GROSVENOR


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The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations:Biographical, by the
American Historical Society, Inc., 1920. For anunknown reason there are two copies of the
book with the same title page,but with different contents. Articles will be added from
these books regularly.  
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The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: Biographical
Pages 25 - 27   
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WILLIAM GROSVENOR, eldest son of Dr. William Grosvenor and Rosa Anne Mason Grosvenor, was
born in Providence, R. I., August 4,1838. On his father's side he was a descendant of
John Grosvenor, who came from England in 1640 and settled in Massachusetts; while through
his mother he was a descendant of John Brown, of Revolutionary fame, who led the
expedition which ended in the burning of the British ship of war "Gaspee." 



William Grosvenor went to a Providence day school and then to Brown University, where he
was graduated in the class of 1860. At both school and college he did well with his
studies. He early won a reputation for being a hard and conscientious worker, and the
great trait of his character which stood out very prominently was that of "perseverance"
and ability to ultimately achieve his purpose. 



In 1861 he entered the Grosvenor-Dale Company, at the head of which was his father, and
in 1883, when the company was incorporated, he was elected treasurer and served in this
capacity until 1905, when he also became president. From 1883 until his death in 1906, he
was the controlling factor in the company. His policy was always progressive along the
most modern lines. Backed from the first by the strong financial condition of the
company, he always bought for it the most up-to-date machinery, regardless of the cost.
He believed that the, best was the cheapest in the end, and thus the equipment of the
Grosvenor-Dale Company plant was ever kept up to a high standard. 



William Grosvenor was a distinct force in his community, and was widely known as a man of
sound business judgment ,and remarkable ability. He was a director of several large
corporations, and was a trustee under his father's will. for his sister, Rosa Anne
Grosvenor. 



In 1882, Mr. Grosvenor married Rose Dimond Phinney. They had seven children, three sons
and four daughters: Alice Mason, wife of Dudley Davis, Harvard '05, of New York; Caroline
Rose, wife of Gilbert Maurice Congdon, Yale '09, of Providence; William, Harvard '09,
president of the Grosvenor-Dale Company, of Providence; Rose, wife of George Peabody
Gardner, Jr., Harvard '10, of Boston; Robert, married Aerielle Frost, of Chicago, May 23,
1918; he died October 27, 1918; Anita Deidamia, wife of Richard Curtis, Harvard '16, of
Boston; Theodore Phinney, Harvard '20. His wife and these children all survived him when
he died, June 20, 1906. During the last few years of his life, Mr. Grosvenor spent a
great deal of his time in taking care of the immediate interests of his family, to all of
whom he was most devoted.