Volume III - ElectricCanadian.com

279EDGAR SKILLEN,Commis-J.P., Notary Public,sioner of the Parish Court, and InsuranceAgent, St. Martins, St. John County,N.B., was born in the city of St. John,December i5th, 1850. He is the sonof Andrew Skillen and Mary AnnVaughan. His father canie from Ireland,while his mother is a native ofNew Brunswick, and a daughter ofSimon Vaughan, Esq., ship builder ofSt. Martins. Mr. Skillen received hisearl}' education at the public schools ofSt. Martins, and then went to Irelandand continued it at the schools of Killyleagh,the school being under the patronageof Lord Dufferin. On hisreturn to New Brunswick, he took acourse at the Commercial College, St.John. In 1866, he entered the drygoods business at St. Stephen, where heremained until 1870. While there, hewas sergeant of No. 8 Battery N.B.G. A.After leaving St. Stephen, he returnedto St. Martins, and entered in businesswith his father, running the steamer" Earl Dufferin," between St. Martinsand St. John. After the railway wasbuilt, they had the steamer engaged bythe Nova Scotia Government, on MinasBasin, running between Wolfville,Windsor, and Parrsboro, after which,they sold the boat and Mr.Skillen returned to St. Martin's,and commenced businessby himself. He wasmarried in October, 1876, toBeatrice, daughter of CaptainSilas Vaughan. He isa member of the Free Masons,being Past GrandJunior Warden, and PastDistrict Deputy Grand Masterin the same. He is alsoa member of the IndependentOrder of Foresters, beingCourt Deputy High ChiefRanger, and has held officesin the High and SupremeCourts. In religion, he isan adherent of the PresbyterianChurch, and in politicsis a Liberal. He isalso chairman of the Boardof Assessors, School Trustee,president of the AgriculturalSociety, and was oneof the promoters of the directline of railway between St.Martins and St. John, andis now secretary of thecompany. Mr. Skillen enjoysthe respect of all whoknow him.