John Lefurgey

LEFURGEY, JOHN, merchant, shipowner, bondsman, justice of the peace, and shipbuilder; b. 17 March 1825 in Bedeque, son ofWilliam Lefurgey and Catherine Monroe; m. 18 July 1855 Dorthea Reid, and they had 10 children: Rowena Catherine (died c. three months), Rosara, Beatrice, Charles Emmanuel, Cecilia, William Allen, John Ephraim, Alfred Alexander*, Dorthea, and Raymond David (died age two); Presbyterian/Universal; d. 5 May 1891 in Boston. Lefurgey, a Conservative, was first elected to the House of Assembly in the general election of 1870 for 5th Prince. He was re-elected in the general elections of 1873, 1876, 1879, 1883, and 1886. He was also re-elected by acclamation in a by-election held 5 March 1887. Previous to his byelection win, he resigned from the House of Assembly to contest the Prince County riding in the federal election held 22 February 1887. Lefurgey was defeated. Lefurgey served on Executive Council from 1873 until 1890. In 1886 he was appointed to the government board that examined candidates for the position of Fish Inspector in Prince County. Lefurgey advocated the Island joining Confederation. During his time in the Assembly, he supported the Railway bill, the Purification of Parliament Bill, and the Election Bill. He differed with J. C. Pope* over the question of tree schools and for a short time was a member of the L. H. Davies* coalition of 1876. Lefurgey was born in Bedeque where he was educated at the local schools. Later he moved to Summerside, where he operated a general store and a shipyard on Water Street. Lefurgey owned the Golden Shipyard below present-day Water Street. He also held mortgages throughout Summerside. His house and the house of his daughter Cecilia still exist and are part of the Heritage Centre at Wyatt Heritage Properties. John Lefurgey died suddenly on 5 May 1891 while on a business trip to Boston. Dorthea Lefurgey was the daughter of Ephraim Reid of Wilmot Creek.