(This taken from the book Prince Edward Island, Past and Present or Past and Present of Prince Edward Island) CALEB CUSHING CARLTON, a well known
merchant and auctioneer at Souris, Kings
county, was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts,
and accompanied his parents to
Souris, where he received his education. In
his youth he engaged in business with his
father, in which he has since been engaged.
The paternal grandfather, Joseph Carlton,
was a native of West Newberry, Massachusetts,
as was his wife, who bore the maiden
name of Chipman. The subject's father,
Caleb Cushing Carlton, Sr., was born at
West Newbury, Massachusetts, and there
received his education. He came to Prince
Edward Island in 1859
an d located at
Souris. He was the first man in this part
of the Island to engage in the lobster canning
business, locating two factories and
carrying the business on on a large scale.
After the fishing season was over he engaged
in packing beef and mutton, in which
products there was at that time a heavy
654 PAST AND PRESENT OF
trade. Large fishing fleets called at Souris,
as many as one hundred and fifty vessels
being in this port at one time. He was for
many years a member of the Masonic fraternity,
belonging to the blue lodge, also
receiving the chapter degrees. For twentyfive
years he was United States consular
agent at Souris, He died in 1904, at the
age of seventy years, being succeeded in
July of that year, by the subject of this
sketch, who now holds that office.
Mr. Carlton married Miss Matilda Jane
Spencer, a native of Prince Edward Island,
a daughter of James Spencer, who came
here from Hull, England, locating at Charlottetown,
where he died. He was a prominent
citizen of that city during his life, being
engaged in business there. The subject of
this sketch is active in local public affairs
and for eighteen years has been secretary of
the school board of Souris, and for six years
secretary of the town council and for several
terms has been an active member of these
bodies. He is a member of the Masonic
fraternity, the Sons of Temperance, the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and the
Independent Order of Foresters, while his
religious connection is with the Methodist
l church. His mother now makes her home
with him and is receiving at his hands every
attention which filial love and veneration
can suggest. Mr. Carlton is public spirited
and progressive in his ideas and enjoys the
respect of all who know him
More detail, and another photo, in Ten Farms.
One of the first merchant families to arrive in Souris after the middle of
the nineteenth century was that of Caleb Cushing Carlton (1834-1904). He,
and his wife and four year old son of the same name, came from Massachusetts
on Captain Edward Saville's ship in 1859.35
Like many other merchants of the time, Carlton Sr. began with a peddler's
license in June, 1859. He later built his first store, north of central Main
Commercial
Courtesy Pictures of the Past by Leards
Caleb Cushing Carlton Sr.
1834-1904
Street.36 In 1888, the widow of Donald
Beaton sold him her house and the shipyard
property in central Souris. There
he built a new store and continued in
partnership with his son Caleb Jr.
(1855-1936). In 1879, Caleb Sr. became
United States Consular Agent, a position
he held until his death in 1904. At
which time his son became agent until
the office was moved to Charlottetown
in 1909.
Caleb Sr. was the first to process lobsters
in the area. When that season
closed he canned beef and mutton, for
which there was a great demand.37
Both father and son were colorful
men. For many years, an eagle was
kept in a wicker cage in their yard,
symbol of their American connection.
The son's comments when he auctioned
cakes were the highlight of any occasion,
their second store will be remembered
as a uniquely cluttered shop which
had a personality matched only by that
of its owners.
Photo hy Morley S. Acorn. Courtesy Pictures of the Past by Leards
Caleb Carlton