Instinct for Business Pioneer Acadian Entrepreneurs on Prince Edward Island

By Georges Arsenault

(L to R) Thomas Cunningham, Gilbert Desroches, Henry J. Cunningham, and Joseph-Octave Arsenault ci88o.

n August 1880, an official del- respected young leader from Shediac, even in towns like Shediac, Moncton, I egation of 42 Acadians from the New Brunswick, who, five years St. John [...] in New Brunswick; or Maritime Provinces attended a con- later, at the age of 33, would become Tignish, Miscouche, Rustico, Souris, vention in Quebec City. Convened Canada's first Acadian senator. In Saint-Jacques [Egmont Bay], on by the Saint Jean Baptiste Society it his speech, he mentions that until Prince Edward Island; and in St. brought together representatives of recently, Acadians had been almost Mary's Bay in Nova Scotia. French speaking groups from across totally absent from the commercial Canada and the United States. Four and industrial fields, which were the In fact, by 1880, almost all of the delegates were from Prince monopoly of "les Anglais." However, Acadian communities on the Edward Island. There were two MLAs Poirier was quick to add that even if Island could claim to have several - Stanislaus F. Perry and Joseph- Acadians seemed to lack the "natu- of their native sons active in the Octave Arsenault - and two younger ral instinct for business" and lacked realm of business. As we shall see, compatriots: Gilbert DesRoches and easy access to capital or credit, "they Joseph-Octave Arsenault of Abrams Etienne E. Gallant, both of whom had managed over the last few years Village and Gilbert DesRoches from would later serve briefly in the - thanks to their energy and business Miscouche, who both attended the Legislative Assembly. All except Perry acumen, which people didn't realize Quebec convention, were among the were merchants. This was an indica- they had - to build up what they most prominent. tion that the Acadian community had lacked in that domain, or at least to undergone tremendous changes, con- partially make up for it." sidering that it would have been dif- Restraint of Trade ficult to find one single Acadian mer- Twenty or even fifteen years chant on the Island 25 years earlier. ago, it would have been difficult if These were not the first "Frenchmen" not impossible to find an Acadian to operate as entrepreneurs on the This evolution was accurately Island. During the French Regime, described at the Quebec Convention by merchant in New Brunswick. Today, one comes across businessmen, several individuals were involved Pascal Poirier; who had been given the task of delivering a report on the state well established and fast emerging in business. The 1752 census, for of the Acadian society. Poirier was a as leaders in the rural areas and instance, lists three merchants in

