The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-11
MR.. COOKS TRIBUTE.
He Reads a Paper on the Late Henry
Whitman Green
At Meeting OF the Veteran Citizens His
t0rical Society.

The regular monthly meeting Of the Rhode
Island Veteran Citizens Historical Associa.
tion was held at the new Methodist Episcopal
Church on Matbewson street this afternoon.
The chief event of the meeting was the trio-
utes paid 10 the memory OF former valued
member Of the association. the late Henry
Whitman Greene. A poem was read by Rev.
Frederic Denison and then an interesting ana
valuable paper on the many noble qualities
of the deceased was read by Daniel A. Cook.
secretary of the association
Mr.. Cook prefaced the reading of his paper
by repeating from memory passages from the
poem Of Mrs. Hemans on death. He then re-
ferred to the noble qualities Of heart. the de
yotedness of the lost one to friends and the
recolections all had of his kind message to
the association at its last meeting in January.
The cordial manner in which this message
was received and how soon after, less than
week, came the sad news Of the death or
Farmer Greene, who had s, elegantly por'
trayed the ancient and noble virtue Of hospi-
tality.
Henry Whitman Greene, said Mr. Cook, was
born in Warwick at Old Buttonwoods, AMI
cane Of yeoman ancestry, so no title could
be sweeter TO his ears than that of Farmer
Greene he was educated in the district
school and for time went to the Pond street
school, and married n daughter of Jeremiah
Dexter In lss9 he came into possession Of the
Greene homestead with its l40 acres, large
portion of which was sold TO the Button
woods Associat ion. The old Greene military
spirit was in him and he had for while some
sympathy with Thoma, W. Dorr in his desire
10 extend the suffrage. In politics he was first
a Webster Whg and later on Joined the ranks
of the Republican party.
As far back as lsl0, in the memorable cam
paign OF Harrison, Mr.. Greene established a
reputation for himself as n selecter and cook
of the most luscious fruit OF Rhode Island 8
waters--clams. Elk President Harrison,
grandson Of the leader in the 1910 campaign,
was guest in 1888 at Buttonwoods.
The last time Farmer Greene listened 10 the
deliberations of the association was in July.
He was then the victim of a pleasant surprise
on the part Of four ex-Governors Of the State.
Royal G. Taft, John W. Davis, II. W. Ladd
and ID. Ru sell Brown. Governor Davis was
| the spokesman Cf the other three gentlemen,
| who had been among the distinguished ones
| entertained at the Greene homestead, and
| presented the deceased with staff made Ct
| olive wood with gold top and plate extend
| ing down the cane some six inches. On the
| plate were the words staff Ct Hol. Henry
| W. Greene, Farmer, and Grand Sycamore Of
| Shores of Buttonwood, \ Nansiuket, Warwick
| Presented by his friends, the Governors ant
| Chief :; C ,ems Of the Shore Tribes, in Test
mony Of the Hospiialities Received at Hii
| Doors. A. ID. lsiU-lS9J. Masonic friends alsC
| had their word to say on this occasion.
! The paper finished with an appropriate ref
| erence TO the advanced years of most Of thos'
present and how keenly such loss was fell
| by all who knew so worthy citizen.