James J. Larabee

LARABEE, JOHN JAMES, fisheries supervisor, blacksmith, and produce shipper; b. 10 April 1885 in Eldon, son of Nathaniel Spaldin Larabee and Katie Ann Murchieson; m. 8 January 1910 Ethel M. Wadman, and they had five children, James, Austin Brockton, Catherine, Jack, and Nathaniel; Presbyterian; d. 28 November 1954 in Charlottetown. Larabee, a Liberal, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the general election of 1927 for 4th Queens. He was re-elected in the general election of 1931. In the 1935 federal election, Larabee was elected to the House of Commons for Queen's, but he did not serve in Parliament, and resigned to allow Charles A. Dunning to contest the seat. In his early years, Larabee became associated with his father in the blacksmith trade, and only later did he go into the shipping business. He eventually became one of the largest produce shippers on the Island. In 1935 Larabee accepted the position of Chief Supervisor of Fisheries for the province. During his time in this position, the staff of the Prince Edward Island Fisheries Office increased from 5 to 20, and the Office increased its number of boats. Larabee was an avid curler and amember of the Charlottetown Curling Club. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Eldon. John Larabee died 28 November 1954 in the Prince Edward Island Hospital. Ethel Larabee was born in 1889 and died 16 September 1939.