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until the general elections in 1904. In 1905 he was appointed Provincial Secretary, Treasurer and Commissioner of Agricul— ture, which necessitated his return to his constituents, who promptly again chose him and he is now serving in these combined offices. A man of staunch integrity and recognized ability, he has won a high posi— tion in the estimation of all who know him. In December, 1881. Mr. Reid was united in marriage to Vina, daughter of the late William Lea, of Tryon, Prince Edward Is- land. To this union have been born the fol- lowing children: E. Ryerson. who took a business course at Sackville College, is em- ployed as a bookkeeper at Tryon; Arthur B., who took the matriculation course at Sack- ville College. is now studying dentistry at Tufts College, Boston; Helen Lea, at home. Mr. Reid’s fraternal relations are with the Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Foresters.

ROBERT FENNELL. among the highly respected citizens and prominent business men of Charlottetown stands the subject of this sketch, who was born in this city on March 30, 1841, and is a son of Wliliam and Ann (Taylor )Fennell. both of whom were natives of Ireland. the former born at Wexford and the latter at Kilkenny. These parents were married in their native land and came to Prince Edward Island in 1840, locating at Charlottetown, where the father became a builder and contractor, which business he followed throughout his active life. He died in 1884, at the age of ninety-one years, his wife dying in June.

PAST AND PRESENT OF

years. They were the parents of seven chil- dren, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest.

Robert Fennel] secured his education in the Charlottetown public schools and then engaged as clerk with J. R. \Vatt. an old Charlottetown merchant and a brother-in- law of John T. Thomas, the leading mer- chant here in that day. Some three years later (1858) Mr. Fennel] took passage on the ship “Prince Edward” for New Zealand. The owners of this ship were the Smith family. About forty other passengers made made the trip, among them Henry Merpeth, George F. Owen and his wife, who was a sister of Hon. Daniel Davis, and some mem- bers of the Haszard family, while Doc- tor Boswell was ship phyisican. Mr. Fennel! remained with the vessel dur- ing the full trip, which required five and a half months. and he spent two years in Auck- land. He next spent one and a half years in the South Sea sperm whale fisheries in order to recoup his shattered health, and then returned to Charlottetown, where he apprenticed himself with Thomas Ally to learn the carpenter’s trade. After com- pleting his time he went to the United States, where he spent two years, and then returned to Charlottetown,and engaged in contracting and building, in which he was highly suc- cessful, having constructed some of the most prominent buildings in the city, including Sir Louis Davis’s residence. Brown block, Archdeacon Reid’s residence. upper Prince street. Methodist church, and other large contracts. which stand today as monuments

‘ to his faithful and conscientious workman-

ship. After continuing in this line for twenty-five years. Mr. Fennel] discontinued it and engaged in the hardware business with

1905.at the same advanced age of ninety-one l§ B. Norton, under the firm name of Nor- '. f...

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