W. Chester S. McLure

MCLURE, WINFIELD CHESTER S., trader, haberdasher, wholesaler, fur merchant, fur farmer, publishing company president, and biscuit company president; b. 16 March 1875 in North Rustico, son of John McLure and Caroline McNeil Woolner; m. 25 June 1902 Lottie Evelyn Burhoe, and they had one child, Lena C.; Presbyterian; d. 18 June 1955 in Charlottetown. McLure, a Conservative, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the general election of 1923 for 5th Queens. He was re-elected in the general election of 1927. He resigned in 1930. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1930 for Queen's, was defeated in 1935 and 1940, re-elected in 1945 and 1949, and defeated in 1953. McLure received his early education at the local school. Later he attended Prince of Wales College and graduated with a provincial teaching certificate. Following college, he was a school principal in Alexandra, but after six years decided to open a men's clothing store. From there he moved into the wholesale business, and sold goods directly from the factory to retail stores. In 1910 McLure became a fur farmer, fur trader, and raw fur merchant. He was president and manager of C. McLure Fur Farms and manager of the Prince Edward Island Fur Sales Board. In 1919 he had the largest individual fox fur sale on record. His obituary recognized McLure as a major contributor to the province's fur industry. He was president of the Canadian Publishing Company Limited, the Imperial Biscuit Company, and the Charlottetown Selling Agencies. McLure was a member of the Oddfellows, the Masons, the Caledonia Club, and the Rotary Club. He was also a member of the Charlottetown Golf Club and the Abegweit Athletics Association. Chester McLure died 18 June 1955 at the Charlottetown Hospital. Lottie McLure was the daughter of Theophilus Burhoe of Alexandra and Elizabeth Cousins.