was also engaged in commercial pursuits. He entered political life in 1873 when he was elected Representative for the of in the Provincial Legislature. He was returned at every election, either by acclamation or by an overwhelming majority, until he had a record of 33 years continuous service in the Legislature. He was a mem¬ ber of the Executive Council of the Provincial Government for almost 13 years. He was a member of the Cabinet in 1898. He died March 9,1915 in . John Richards , second son of Hon. William and Susan Richards, was born in 1854. He, too, was a shipbuilder in Bideford . On October 1, 1884, he married Isabella Alice Broad . The officiating clergyman was OC. Newnham of Hampton, New Brunswick assisted by the Rector of , Henry Harper . John was an agriculturist and legislator. He raised Aberdeen Angus cattle and won many prizes and ribbons at exhibitions. He also kept horses and ponies. He owned and had for service a stallion, Colonel Aubrey . The Richards family trained their horses at a racetrack in Bideford for racing events and shows at different exhibitions in the Maritimes. The racetrack was near Park Corner , on the road to Ellerslie . John's wife, Isabel (also known as Belle) used to hitch several ponies together in a two-seated wagon or cart. Some residents, who were chil¬ dren at the time, remembered being picked up on the way home from school by Mrs. Richards with her ponies. They also remembered her large pocketbook when she went shopping and her large, rustling, taffeta skirts when she went to church. A large community picnic was held on their property to celebrate the coronation of George V in 1910, with races and prizes for the children. John had a successful political career and in 1908 was appointed a Minister without Portfolio. In 1910, he was Registrar-General and in 1914 he was Leader of the Provincial Liberal Party. When he died in 1917, he included in his legacy the sum of $500 for the schools of Lots 11, 12, and 13.. .the interest of which was to be given yearly in three prizes for the best and most tastefully kept school grounds. Hon. John and Isabel Richards had one son, Kenneth. Following the sale of the Richards's Estate in 1923, Kenneth and his mother, Isabel moved to Charlottetown . She died with pneumonia on March 17, 1937 at age 82. She and Kenneth are buried in Sherwood Cemetery . Isabel M. Richards , the daughter of Hon. William and Susan Richards married W McLea Walbank of Montreal. Chapter Two ~ Early Settlers 13