Samuel Edward Reid

REID, SAMUEL EDWARD, bookkeeper, woolen manufacturer, merchant, farmer, dairy manager, and justice of the peace; b. 14 November 1854 in St. Eleanors, son of James Reid of Donegal, Ireland, and Charlotte Dawson of Tryon; m. 29 December 1880 Melvina (Lea) Ellis, and they had three children, F.. Ryerson, B. Arthur, and Helen Lea; Methodist; d. 8 March 1924 in Boston. Reid, a Liberal, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in a by-election held 2 February 1899 for 4th Prince. He was re-elected in the general elections of 1900 and 1904, and in a by-election held 23 February 1905 as a result of being appointed to office. Reid served as Speaker from March 1901 to December 1904. In 1905 he was made Secretary-Treasurer and Commissioner of Agriculture. Reid attended St. Eleanors and Summerside public schools. Sources list his residences as St. Eleanors and Charlottetown, but it is also likely that he lived for some time in Tryon, given his business interests in the community. For three years, he worked as a bookkeeper for his brothers J. D. and J. C. Reid, general merchants in Summerside. Following this he founded and, for 30 years, operated the Tryon Woolen Mills, which produced woolen tweeds, blanketing, and flannels. Reid remained secretary of the operation after it became a joint stock company in 1880. His brother, J.D., remained as president. Reid operated a farm and organized the Tryon Dairying Company, serving as manager for 10 years. He also served as a Justice of the Peace. Samuel Reid died 8 March 1924. Melvina Reid died 1 April 1942 in Stoneham, Massachusetts. Reid's father-in-law, William Lea, was from Tryon.