Benedict Lapham

Benedict Lapham (1816-1883) was a New England industrialist, philanthropist, and founder of the Lapham Institute in Scituate, Rhode Island.

Lapham was born in Rhode Island to a Yankee family on June 26, 1816. [ [1880 U.S. Census] ] His parents were Phebe Arnold and Reverend Richard Lapham, a farmer, and a minister in the Wesleyan Methodist church. [ [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/RIGENWEB/2000-02/0949512927 "History of Washington and Kent Counties," Rhode Island by J. R. Cole, W. W. Preston & Co., NY, 1889 Vol. III, pp. 1043 - 1045. Part 1 of 2. (accessed July 11, 2008)] ] Lapham farmed before becoming involved in manufacturing in Burrillville, Rhode Island, and Palmer and Douglas, Massachusetts, and he managed a farm for the Albion Manufacturing Company in Smithfield, Rhode Island. ["History of Washington and Kent Counties," Rhode Island by J. R. Cole, W. W. Preston & Co., NY, 1889 Vol. III, pp. 1043 - 1045. Part 1 of 2.] Lapham attended Bushee's Academy at Bank Village, Rhode Island studying mechanics and later worked several years as a carpenter and wheelwright. ["History of Washington and Kent Counties," Rhode Islandby J. R. Cole, W. W. Preston & Co., NY, 1889 Vol. III, pp. 1043 - 1045. Part 1 of 2.] He then worked with the Tillinghast factory in East Greenwich, and the other mills in North Scituate, Centreville, Wallum Pond, Pascoag, Rhode Island, Warwick, Rhode Island. ["History of Washington and Kent Counties," Rhode Islandby J. R. Cole, W. W. Preston & Co., NY, 1889 Vol. III, pp. 1043 - 1045. Part 1 of 2.]

Lapham served in the militia during the Dorr Rebellion and was a member of Rhode Island House of Representatives, Rhode Island State Senate, state commissioner of the Antietam Cemetery, president of the town council, Delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention, justice of the peace. ["History of Washington and Kent Counties," Rhode Islandby J. R. Cole, W. W. Preston & Co., NY, 1889 Vol. III, pp. 1043 - 1045. Part 1 of 2.] In 1863 he purchased and funded the Smithville Seminary and gave it to the Free Will Baptist Association. It was renamed the Lapham Institute in his honor. [from USGenWeb RI Articles, Biographies Warwick]

He died on June 16, 1883 and was buried in Swan Point Cemetery. ["History of Washington and Kent Counties," Rhode Island by J. R. Cole, W. W. Preston & Co., NY, 1889 Vol. III, pp. 1043 - 1045. Part 1 of 2.]

References and external links