24 Saint Pierre du Nord, one in Port Frank Arsenault's example Miscouche to Tignish where two Lajoie and two on the riviere du would be followed by compatriots of his sons, Avit and Damase were Nord-Est (Hillsborough River). One determined to work their way into involved in commerce - mainly of these merchants was a woman, an area of the economy that had buying eggs from the farmers and Marie Allain - the widow of Nicolas been out of reach for their parents. exporting them to the United States. Gautier, and ancestor of the Prince They emerged during the period Avit later became a storeowner in Edward Island Gauthiers. known as the Acadian Renaissance, the village of St. Louis where he After their return to the Island, when many exciting initiatives was also the postmaster. In Tignish, following the 1758 Expulsion by the fostered the development of the Joseph Poirier soon remarried and British, dispossessed Acadians spent Maritime Acadian community. In in 1885, when he was 65 years old, many years trying to rebuild their the 1860s alone, St. Joseph's College opened a new store which he suc- communities. Among the factors was founded in Memramcook and cessfully operated for 12 years. which hindered them from becom- the Moniteur Acadien, the first According to the newspapers ing involved in the world of business French-language newspaper in the of the time, Poirier was one of the was their land occupancy status. As Maritime Provinces, was published. leading store owners of West Prince. tenants, many did not have the right The Island witnessed the creation Tignish's French-language weekly, to venture into commerce since some of the Farmers' Bank of Rustico and L'lrnpartialy described his enterprise landlords kept that prerogative for grain bank societies, also the build- in 1896: themselves or their associates. That ing of the bilingual Miscouche and was the case in Lot 17 where, in 1807, Tignish School Convents, operated J.B. Poirier s firm is one of the 21 Acadian farmers signed leases with by the Sisters of the Congregation best established business in the Colonel Harry Compton. Their leases, of Notre Dame. The Acadian western part of the Island. The unequivocal in this matter, read: 'And awakening coincided with what buildings that he occupies cover an the said Tenants are hereby restrained historians call the "Golden Age" of area of 6,640 [square] feet. He buys from erecting or suffering to be erect- Maritime prosperity. In 1854, with over 12,000 bushels of oats annually ed any Corn or Grist Mill on any part the inauguration of a form of free and from 25,000 to 30,000 dozen of their farm or farms but shall cause trade between the United States eggs. Monsieur Poirier exports his their Grains at all times to be ground and British North America, under own products to foreign markets. at the Mill of the Township and no the terms of the Reciprocity Treaty, His store is always full of the best other, neither shall they suffer to be international trade was strong and merchandise that he sells to farmers kept any Shop, Store or Tavern on any shipbuilding was booming through- in exchange for their produce, for parts of their respective farms...." out the Maritimes. In many ways, which he pays the best prices. The earliest mention of an Acadian it was a favourable time for anyone involved in business is made in the who wanted to venture in the busi- history of Prince County, published ness world. What follows is a brief in 1905 in Past and Present of Prince description of the first of the Island's Edward Island. The author of the Acadians to venture into this world. chapter, John Mollison, mentions that a certain Frank Arsenault opened a store at Nail Pond, near Tignish, Joseph B. Poirier around 1845. Apparently Arsenault obtained his merchandise at Port Hill Joseph B. Poirier of Miscouche, born and exchanged it for products with in 1820, helped pave the way for a local farmers and fishermen. This number of other Acadian merchants, Frank (or Francois) Arsenault was mainly family members and relatives, born in Cascumpec in 1813 and a few who later opened stores in Miscouche, years later moved to Tignish with his Abrams Village, Wellington, Tignish parents. In 1837, he married Judith and St. Louis. A farmer, Poirier Poirier of Tignish. Little is known of opened his first store in his home vil- tViic ipprlv pntrpnrAnpn r o y r o n t tVipt lage in 1857 when he was 37 years of he was also involved in the fisheries. age. He is the only store owner listed According to the 1853 Report of the for Miscouche in Hutchinsons 1864 Fisheries, Arsenault;s small fishing Directory. He remained in business establishment at Nail Pond had pro- there until 1880 when his youngest duced 250 quintals of cod and ling, son, Emmanuel, took over, but unfor- 200 gallons of fish oil and 30 barrels tunately Emmanuel died two years of mackerel. He was still in business later of consumption at the age of 22. in 1861, listed as a "trader" in that In 1881, Joseph Poirier's wife, year's census. Francois Arsenault died Barbe Arsenault, died after 36 in Bouctouche, New Brunswick, in years of sickness, but according to 1870 where he had been living for a ^Impartial, "she had always helped certain period of time. Apparently he [her husband] in his arduous career." Tignish was home to several busi- had no offspring. The same year, Poirier moved from nesses owned by Acadians.

