John Richmond Fales was born at Central Falls, Rhode Island, March 5, 1833, the house in which he was born standing on the corner of Central and High streets, his sister, Elizabeth K. (Fales) Austin, later residing in a beautiful house built upon the site of the old home in which she was born. He was educated in the Belden school at Fruit Hill, a noted school of that day, and began his business career with his father in the firm, Fales & Jenks. He inherited his father's mechanical genius as well as his business ability, and became one of the strong men of The Fales & Jenks Machine Company, and its vice-president. He was widely-known as a most capable and skilled machine builder, and became interested in a variety of manufacturing enterprises, his interest extending to the making machinery for cotton mills, hydrants, water meters, water wheels, cotton goods, balls, and other standard articles. He was vice-president of the United States Cotton Company, incorporated in 1885; vice-president of the Lily Pond Land Company; a part owner in the E. Jenks Manufacturing Company, the Hope Thread Mill, the Pawtucket Manufacturing Company, was a director of the Pacific National Bank, and a trustee of the Franklin Savings Bank. He was also interested in mills at Fall River and New Bedford, he being rated one of the most substantial men of the Blackstone Valley.
Mr. Fales passed his entire life near the place of his birth, and no man was more highly esteemed. He was an able business man, and his time was fully occupied, but he was not a slave to money or its accumulation. He loved out-of-door recreations, particularly yachting, his third fine yacht 'Harriet' being in the builder's hands at the time of his death. He contributed generously to the support of the church, and was a member of the Masonic order, affiliated with Union Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Pawtucket Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Pawtucket Council, Royal and Select Masters; Holy Sepulchre Commandery, Knights Templar. He would never accept political office, although his fellow townsmen would gladly have given him any office within their gift. At an early day he served Central Falls as a member of the board of fire wardens, that being his nearest approach to a public office. He accomplished a vast amount of work, through his trait of concentration, he never allowing himself to be diverted to another task until that in hand was completed. Quiet and reserved always, this trait deepened and intensified after the death of his wife. He gave generously to those in distress, but so quickly and secretly were his benefactions bestowed that they were known to but few. He was stricken with a fever while on a journey to Mexico, and soon after his return passed away, on August 15, 1892, leaving a record of honor and usefulness.
John R. Fales married Harriet B. Lee, of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, their children, three sons, Le Roy; Jerome Atherton, died in infancy; Warren R., now an extensive poultry farmer, his farm the old Whitcomb homestead in East Providence; he is a world-wide traveler, and a great reader, possessing perhaps the finest private library in the State of Rhode Island; he married Carrie B. Hopkins. (from the History of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: Biographical; NY: The American Historical Society, Inc. 1920)
Mr. Fales passed his entire life near the place of his birth, and no man was more highly esteemed. He was an able business man, and his time was fully occupied, but he was not a slave to money or its accumulation. He loved out-of-door recreations, particularly yachting, his third fine yacht 'Harriet' being in the builder's hands at the time of his death. He contributed generously to the support of the church, and was a member of the Masonic order, affiliated with Union Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Pawtucket Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Pawtucket Council, Royal and Select Masters; Holy Sepulchre Commandery, Knights Templar. He would never accept political office, although his fellow townsmen would gladly have given him any office within their gift. At an early day he served Central Falls as a member of the board of fire wardens, that being his nearest approach to a public office. He accomplished a vast amount of work, through his trait of concentration, he never allowing himself to be diverted to another task until that in hand was completed. Quiet and reserved always, this trait deepened and intensified after the death of his wife. He gave generously to those in distress, but so quickly and secretly were his benefactions bestowed that they were known to but few. He was stricken with a fever while on a journey to Mexico, and soon after his return passed away, on August 15, 1892, leaving a record of honor and usefulness.
