John Philip Matheson

MATHESON, JOHN PHILIP, farmer; b. 14 August 1906 in Oyster Bed Bridge, son of Charles Lemuel Matheson and Martha Isabel Dixon; m. 7 August 1937 Florence Isabel MacRae, and they had two children, Margaret Elizabeth and Donald Charles; Presbyterian; d. 8 September 1990 in Charlottetown. Matheson, a Conservative, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the general election of 1943 for 2nd Queens. He was re-elected in the general elections of 1947, 1959, and 1962. He was defeated in a by-election in 1940, and in the general elections of 1951, 1955, and 1966. Matheson was appointed Minister of Public Works and Highways on 17 September 1959, and remained in this Ministry until 1966. During his tenure, the second Hillsborough Bridge was completed, extensive highway construction was undertaken and the Shaw Building in Charlottetown was erected. A resident of Oyster Bed Bridge, Matheson received his early education at Wheatley School, and later attended Prince of Wales College. When his education was finished, Matheson taught for a year before taking charge of the family farm, which he operated successfully until his retirement in 1982. After retirement, Matheson moved to West Royalty. During his farming career, he participated as a producer, director, and president of the New Glasgow Dairying Company, and he was a member of the Federation of Agriculture. Matheson was a member of the Board of Governors of the University of Prince Edward Island from 1972 to 1982, and served as chairman from 1982 until 1985. During his time as chairman, he participated in interprovincial negotiations for the construction of the Atlantic Veterinary College. He served as national president of the Canadian Good Roads Association, and in 1981 was made an honourary life member of the Transportation Association of Canada. He was a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge and was a member of the Charlottetown Club. Matheson served as elder, secretary-treasurer, and clerk of session at Glasgow Road Presbyterian Church for 50 years. Philip Matheson died on 8 September 1990 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Florence Matheson was the daughter of Mary Isobel and William MacRae of Ebenezer. In 1973 she was given the Premier's Award for Distinguished Citizenship by Premier Alexander Campbell*, and was invested as an officer of the Order of Canada by H. M. Queen Elizabeth II in 1974.