25 in Cascumpec in gave two well-attended lectures: one 1828, but raised in on "home and civic economics ;,and the the Egmont Bay other on the "dignity and advantage area, Arsenault of being a farmer compared to other first attended the social standings, and how to attain local school and comfort and success." then continued During his visit to Egmont Bay, Miscouche. At Father Belcourt was struck by the 19 years of age; insecurity of many farmers who he embarked on were on the verge of losing their a teaching career farms to the "seigneur du voisinage7' which he pursued (the neighbourhood lord) - a thinly- for some 17 years. veiled reference to James Yeo, the Aside from taking a "Ledger Giant of Port Hill." In a letter leave after five years to French historian Edme Rameau in the classroom to de Saint-Pere of Paris, Belcourt qualify for a First writes: "He easily gives them credit from his store, he even advances them as much money as they need and of course mortgages their farms. At election time, he comes forth as a candidate, and woe to whoever refuses him his vote. He has already evicted a few Acadians whom he has An advertisement published 7 in the same paper in 1894 offers replaced by Protestants/ us a glimpse of this man's "It has been reported to me that approach to business: those lectures are undoubtedly having a positive impact/7 Belcourt CHEAP reported. In 1862, Egmont Bay farm- I am just in receipt of a lot of ers were the first on the Island to Flour which I can sell for $3.55 set up a grain bank, a type of coop- per barrel The brand of this erative that operated along the same flour is "Evangeline', a well known lines as a regular bank, except that brand. I have also a better brand A1 all transactions took place in kind. for $3.70. Interest, shares and dividends were My stock of boots, shoes, Rubbers, counted in bushels of grain. This co- will shortly be here. All the goods that operative formula, like the Farmers7 the people need can be had at my Miscouche (left) and Abrams Village Bank of Rustico, which Belcourt store at 10 and 15 per cent cheaper (above), c. 1880, from Meacham's 1880 founded in 1861, proved very use- than elsewhere for ready pay Atlas. ful for farmers who often had to go In the meantime, I would kindly into debt to pay for very expensive ask my customers to come and seed grain in the spring, perpetuat- settle their accounts to enable me Class Teacher's certificate at the ing a cycle of chronic indebtedness. to continue my business with better Joseph-Octave Arsenault certainly Central Academy in Charlottetown, 7 advantage. he spent most of his teaching career attended Belcourt s lectures and, as Due to failing eyesight, Joseph B. in Abrams Village. In 1861, at age the local educated leader, would have Poirier had to abandon his business 32, he married 20-year-old Gertrude helped set up the grain bank institu- at the age of JJ. He sold it in 1897 Gaudet of Miscouche. They settled tion which operated successfully in to his stepson, Joseph F. Chaisson on a farm and raised nine children. some Island communities for over who had been his clerk for a number Four years after his marriage, 80 years. After he was elected to the of years. Poirier then retired back to Arsenault left teaching to become Legislature in 1867, he sponsored: An Miscouche and moved in with his a merchant and was apparently the Act for the incorporation of Societies daughter Sophie and son-in-law, busi- first Acadian store owner in the area. for the sale and distribution of Seed nessman Gilbert DesRoches, where His decision to enter the mercantile Grain, on credit. he died on November 21,1899. business was probably inspired by his Arsenault opened his first store at brother-in-law Joseph B. Poirier who the crossroad in Abrams Village in had opened his store in Miscouche 1865. In 1874 he built a two-storey Joseph-Octave Arsenault eight years earlier. But it is also quite store at Wellington Station, which possible that he got some solid encour- soon became a flourishing busi- Joseph B. Poirier's wife, Barbe Arse- agement from the legendary Father ness under the management of his nault, was a sister of Senator Joseph- Georges-Antoine Belcourt, the then nephew, Fidele T. Arsenault. At the Octave Arsenault of Abrams Village, cure of Rustico, who visited Egmont same time, Joseph-Octave kept his another pioneer entrepreneur. Born Bay in the summer of 1862. There he Abrams Village shop open under the

