•51- STAMLBY BRIDGE Those who are interested in the early history of the Island, especially around Stanley Bridge , will enjoy the following article written in 1904 by Mr. Hedley Ross , a native of that village, but now a Doctor of Philosophy, re¬ siding in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ,, The Mr. Dougald Henry referred to, was the father of Mr. Hacker Henry, an interior decorator of Toronto , and Mr. Nelson Henry , Kensington . Captain Andrew Bell was the grandfather of Dr. W » B. Howatt , Summerside . "One by one the early settlers of this province are passing away; most of the men and women who wrestled with the stumps in the virgin wilderness are now sleeping in quiet country churchyards. It is a pity that there have not been more rural historians to take down from their lips the simple but fascinating story of how they struggled and achieved. Something along this line has been done it is true. Until within a very few years ago, the picturesque village of Bridge and its vicinity could boast of several residents of advanced years; men and women of individ¬ uality, fond of the fireside tale. A few, a very few of them are still with us. "Of this number is Mr. Dougald Henry , born in 1817» His trade being that of a blacksmith, for about 50 years, he pounded an anvil in different sections of the Island and for most of the time in the village of Bridge, where on the banks of the lovely river he set up his roof tree in view of an expanse of land and water, whose charm¬ ing combination made a bit of scenery as picturesque as any which hangs in the great galleries of the world. The following notes were gleaned from Mr. Henrys " 'I left the land of my birth, Malpeque , 64 years ago and came to Cavendish, where at that time shipbuilding was carried on by Alexander and James Simpson. They used to launch from their yard two vessels a summer. My brother was their blacksmith. I went to learn the trade with him and was there five years. From Cavendish I returned to Mal¬ peque, where I finished out my trade. My next move was to after that to Charlottetown to work for a man named Charles C. Davis . This was about the year I846. I