PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.
of sterling old Scotch stock, came to Prince Edward Island in young manhood and was engaged in teaching school at Cape Tra- verse. He died at the early age of forty- five'years, at which time he occupied a high standing in the community in which he lived. He was the father of one child besides the subject of this sketch, Lucy, now the wife of K. F. Ellis, of Summerside.
William A. Stewart spent his boyhood days in Summerside, and upon the comple- tion of his education he learned the tailoring trade with Murdock McLeod, a successful business man and prominent citizen of his time. After completing his apprenticeship he went to Charlottetown and learned to cut under D. A. Bruce, who now conducts a large merchant tailoring business at Cape Traverse. He then formed a partnership with J. F. Arnold (who is now in business at Plattsburg, New York) and they conduct- ed a prosperous tailoring business for a ymr. Mr. Arnold with drew from the firm and then Mr. Stewart went to New York and took a course of instruction in the Mitchell Cutting School, where he graduated on Feb- ruary 10, 1887, being the first resident of Prince Edward Island to graduate from that institution. He has also taken several post— graduate courses since, so that now he is generally acknowledged to be one of the most competent and thoroughly artistic tail- ors on the Island. Upon the completion of his studies in the Mitchell school, Mr. Stewart entered the employ of the late D. Stewart, of Surnmerside, taking charge of his cutting for eight years. Prior to the owner’s death the subject had purchased his business good-will and after that event he continued the business under his own name. He is most eligibly located on Water street, having a well arranged store. and carries a full and well selected stock of Eng-
587
lish, Scotch and Canadian woolens, import- ing his goods direct. Mr. Stewart gives his personal oversight to every detail of the business, nothing leaving his shop until it has passed the most rigid inspection, and thus he has won a widespread reputation as one of the best tailors on the Island.
On January 27, 1886, Mr. Stewart mar- ried Miss Emma B. McPhail, a daughter of Paul McPhail, and to them have been born three children, Rena Grace, deceased, Colin and Donald. Mr. Stewart is fond of outdoor life, fishing being his favorite divertisement, and he is frequently found with his rod and reel along the streams of the Island, seldom failing to return with a fair “string.” Possessing many fine qualities of character, he is well liked generally.
ISAAC ESSERY, who owns a fine produc- tive farm in Lot 33, Queens county,
was born on the paternal homestead on January 2, I 847. The paternal grandfather, Anthony Essery, was a
native of England and never left his na- tive land. The subject’s parents were Wil- liam and Mary (Beare) Essery, the former a native of the parish of Little Tarrington. Devonshire, England, and was born in 1802. In 1820 he left his native land, coming to Prince Edward Island and settling on a farm adjoining the one owned by the sub- ject of this sketch, where he lived during the remainder of his life. The father always followed the vocation of farming and was a staunch supporter of the Liberal party. He was the father of thirteen children, nine of whom reached maturity. The subject owns one hundred and six acres of land and has brought his place upto the high standard of development, being now considered one