26 direction of former school teacher verbial integrity, Monsieur Arsenault last owner was Fidele T. Arsenault's Sylvain E. Gallant. He also operated has left a deep imprint in the busi- grandson, Euclide Arsenault. a cooperage in Wellington and was ness world where he had carved for involved in the fishing industry.* himself an enviable position thanks Shortly after his nomination to to his tact and talent for business." Gilbert DesRoches the Senate in 1895, Joseph-Octave Joe-Felix Arsenault continued the went into partnership with his son family business after his father's An entrepreneur comparable to Joe-Felix who had been working in death and soon decided to build a Joseph-Octave Arsenault was Gilbert his store in Wellington since the late grand new store in Wellington. This DesRoches of Miscouche. His 1880s. The new company was called he did in 1899 but, not being as pru- wife, Sophie Poirier, was Joseph J.O. Arsenault & Son. In February dent as his father, he soon encoun- B. Poirier;s daughter and Senator 1896; the firm published an ad for tered financial difficulties which led Arsenault;s niece. "The R.T. Holman three employees in VImpartial: to the downfall of the family firm. of Miscouche," as he was known, Haunted by bankruptcy, Joe-Felix was born into a well-established WANTED left the Island for Minnesota in 1905 Miscouche family on 24 July, 1848, A married man, sober, honest and only to return home in 1914. In the the eldest of 10 children. His father, well recommended to take charge of meantime, the beautiful and spa- Jean DesRoches, was a mason who egg and Pedlar waggon on opening of cious store he had built was bought owned one of the largest farms in the season. Must speak English and by his cousin Fidele T Arsenault and the parish. French, good writer, good at figures Emmanuel Gaudet, a former school Gilbert went to the local elementa- and some knowledge of book keep- teacher from Miscouche. In 1906 ry school and then learned the trade ing. Good wages to the right man. they formed the company Arsenault of shoemaker, which he practised for Also two (2) good lobster fisher- & Gaudet Ltd. Fidele had gained only two years. In 1876, at 28 years of men, men capable of managing considerable experience while skil- age, he went into business in partner- boats, etc. fully managing his uncle's business ship with his brother-in-law Joseph Senator Arsenault died on 14 in Wellington. Arsenault & Gaudet Poirier Jr., but by 1880 he opted to set December, 1897 after a 30-year career soon distinguished itself as one of out on his own. That summer, a visi- in politics and an even longer one in the most progressive firms in the tor to Miscouche wrote in the Shediac business. Despite inclement weather county The store closed in 1972. The weekly, Le Moniteur Acadien: "Last and almost impassable muddy roads; some 200 carriages followed his remains from his residence to the Egmont Bay Roman Catholic church, where a solemn requiem High Mass was celebrated by the Bishop of the Diocese. According to the Prince Edward Island Agriculturist, it was one of the largest funerals ever seen in that section of the province, an indication of the high esteem in which Arsenault was held. This was echoed in many newspapers. The Charlottetown Daily Patriot, after applauding Senator Arsenault;s irre- proachable political career, stated, "In business life he was noted for his strict integrity, keen business insight and indefatigable industriousness." The Moniteur Acadien added: "By his industriousness, his honesty, his pro-

*For more details on Joseph-Octave Arsenault, see The Island Magazine, Number 33 (Spring-Summer 1993.)

Gilbert DesRoches Store, cipoo. Gilbert Desroches stands in the entrance of his general store in Miscouche. He advertized himself as Canada's biggest oyster exporter.

