, North Kingstown: Margaret M. Hazard
Ashaway, Hopkinton: J. D. Babcock - Scott Bill Hirst
Carolina, Charlestown: Milton Duckworth
Charlestown: Sarah J. Browning - Robert Manning - Lulu M. Schlesinger - Edward Wilcox
Exeter: Jeffrey Hazard - Eben Slocum
Hope Valley, Hopkinton: Edwin J. Knerr - John O. Matson
Hopkinton: Edwin R. Allen - Elisha R. Bitgood - Arthur M. Cottrell, Jr. - Lester Crandall - Oliver Davis - Milton N. Gilman - Robert Scott Hirst - Kenneth W. Mott - Joseph Popiolek - Donald Tetlow - Benjamin B. Thurston - Jeremiah Thurston
Kenyon, Charlestown: Susan Sharp Adams
Kingston, South Kingstown: Frank Robinson, Jr.
Narragansett: Joseph Bristow - David A. Caprio - Norman S. Case - Tracey Cugno - Henry B. Kane - J. Howard McGrath - Claudine Schneider - Carole G. Wheeler
Narragansett Pier, Narragansett: Joseph I. Denico - Walter A. Nye
North Kingstown: Christopher Allen - Melvoid J. Benson - Laurence W. Ehrhardt - William Gregory - Edna O'Neill Mattson - John J. Reynolds
Peace Dale, South Kingstown: Percy Hathaway - Rowland G. Hazard - Sumner Mowry
Potter Hill, Hopkinton: Howard E. Thorp
Richmond: John W. Collins - Alfred Whitman Kenyon - Frank J. Sibley
Rockville, Hopkinton: Albert S. Babcock
Saunderstown, Narragansett: Stephen A. Fanning - Henry M. Gallagher - Frederick R. Hazard - Ira Lloyd Letts - Robert A. Weygand
Slocum, North Kingstown: Martha A. Gardner
South Kingstown: George Brown - James L. Forbes - Rowland Hazard - James Helme - Leona A. Kelley - M. J. MacKenzie - Robert F. Noyes - William Peckham - Asa Potter - Elisha R. Potter - Samuel J. Potter - John P. Shanley, Jr. - Nathaniel W. Smith - Martha Stamp - Robert B. Votava - Elisha Watson
Wakefield, South Kingstown: Jeanne Harrington - Mrs. Richard H. Murray
Westerly:
- Lived in Westerly, year not specified: Antonio Charles Trovato
- Lived in Westerly, 1700-1799: Samuel Ward
- Lived in Westerly, 1800-1899: Rowse Babcock - Ira B. Crandall - Samuel H. Cross - Nathan F. Dixon - Thomas Noyes - Francis S. Peabody - James M. Pendleton - William Rhodes - George D. Utter
- Lived in Westerly, 1900-1999: Louis W. Arnold - Louis B. Capuccio - Alexander G. Crumb - Samuel H. Davis - John Gentile - John J. F. McGauran - John M. O'Connell - Margaret W. Perry - Thomas D. Santoro - G. Benjamin Utter - George H. Utter
- Lived in Westerly, 2000-2008: Dennis Algiere - David Gingerella - Peter L. Lewiss - Mary Lou Walter
Wickford, North Kingstown: John B. Pierce - Joseph E. Smith
See also R.I. areas not assigned to counties.

Politicians who died in Washington County

Charlestown: Joseph Stanton, Jr. 1807
Kingston, South Kingstown: Elisha Reynolds Potter 1882
North Kingstown: Sylvester Gardner 1803 John O. Pastore 2000
Rockville, Hopkinton: Josiah Peckham Palmer 1897
South Kingstown: John Gardner 1808 Elisha R. Potter 1835 Leona A. Kelley 2000
Usequepaug, South Kingstown: Alfred Whitman Kenyon 1915
Wakefield, South Kingstown: Norman S. Case 1967
Westerly: Nathan Fellows Dixon II 1881 Thomas Vincent Stillman 1891 Nathan F. Dixon 1897 Warren O. Arnold 1910 Paul F. Palumbo, Jr. 2003

