PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. .

went into the swamps for moss to put be- tween'the logs to keep out the cold. And now I began to think I had a home, so I left Mr. Harvie’s to live in my own house and to labor for myself and for others, and to get along in the best manner I could.”

Mr. Gill then records the incidents of his courtship and marriage, the former being accomplished under conditions that called for sturdy, energetic wooing, owing to the dis- tance to be traveled and other difficulties that made rough the course of true love in those early days. He married in February, 1821, and lived a happily wedded life for forty-two years and two months.

About the time of his marriage he relates that, “We had some neighbors who had come from Yorkshire, England, that were Metho- dists, and they commenced prayer meetings in their houses and then the ministers of the Gospel came to preach to us, and we thought it at first very strange to see ministers preaching in houses where people were liv- ing. At the time, from 1821 to 1825, we were without a well of water, so I consulted with my wife what to do to get water, and we agreed to try what could be done, so I commenced to dig as far as 1 could throw out. Then I had to procure a Windlass and 'a box and I asked my wife to help me to wind up the clay and stones. In twenty-one days we got the water. It was a great bless- ing, and from that time to this we have al- ways had a good supply.” Mr. Gill then goes on to record the establishment of the Methodist chapel at Little York, a task which was to him a labor of love. He died in the year 1878, after a long life, and left as evidence of his manly character, a splen- did property to be enjoyed by his de- scendants.

357

HON. JOHN F. WHEAR, the present post- master of Charlottetown and postoffice in- spector for the province of Prince Edward Island, was born in Charlottetown on Janu- ary I, 1867, and is the son of John and Mar- garet (Barnard) Whear, the former a na- tive of Richhampton, Cornwall, England, and the latter of Charlottetown. Mr. Whar secured his elementary education in the pub- lic schools and in the normal school, after which he attended Prince of Wales College. Upon completing his education he com- ' menced the study of law in the 0f- fice of the present Sir Louis Davies, of the Supreme Court of Canada. He was admitted to the bar in January, 1890, at Charlotte- town, and remained in his preceptor’s office as managing clerk, Sir Louis being in Par- liament most of the time. When the latter was appointed to the bench 0f the Supreme Court in Canada of 1901, Mr. Whear en- tered upon the practice on his own account, but shortly afterward formed a partnership ' with Maj. W; A. Weeks, under the firm name of Weeks & \Vhear, which relation was continued until the subject’s appoint- ment as postmaster of Charlottetown and postofiice inspector for the province, which dual position he is now efficiently filling. He possessed marked executive ability and sound business judgment and has brought the postal service in his field up to a high state of efficiency. '

In 1900 Mr. Whear was elected to the city council, as representative for the fourth ward, and in 1902 he was elected a repre- sentative for the fifth ward. During his entire service as a member of the council he was chairman of the finance committee and the fire board, while during the absence' of Mayor Warburton, who was visiting Eng-