27 Joseph Gallant As Gilbert DesRoches was making a name for himself in Prince County, another dynamic Acadian entrepre- neur was distinguishing himself in the Rustico area. Joseph Gallant - "Joe Bronne77 or "Dandy Joe77 as he was also commonly known - was born in Rustico on 19 March 1839, son of Isidore Gallant (dit Bronne) and Sophie Pineau. According to Meachams 1880 Atlas, his father was one of the very few Acadians in Rustico to own a 100-acre farm, most of the other farms being much smaller, 50 acres or less. In 1986, I interviewed 98-year-old Theophile (Bill) Blanchard of Rustico, a man who was considered a refer- ence in local history. He indeed had Joseph Gallant and family, C1920. Rustico's "Dandy Joe" is seen here surrounded a fantastic memory and he recounted by family in the backyard of his residence, now the Barachois Inn. to me many interesting details about the life of Joseph Gallant that he had picked up, when he was a young man, directly from the elderly entre- preneur. As a youngster, Joe Bronne Spring, Monsieur DesRoches built 60-acre farm, served as postmaster, went to Charlottetown where he himself a beautiful store which does and ran a construction business for found employment with Carvell credit to his genius for business." The some years. Among his projects was Brothers. By also serving as a stable writer also added that DesRoches was the building of the Miscouche train boy for a well-to-do family who gave building a spacious grain storehouse station in 1881, a contract worth him room and board, he was able to measuring 38 by 40 feet for his ever- $1000 which he completed and hand- save enough to buy half of the farm expanding commerce. DesRoches was ed over "nearly one month sooner owned by the St. Augustine parish. well underway to becoming a leading than he was bound by the con- 77 He started in business by managing a merchant and dealer in the province. tract, according to the Summerside small store in the house that he built By the mid 1890s, ^Impartial stated: Journal. The same article informs on his farm. This would have been "although a relatively young man, he us that DesRoches had also secured after his marriage in 1862 to Frances has managed, thanks to his tact and the contract for improvements at the 7 Elizabeth Coffin, of Mount Stewart, energy, to establish a business clien- 0 Leary station. who became a Catholic before marry- tele that merchants from big cities Gilbert DesRoches also made his ;; ing into the Gallant family. would envy. mark as a community leader. As However, it was in 1880 that his Like most dealers of the time, mentioned earlier, he was one of the enterprise really started to expand. DesRoches purchased the products Island delegates at the 1880 Saint That year he ventured into maritime he exported - grain, eggs, potatoes Jean-Baptiste Convention in Quebec commerce with a 77-ton schooner, - from the farmers of the area. In City and helped organize the impor- the Four Sisters, which he had com- particular, he gained a reputation tant 1884 National Convention of missioned. As a sign of his success, for marketing the famous Malpeque the Acadians held in Miscouche. He or at least of his ambitions, he also oyster. As early a^ 1884, Pascal was president of the debating club had an impressive house built in the Poirier was calling him "the Oyster organized in his parish in 1886, and 77 Second Empire style. That house, King while in 1896 he was describ- in 1902 he became treasurer of the now called Barachois Inn, is located ing himself as "the biggest exporter new local farm club. The energetic 77 across from the historic St. Augustine of oysters in all of Canada. In some entrepreneur could not resist the Roman Catholic church in South years, he handled as many as 5000 lure of political life. After running Rustico. The activity caught the atten- barrels, his main markets being in twice unsuccessfully in two provin- tion of Le Moniteur Acadien, which Quebec City and Montreal. In the cial elections, in 1897 he was elected reported in August, 1880: 1890s, he also got involved in lobster for the 5th district of Prince County packing on a large scale, shipping and sat in the Opposition until he This man has just had a mag- his own and buying lobster from was defeated at the next election in nificent home built; the upper floors several other canneries for export to 1900. He was 66 years of age when will serve as his residence and the England. he died in 1915; leaving no descen- main floor as a store. He is also hav- In addition to his commercial dants to inherit the fruit of his life- ing a lovely 80-ton schooner built; activities, he successfully operated a long endeavours. by next week it will be ready to be