Cemeteries and Memorial Sites of Politicians in Washington County

Private or family graveyards
Exeter Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery
Hopkinton Thurston Cemetery
Ashaway, Hopkinton First Hopkinton Cemetery
Ashaway, Hopkinton Oak Grove Cemetery
Hope Valley, Hopkinton Pine Grove Cemetery
Rockville, Hopkinton Rockville Cemetery
Allenton, North Kingstown Elmgrove Cemetery
Richmond Wood River Cemetery
Wakefield, South Kingstown Riverside Cemetery
Westerly River Bend Cemetery
Westerly St. Sebastian Cemetery

Private or family graveyards
Washington County, Rhode Island

Politicians buried here:

Elisha Reynolds Potter (1764-1835) — also known as Elisha R. Potter — of South Kingstown, Washington County, R.I. Born in Little Rest (now part of Kingston), Washington County, R.I., November 5, 1764. Father of Elisha Reynolds Potter (1811-1882). Served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War; member of Rhode Island house of deputies, 1793-96; Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Deputies, 1795-97; U.S. Representative from Rhode Island, 1796-97, 1809-15 (at-large 1796-97, 2nd District 1809-11, at-large 1811-15); member of Rhode Island state house of representatives, 1798-1808, 1816-17, 1819-35; Speaker of the Rhode Island State House of Representatives, 1802, 1806-09; candidate for Governor of Rhode Island, 1818. Died in South Kingstown, Washington County, R.I., September 26, 1835. Interment at at a private or family graveyard.
- See also: congressional biography.
Elisha Reynolds Potter (1811-1882) — of Rhode Island. Born in Little Rest (now part of Kingston), Washington County, R.I., June 20, 1811. Son of Elisha Reynolds Potter (1764-1835). Adjutant General of Rhode Island, 1835-36; member of Rhode Island state house of representatives, 1838-40; U.S. Representative from Rhode Island 2nd District, 1843-45; defeated, 1844; member of Rhode Island state senate, 1847-52, 1861-63; justice of Rhode Island state supreme court, 1868-82; died in office 1882. Died in Kingston, South Kingstown, Washington County, R.I., April 10, 1882. Interment at at a private or family graveyard.
- See also: congressional biography.

Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery
Exeter, Washington County, Rhode Island

Politicians buried here:

Gaetano D. Parella (c.1923-2001) — also known as Kelly Parella — of Bristol, Bristol County, R.I. Born in Bristol, Bristol County, R.I. Served in the U.S. Army during World War II; member of Rhode Island state house of representatives, 1971-93. Catholic. Italian ancestry. Member, American Legion; Elks; Knights of Columbus; Sons of Italy. Died in Bristol, Bristol County, R.I., July 4, 2001. Interment at Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery.

Thurston Cemetery
Hopkinton, Washington County, Rhode Island

Politicians buried here:

Jeremiah Thurston — of Hopkinton, Washington County, R.I. Father of Benjamin Babock Thurston. Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island, 1816-17. Interment at Thurston Cemetery.

First Hopkinton Cemetery
Ashaway, Hopkinton, Washington County, Rhode Island

Politicians buried here:

Robert Scott Hirst (1922-1994) — of Hopkinton, Washington County, R.I. Born in Hopkinton, Washington County, R.I., April 1, 1922. Son-in-law of James Bard Bill; father of Scott Bill Hirst. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during World War II; delegate to Rhode Island state constitutional convention, 1955; member of Rhode Island Republican State Central Committee; postmaster. Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Freemasons. Died in Providence, Providence County, R.I., March 22, 1994. Interment at First Hopkinton Cemetery.
- See also Bill family of Connecticut
George Bradford Carpenter — of Rhode Island. Member of Rhode Island state house of representatives, 1878-82. Interment at First Hopkinton Cemetery.

Oak Grove Cemetery
Ashaway, Hopkinton, Washington County, Rhode Island

Politicians buried here:

James Bard Bill (1888-1954) — also known as J. Bard Bill — of North Stonington, New London County, Conn. Born in North Stonington, New London County, Conn., April 12, 1888. Great-grandnephew of Lodowick Bill; grandnephew of Jepthah Greer Bill; father-in-law of Robert Scott Hirst; grandfather of Scott Bill Hirst. Republican. Member of Connecticut state house of representatives, 1941-45. Died in North Stonington, New London County, Conn., September 14, 1954. Interment at Oak Grove Cemetery.
- See also Bill family of Connecticut
Lloyd Barber Langworthy (1892-1965) — also known as Lloyd B. Langworthy — of Rhode Island. Born July 25, 1892. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during World War I; candidate in primary for Rhode Island state house of representatives, 1948. Member, American Legion. Died in 1965. Interment at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Pine Grove Cemetery
Hope Valley, Hopkinton, Washington County, Rhode Island

