Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1854-11-09

DEATH OF joins lIowLASD.-It becomes
our melancholy duty this morning, to au-
nouncc the dcccasc of our venerable towns
man, John Rowland, Esq. lie departed
This life yesterday, at I o'clock, having
reached tic full age Of 81 years.
Mr.. Rowland was born in Newport, Oct
81, 1857, and at the age of ID years came
10 is city as an apprentice to the late Mr..
benjamin Gladding. The stirring times of
the Revolution fired him with patriotic ar
dor, and under its impulse he entered the
army. lie was with Washington at Tren-
ton and Princeton, and subsequently with
Gen. Spencer on Rhode Island. In COM
mon with his compatriots in arms, he suf-
fered intensity from privation, to which was
added the pains and discomforss of sick
ness. On leaving the army, he returned
to Providence, and after completing his
term of service with Mr.. G., commenced
business on his own account. His shop
was the gathering place of thS leading men
OF The town, and by such intercourse he
became familiar with the politics of the
times.
A man Of Mr. Howland's active habits
would not long remain in obscurity, and we
soon find him taking a prominent part in
town affairs, often preparing business in adj
vance of public meetings, and taking the
necessary preliminary measures to secure
important ends. 1t was thus he devoted
himself to the establishment Of n common
School System-a noble work with which
his memory will be in,eparably associated.
In all the works for the benefit of the town
to which he gave his encrgies, he found
ready and valuable coaJiutors in the princi-
pal memI 0 s.of the Mechanics Association,
one OF our most important institutions, and
OF which he was several years President.
The term of Mr.. IIowland's life in Prov
idence was eighty-iour years. For more
than half a century, he was identified with
events contributing to the prosperity of the
town, while his suggestive mind opened
the doorway TO fortune to not a few indi-
viduals. In 1903 he was elected a men,
Der Of the Town Council, and held a scat
at its board for fifteen years. He held the
responsible office of Town Treasurer for
the term of fourteen years, and at the or
ganization OF the city government, in 1882,
declined a reelection. OF the Savings Insti-
tuition, which we believe he was mainly in
strnmental in bringing into existence, he
was twenty-one years Treasurer. lie ro-
tired from the duties of the Office on indicar
tons OF declining health. He was long an
active officer of the First Congregational
Church, and at the time of his decease was
President of the Peace Society and tho
Historical Society, institutions in which no
took a deep interest. In 1885 Brown Uni
vcrsity conferred OH him the degree Of
A. NJ.
OF the peculiar traits Of Mr.. Rowland,
we have not time in the hurry Of a late hour
TO write. Few old men lived so much in
the present, and hence, while his remarka-
BILE conversational powers held out, his
spirit was cheerful, and his company was
alike attractive TO old and young. In all
the relations of life he was conscientious
and faithful, and he died as he had lived,
a useful citizen and in the assurance Of a
blessed Immortality. A life like Mr.. How
lands deserves more than this brief passing
notice. A life so full of incident as his
would be instructive to the rising genera
ton, and we hope, from The ample materials
that can be collected, a biography may be
compiled, alike honorable to his memory,
and crcdiiablc to his adopted town.-Pror,
Jour.