John R. Fales married Harriet B. Lee, of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, their children, three sons, Le Roy; Jerome Atherton, died in infancy; Warren R., now an extensive poultry farmer, his farm the old Whitcomb homestead in East Providence; he is a world-wide traveler, and a great reader, possessing perhaps the finest private library in the State of Rhode Island; he married Carrie B. Hopkins. (from the History of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: Biographical; NY: The American Historical Society, Inc. 1920)
John Richmond Fales was born at Central Falls, Rhode Island, March 5, 1833, the house in which he was born standing on the corner of Central and High streets, his sister, Elizabeth K. (Fales) Austin, later residing in a beautiful house built upon the site of the old home in which she was born. He was educated in the Belden school at Fruit Hill, a noted school of that day, and began his business career with his father in the firm, Fales & Jenks. He inherited his father's mechanical genius as well as his business ability, and became one of the strong men of The Fales & Jenks Machine Company, and its vice-president. He was widely-known as a most capable and skilled machine builder, and became interested in a variety of manufacturing enterprises, his interest extending to the making machinery for cotton mills, hydrants, water meters, water wheels, cotton goods, balls, and other standard articles. He was vice-president of the United States Cotton Company, incorporated in 1885; vice-president of the Lily Pond Land Company; a part owner in the E. Jenks Manufacturing Company, the Hope Thread Mill, the Pawtucket Manufacturing Company, was a director of the Pacific National Bank, and a trustee of the Franklin Savings Bank. He was also interested in mills at Fall River and New Bedford, he being rated one of the most substantial men of the Blackstone Valley.
Mr. Fales passed his entire life near the place of his birth, and no man was more highly esteemed. He was an able business man, and his time was fully occupied, but he was not a slave to money or its accumulation. He loved out-of-door recreations, particularly yachting, his third fine yacht 'Harriet' being in the builder's hands at the time of his death. He contributed generously to the support of the church, and was a member of the Masonic order, affiliated with Union Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Pawtucket Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Pawtucket Council, Royal and Select Masters; Holy Sepulchre Commandery, Knights Templar. He would never accept political office, although his fellow townsmen would gladly have given him any office within their gift. At an early day he served Central Falls as a member of the board of fire wardens, that being his nearest approach to a public office. He accomplished a vast amount of work, through his trait of concentration, he never allowing himself to be diverted to another task until that in hand was completed. Quiet and reserved always, this trait deepened and intensified after the death of his wife. He gave generously to those in distress, but so quickly and secretly were his benefactions bestowed that they were known to but few. He was stricken with a fever while on a journey to Mexico, and soon after his return passed away, on August 15, 1892, leaving a record of honor and usefulness.
John R. Fales married Harriet B. Lee, of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, their children, three sons, Le Roy; Jerome Atherton, died in infancy; Warren R., now an extensive poultry farmer, his farm the old Whitcomb homestead in East Providence; he is a world-wide traveler, and a great reader, possessing perhaps the finest private library in the State of Rhode Island; he married Carrie B. Hopkins. (from the History of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: Biographical; NY: The American Historical Society, Inc. 1920)
Mr. Fales passed his entire life near the place of his birth, and no man was more highly esteemed. He was an able business man, and his time was fully occupied, but he was not a slave to money or its accumulation. He loved out-of-door recreations, particularly yachting, his third fine yacht 'Harriet' being in the builder's hands at the time of his death. He contributed generously to the support of the church, and was a member of the Masonic order, affiliated with Union Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Pawtucket Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Pawtucket Council, Royal and Select Masters; Holy Sepulchre Commandery, Knights Templar. He would never accept political office, although his fellow townsmen would gladly have given him any office within their gift. At an early day he served Central Falls as a member of the board of fire wardens, that being his nearest approach to a public office. He accomplished a vast amount of work, through his trait of concentration, he never allowing himself to be diverted to another task until that in hand was completed. Quiet and reserved always, this trait deepened and intensified after the death of his wife. He gave generously to those in distress, but so quickly and secretly were his benefactions bestowed that they were known to but few. He was stricken with a fever while on a journey to Mexico, and soon after his return passed away, on August 15, 1892, leaving a record of honor and usefulness.
John R. Fales married Harriet B. Lee, of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, their children, three sons, Le Roy; Jerome Atherton, died in infancy; Warren R., now an extensive poultry farmer, his farm the old Whitcomb homestead in East Providence; he is a world-wide traveler, and a great reader, possessing perhaps the finest private library in the State of Rhode Island; he married Carrie B. Hopkins. (from the History of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: Biographical; NY: The American Historical Society, Inc. 1920)
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