Henry John Callbeck

CALLBECK, HENRY JOHN, merchant, agent, justice of the peace, shipbuilder, and sheriff; b. 25 February 1818 in Tryon, son of Philip M. Callbeck and Ann (Nancy) Warren; m. 15 August 1843 Charlotte Amelia Robinson of Charlottetown, and they had nine children, Ann, Eleanor, Selina, Myra, Charlotte, Thomas, Philip, John, and Matilda; Methodist; d. 29 January 1898 in Charlottetown. Callbeck, a Liberal, was first elected to the House of Assembly in the general election of 1867 for 2nd Queens. He was re-elected in the general elections of 1870, 1872, and 1873. He served on Executive Council from 1867 to 1870. Callbeck spent the early years of his life in Tryon, remaining on the family farm until 1838. He was educated at the local school. After leaving home, he and his brother became coastal traders on a schooner. In 1840 he opened a general store in Tryon and operated it for 11 years. During the same period, he was a shipbuilder, producing several vessels for the Newfoundland and English markets. While on a business voyage to Liverpool, England, in 1844, he was shipwrecked and barely escaped death, spending 12 hours in the cold water during a violent storm. Compounding the physical damage he suffered, Callbeck lost $3,000 in uninsured cargo. He moved to Charlottetown in 1851, w'here he opened a store and conducted a general retail business. During his last 30 years of business operations, Callbeck dealt largely in the purchase and sale of wool sheared on Prince Edward Island. He also acted as agent for Tryon Woolen Factory, later Stanfield and Lord Woolen Mills, which eventually became the Stanfield Mill in Truro. In addition to a busy mercantile and political career, Callbeck served as a Justice of the Peace and High Sheriff for Queens County in 1881 and 1882. He also was a governor of Prince of Wales College, director of the Merchant's Bank of Prince Edw'ard Island, president of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company for nine years, and city treasurer of Charlottetown from 1856 to 1867. His benevolent activities included being a trustee of the Lunatic Asylum and the Poor House, membership in the Charlottetown Fire Department for eight years, and serving as a member of the Methodist Board of Management. Henry Callbeck died 29 January 1898. Charlotte Callbeck, daughter of Thomas Robinson and Eleanor McConnell, w'as born 11 December 1815 and died 27 September 1875. Henry John Callbeck was a brother of former Premier Catherine Callbeck's' great-great-grandfather.