DEXTER L. BROWNELL. Second Lieutenant Dexter Low Brownell, son of Stephen Fish and Mary White Brownell, was born in that portion of Smithfield now included in the limits of North Smithfield, R.I., Oct. 6, 1831. His education was obtained at the Smithfield Academy, Union Village, and Stanton Belden's Academy, at Fruit Hill. From 1849 to 1856 he was clerk in the Merchants Bank, but then, though first teller, was obliged to resign on account of his health. A winter in Minnesota, however, effected a complete restoration. Returning home he spent his time on the ancestral acres until he enlisted in the Seventh, 'purely from patriotic motives'. He was at once made orderly sergeant of Company H, and, May 23, 1863, was commissioned to Company E. He was not ill a day nor was he wounded, though he had several narrow escapes at Fredericksburg and in the Jackson campaign. He resigned April 20, 1864. When the reigment went in to Kentucky, Col William S. King, of Massachusetts, commander of the military post at Lexington, Ky., detained him and Dr. Sprague for service, respectively, as adjutant and surgeon to the post. They rejoined their regiment on its return en route for Vicksburg.
Once more in Rhode Island, Mr. Brownell went to the wool shop of Edward Harris, in Woonsocket, to learn how to sort wool preparatory to entering into business as a wool broker, which he did about 1866. In 1872 he entered upon the manufacture of woolens at Warren, Mass., which he continued about six years. Since then he has resided in Providence, R.I.
In the month of October, 1866, Mr. Brownell married in Boston, Mass., Elizabeth Buffum, daughter of Seba and Mary Arnold Carpenter, who presented him with four children, to wit, Arthur Buffum, electrician to the Herreshoff Company, Bristol, but residing at home; Herbert Carpenter, the proprietor of a dairy farm in East Providence; Walter Dexter, a lawyer in Providence, and Mary Arnold, an architect, also in Providence. All are graduates of Brown University.