Politicians buried here:

Edwin Robinson Allen (b. 1840) — also known as Edwin R. Allen — of Hopkinton, Washington County, R.I. Born in Windham, Windham County, Conn., November 26, 1840. Son of Edwin Allen and Ruth B. (Noyes) Allen; married, January 1, 1868, to Mary E. Thayer. Republican. Merchant; town clerk, Hopkinton, R.I., from 1867; Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island, 1894-97. Baptist. Member, Grand Army of the Republic. Interment at Pine Grove Cemetery.

Rockville Cemetery
Rockville, Hopkinton, Washington County, Rhode Island

Politicians buried here:

Alva Crandall (1835-1902) — of Rhode Island. Born in Hopkinton, Washington County, R.I., November 13, 1835. Republican. Member of Rhode Island state senate, 1887-89. Died April 20, 1902. Interment at Rockville Cemetery.
Albert Stillman Babcock (b. 1851) — also known as Albert S. Babcock — of Rockville, Hopkinton, Washington County, R.I. Born in Ashaway, Hopkinton, Washington County, R.I., November 15, 1851. Republican. Member of Rhode Island state senate, 1893-1901; alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Rhode Island, 1900. Interment at Rockville Cemetery.
Josiah Peckham Palmer (1828-1897) — of Rhode Island. Born in Hopkinton, Washington County, R.I., March 9, 1828. Great-great-granduncle of Scott Bill Hirst. Member of Rhode Island state house of representatives, 1883-84. Died in Rockville, Hopkinton, Washington County, R.I., December 13, 1897. Interment at Rockville Cemetery.
- See also Bill family of Connecticut

Elmgrove Cemetery
Allenton, North Kingstown, Washington County, Rhode Island

Politicians buried here:

William Gregory (1849-1901) — of North Kingstown, Washington County, R.I. Born in Astoria, Queens, Queens County, N.Y., August 3, 1849. Republican. Member of Rhode Island state house of representatives, 1889-92; member of Rhode Island state senate, 1895-98; delegate to Republican National Convention from Rhode Island, 1896; Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island, 1898-1900; Governor of Rhode Island, 1900-01; died in office 1901. Member, Freemasons. Died December 16, 1901. Interment at Elmgrove Cemetery.
- See also: National Governors Association biography.

Wood River Cemetery
Richmond, Washington County, Rhode Island

Politicians buried here:

Edwin J. Knerr — of Hope Valley, Hopkinton, Washington County, R.I. Democrat. Physician; member of Rhode Island state senate from Hopkinton, 1911. Member, Odd Fellows. Interment at Wood River Cemetery.

Riverside Cemetery
Wakefield, South Kingstown, Washington County, Rhode Island

Politicians buried here:

Leona A. Kelley (1919-2000) — of South Kingstown, Washington County, R.I. Born in Providence, Providence County, R.I., 1919. Republican. School teacher; member of Rhode Island state house of representatives 49th District, 1985-2000; died in office 2000; delegate to Republican National Convention from Rhode Island, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 (alternate). Female. Died, of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, in South County Hospital, South Kingstown, Washington County, R.I., November 7, 2000. Interment at Riverside Cemetery.

River Bend Cemetery
Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island

Politicians buried here:

