652 PAST AND PRESENT OF to advance the best interests of the commu¬ nity and enjoys the warm regard of all who know him. James W. Dingwell , a public spirited and enterprising fanner at Bay Fortune , Kings county, and also owner of an exten¬ sive lobster canning factory, was born on a farm at Bay Fortune and is a son of the Hon . William Dingwell , deceased, who was also born on a farm at Bay Fortune , the son of Joseph Dingwell , one of the first settlers of that point. Joseph Dingwell came from Dumfries, Scotland , to Prince Edward Island , one hundred years ago and here followed farming up to the time of his death. The subject's paternal great-grandfather, James Dingwell , came to Prince Edward Island on the ship "Polly," with his five sons from Ayreshire, Scotland , and located at St. Peter 's, settling on a tract of wild land. The sons were James, William, John, Robert and Joseph, all of whom remained in Prince Edward Island except Robert, who later went to Boston, Massachusetts . The sub¬ ject's father began shipbuilding in his youth at Bay Fortune , in which he built up an extensive business and was accounted one of the best shipbuilders in his day. He drafted his own plans and prepared his own molds, building ships of from two hundred to two hundred and fifty tons. He then took them to Newfoundland for sail in the sailing trade, using them during the trip for the transportation of lumber, cattle, etc., and for nineteen years regularly sailed a ship. He was elected to the Provincial Legislature and served for sixteen years as representa¬ tive for Kings county, being a supporter of the Liberal party. He was an ardent sup¬ porter of free schools, of the franchise act and the tenants and land act. He served efficiently for many years as a magistrate and enjoyed the sincere respect of all in his community. His death occurred at the age of forty-nine years. He married Miss Isa ¬ bella Aitken, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (McKee) Aitken, the former of whom came from Scotland with Joseph Dingwell , settling at Bay Fortune . To Wil ¬ liam Dingwell and wife have been born the following children, namely: Joseph, Jr.: Charles; James; Sarah, the wife of Jo"-q>li Webster, and Margaret, the wife of William Aitken . The subject of this sketch received his education in the district schools at Bay For¬ tune and has given a large share of his atten¬ tion to farming throughout his active years. He is now heavily interested in the lobster canning business, owning an extensive fac¬ tory at Bay Fortune from which are pro¬ duced about four hundred cases of the canned product annually. He is thoroughly familiar with every detail of his business and has attained a distinctive success in it. Mr. Dingwell married Miss Catherine Con - nohan, of Bay Fortune , a daughter of Wil ¬ liam and Eliza (Webster) Connohan. Mrs. Dingwell 's sister, Lydia, married John Cooper , a son of Capt. William Cooper , who represented Kings county in the Legislature for many years and who subsequently went to California on the ship " California ," which was built by Mr. Cooper 's father and himself. To the subject and his wife have been born the following children, namely: Herbert, a farmer at Bay Fortune ; Doug ¬ las, of Bay Fortune ; William, of ¬ ton, Massachusetts ; Reverend James , who was educated at Dalhousie University and Auburne College; Henry, Earnest and Reginald, of Bay Fortune .