28 loaded, mainly with fish, and it will departments; one for dry goods, all the appropriate rituals, Reverend sail for Boston under the command one for groceries, and the third for Doctor Chiasson christened it of Captain LeBlanc from Arichat. footwear. The people of the area can Florence/7 He named it Florence Thanks to his competent manage- find all they need in this store. Mr. in honour of his granddaughter, ment, Mr. Gallant is seeing his busi- Gallant is the owner of two schoo- Florence Doiron, who had entered ness expand and prosper. Success ners constantly occupied in the the order of the Congregation of St. is accompanying him in all his trade of coal, lumber and products Joseph of Peace under the name of ventures. of all sorts. Sister St. Leonard. It is said that the prosperous Joseph Gallant's residence stands Five years later; Dandy Joe was state of the beautiful village of close to the parish hall that housed again in the news. "Our merchant, Mr. Rusticoville is due in great part to the Farmers7 Bank of Rustico. Joseph Gallant/' reported a Rustico Mr. Gallant's talent for business. Although he had not been a found- correspondent to the Examiner, "is ing director of the local institution, making quite a stir here. He has at In 1895, Joseph Gallant became he became its second president in present in course of construction not the owner of a third store when 1878. The bank had been experi- less than five buildings, all calculated he acquired the Oyster Bed Bridge encing rather serious administra- to he finished this season." In 1888, store which had belonged to the late tive difficulties for several years the same newspaper reported that Donald MacKay. and Gallant, along with the cashier, he had erected a telephone office After launching the Four Sisters, Adrien Doiron, was responsible for in addition to his store. "This will, Joseph Gallant remained in mari- getting it back on a sound footing.* no doubt, prove very convenient in time commerce for some 40 years. 7 He approached the federal govern- telephonic communications here/ He exported agricultural and ment many times in order to get its commented the author of "Scraps fisheries products, principally to charter renewed, and was success- from Rustico." These new buildings Massachusetts, Newfoundland, Nova ful in 1883 and 1891, but it finally were erected in Rusticoville, a few Scotia, and New Brunswick. The expired in 1894. Gallant's last job as miles from Gallant's residence. From ships brought back mainly coal, president was to oversee the liquida- here he directed his ever-expand- salt and lumber. In all he owned tion of this people's bank, a forerun- ing enterprise. Those premises were four schooners but never more than ner of the caisse populaire and credit destroyed in December 1890, when two at the same time. In 1888, he union movements in North America. a fire started in a coal shed behind lost Four Sisters at sea and replaced the shop. Fortunately, Gallant carried it with the Fanny, which he named When Joseph Gallant died in 1923 insurance so he was able to rebuild. after either his wife, or youngest at the age of 84, he was still in busi- In 1894, Llmpartial published a good daughter, or both. In 1905 he built ness but quite heavily in debt. It is description of the establishment. the Florence to replace a recently-lost believed that the man to whom he vessel named the Acadian. According had entrusted the management of In Rusticoville, there is a Mr. to Hlmpartial, the christening of his his business in his old age and ill- Joseph Gallant who is carrying on a new vessel, launched in August 1905, ness was responsible for this sorry very impressive commerce and who was a well-attended event: "Close to state of affairs. After his death, owns very valuable properties. He is 700 people gathered in Rustico to Gallant's lovely home, his farm, and the owner of a wharf that he built witness the launching of the pretty his business were sold to satisfy a costing him a large sum of money. schooner built by Mr. Joseph Gallant. $6100 mortgage. Once his debts were His store, which is L-shaped, is 125 The launching was a success. With paid, and according to his wishes, feet long and is divided into three $300 was given to the parish priest for masses to be said for the repose of his soul. The balance was left to his unmarried daughter, Frances E. Gallant, who eventually emigrated to the United States.

Other entrepreneurs Apart from the above successful pioneer Acadian entrepreneurs, a number of other Island Acadians ventured into the business world in the 1870s. There was Sylvain T. Poirier (Perry, C1821-1900), a farmer from Sea Cow Pond and a brother

S.E. Gallant Store, C1910. After Senator Joseph-Octave Arsenault's death in 1897, *See John T. Croteau's "The Farmer's Bank of his Abrams Village store was bought by Sylvain E. Gallant, who had been the Rustico: An Episode in Acadian History/' The store's clerk since 1867. In this photo, Gallant is seen next to the waggon. Island Magazine #4 (Spring/Summer, 1978).

