A roots web piece contains the following:
"Benjamin Merrill Hubbard, son of Daniel (3) and Tamison (Wheaton) Hubbard, was born February 25, 1818, at Leicester, Mass. He was a lad of twelve years of age when his father came to North Providence, R. I., and after a somewhat meager schooling he learned in the latter place the trade of shoemaking, but the youth was possessed of an unusual degree of mechanical skill and was exceedingly ambitious, so that after following his trade for a short time he secured a position with the old American Butt Company, with which he remained in the capacity of superintendent and general manager until the final dissolution of the concern. He thereupon engaged in a brokerage business on his own account, and for a time had his son, George Whipple Hubbard, as a partner in this enterprise. The business was conducted under the name of B. M. Hubbard & Company, and so continued until his death, March 5, 1882. Benjamin Merrill Hubbard was a very active figure in the life of the community in those days, and was affiliated with a large number of different clubs and fraternal organizations. He was particularly prominent in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was a member of Hope Lodge and Moshassuck Encampment of that order. In his religion Mr. Hubbard was a Methodist and attended Trinity Church, Providence, R. I. It was this Mr. Hubbard, who in the year 1855 built the celebrated 'Octagon House', at No. 307 Knight street, one of the earliest, if not the earliest, example of this type of house built in the city. He continued to reside in this house until his death. "