Nathan Fellows Dixon (1774-1842) — of Rhode Island. Born in Plainfield, Windham County, Conn., December 13, 1774. Father of Nathan Fellows Dixon II; grandfather of Nathan Fellows Dixon III. Member of Rhode Island state legislature; U.S. Senator from Rhode Island, 1839-42; died in office 1842. Died in Washington, D.C., January 29, 1842. Interment at River Bend Cemetery; cenotaph at Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
- See also Dixon family of Rhode Island
- See also: congressional biography.
Nathan Fellows Dixon III (1847-1897) — also known as Nathan F. Dixon — of Westerly, Washington County, R.I. Born in Westerly, Washington County, R.I., April 28, 1847. Grandson of Nathan Fellows Dixon; son of Nathan Fellows Dixon II. Republican. U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island, 1877-85; U.S. Representative from Rhode Island 2nd District, 1885; U.S. Senator from Rhode Island, 1889-95. Died in Westerly, Washington County, R.I., November 8, 1897. Interment at River Bend Cemetery.
- See also Dixon family of Rhode Island
- See also: congressional biography.
George Herbert Utter (1854-1912) — also known as George H. Utter — of Westerly, Washington County, R.I. Born in New Jersey, July 24, 1854. Married to Elizabeth Lavina Brown; father of George Benjamin Utter. Republican. Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island, 1904-05; Governor of Rhode Island, 1905-07; U.S. Representative from Rhode Island 2nd District, 1911-12; died in office 1912. Died November 3, 1912. Interment at River Bend Cemetery.
- See also: congressional biography; National Governors Association biography.
Nathan Fellows Dixon II (1812-1881) — of Rhode Island. Born in Westerly, Washington County, R.I., May 1, 1812. Son of Nathan Fellows Dixon; father of Nathan Fellows Dixon III. Member of Rhode Island state legislature; U.S. Representative from Rhode Island 2nd District, 1849-51, 1863-71. Died in Westerly, Washington County, R.I., April 11, 1881. Interment at River Bend Cemetery.
- See also Dixon family of Rhode Island
- See also: congressional biography.
James Monroe Pendleton (1822-1889) — also known as James M. Pendleton — of Westerly, Washington County, R.I. Born in Connecticut, 1822. Republican. Delegate to Republican National Convention from Rhode Island, 1868; Presidential Elector for Rhode Island, 1868; member of Rhode Island state legislature; U.S. Representative from Rhode Island 2nd District, 1871-75. Member, Freemasons; Knights Templar. Died in 1889. Interment at River Bend Cemetery.
- See also: congressional biography.
Arthur M. Cottrell, Jr. (b. 1906) — of Hopkinton, Washington County, R.I. Born in 1906. Republican. Member of Rhode Island state house of representatives; member of Rhode Island state senate; delegate to Republican National Convention from Rhode Island, 1956. Member, Freemasons; Elks. Entombed in mausoleum at River Bend Cemetery.
George Benjamin Utter (b. 1881) — also known as G. Benjamin Utter — of Westerly, Washington County, R.I. Born in Westerly, Washington County, R.I., April 11, 1881. Son of George Herbert Utter and Elizabeth Lavina (Brown) Utter; married, January 17, 1916, to Katherine Latham Wilbar. Republican. Newspaper editor; printing business; member of Rhode Island Republican State Central Committee, 1915-28; member of Rhode Island state house of representatives, 1925-26; alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Rhode Island, 1940; trustee, Westerly Hospital. Baptist. Member, Freemasons. Interment at River Bend Cemetery.
Edwin P. Chapman — of North Stonington, New London County, Conn. Great-great-granduncle of Scott Bill Hirst. Republican. Member of Connecticut state house of representatives. Interment at River Bend Cemetery.
- See also Bill family of Connecticut

St. Sebastian Cemetery
Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island

Politicians buried here:

John Matthew O'Connell (1872-1941) — also known as John M. O'Connell — of Westerly, Washington County, R.I. Born in Rhode Island, 1872. Democrat. Member of Rhode Island state legislature; U.S. Representative from Rhode Island 2nd District, 1933-39; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Rhode Island, 1936. Member, Elks. Died in 1941. Interment at St. Sebastian Cemetery.
- See also: congressional biography.
Thomas Domenico Santoro (1922-1975) — also known as Thomas D. Santoro — of Westerly, Washington County, R.I. Born in Westerly, Washington County, R.I., November 17, 1922. Innkeeper; insurance business; member of Rhode Island state senate, 1950-56; member of Rhode Island state house of representatives, 1960. Catholic. Italian ancestry. Member, Elks; Moose; Sons of Italy. Died, in Miriam Hospital, Providence, Providence County, R.I., June 28, 1975. Interment at St. Sebastian Cemetery.
Paul F. Palumbo, Jr. (1926-2003) — Born in Westerly, Washington County, R.I., April 11, 1926. Son of Paul Palumbo, Sr. and Annie (Algiere) Palumbo. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Died, in The Westerly Hospital, Westerly, Washington County, R.I., March 8, 2003. Interment at St. Sebastian Cemetery.

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