29 several vessels and commanded some became important symbols both in of the fleetest ships of the time, being and outside the Acadian community. employed in the West Indies and For they proved that Acadians had Newfoundland trade. After his seafar- the talent to venture off the beaten ing years he went into lobster-packing path and occupy a more significant for about six years and then engaged place in the economy of Prince in general merchandise business. He Edward Island. was Tignish's postmaster from 1894 to 1905 and a hotel owner. Still in the Tignish area, there was Sources a certain James Arsenault who is men- tioned in the LovelVs Prince Edward This article is based on a lecture Island Directory for 1871 as a general given at Beaconsfield on 2 April, merchant, a fish dealer and owner of 2001 for the 19th Annual Island a shingle mill, while in the eastern Lecture Series: "Taking Care of end of the Island there is a reference Business: Entrepreneurs in Island to a grocer by the name of Alexander History/' Providing even brief bio- Cheverie in Souris and of two Acadian graphical sketches of these early merchants in Rollo Bay, James Bourke entrepreneurs is a rather difficult and Alexander Chaisson. task. Most of these men had little education, and they left very few, if any, documents. Even their ledgers John J. Arsenault and sons, cipo6. Conclusion do not seem to have been preserved, Egmont Bay's Jean J. Arsenault emi- or at least have not yet come to grated to Manitoba after a business Until the 1870s, the Island's light. My best source of informa- career in Tignish. He is seen here with Acadians were considered just "a tion was newspapers, and espe- sons Rev Joesph W. and Pierre H. The supply of labour at a cheaper rate cially the French-language weeklies photo was taken the year Joseph was than can be expected elsewhere," that often followed the progress of ordained in Winnipeg. as John Lawson described them in these progressive men, and in some his 1851 Letters on Prince Edward cases published detailed obituar- Island. The careers outlined above ies. I should also mention that the of Stanislaus F. Perry, the Island's helped change this perception. A 1905 publication Past and Present first Acadian politician. He moved common denominator among these of Prince Edward Island was very to the new village of Tignish Station early entrepreneurs is that, although helpful in tracing the life of a few of and opened its first general store in they did not come from a wealthy these pioneer Acadian businessmen. I874 and was a very successful mer- milieu, their parents were generally Short biographies of three of these chant for a number of years. He was successful farmers in their communi- businessmen are in the Dictionary also the local postmaster from 1875 ties, indicating a background of hard of Canadian Biography (Toronto, to 1894. That year he retired and work and resourcefulness. Thanks to University of Toronto Press): Joseph- moved to Massachusetts where a their initiative and ambition, these Octave Arsenault (Volume XII), number of his children were living. early entrepreneurs played an impor- Gilbert DesRoches (Volume XIV) and Jean f. Arsenault (1846-1916) was tant role in the local economy, creat- Joseph Gallant (in the forthcoming also in business in Tignish from 1875 ing jobs, buying and exporting local Volume XV). to 1883. A native of Egmont Bay, he products and, as most merchants did Much research remains to be done was well-educated, having spent a at the time, making small loans to for a better understanding of the few years at the Sulpicien College in local residents. contribution of this small group of Montreal. He turned to business after They and their families helped entrepreneurs to the socio-economic teaching a few years. By 1883, he was built the small Acadian elite that development of Acadian communi- running two stores, a lobster factory emerged during the Acadian ties and to the Island as a whole. and a fishing station. He was also a Renaissance. The members of this Such a study would not be complete contractor and in 1881, with Laurent elite learned to speak English fluent- without exploring the contribution Poirier as a partner, had earned a ly, thus opening up the barriers that of Acadian women to the entrepre- major contract to build the Tignish existed between the Acadian commu- neurial sector, both as partners (offi- breakwater. By 1884, Arsenault had nity and Islanders of British origin. cial or unofficial) in their husband's left the Island for Manitoba where he A number became highly-respected business and as entrepreneurs in worked as a homestead inspector for community leaders, the most dis- their own right. We know a fair many years and was an active mem- tinguished being Joseph-Octave amount about the school mistress, ber of the French-Canadian commu- Arsenault whose long and remark- the farm wife, the fish plant worker nity in Winnipeg. able public life was crowned in 1895 and even the maid, but the role of Captain Frank Gallant of Tignish by a seat in the Senate, and whose Acadian women in business remains (1841-1905) went into business son, Aubin E. Arsenault, became unexplored territory. in the 1870s after spending some Premier of Prince Edward Island in 14 years sailing the seas. He built 1917. Perhaps more importantly, they

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