James Howe Myrick was born in 1824 in Newcastle, Maine. He left home for Boston in 1846 and married Mary Converse Merrill in 1854 in Dorchester, Massachusetts. James and Mary had five children including Edward Merrill, Alice, Mae, Cornelia and Hannah. In the early 1860s, the Myrick family began to spend their summers in Tignish, Prince Edward Island where James went into business with Isaac Clark Hall. J. H. Myrick & Co., as the business was called, became an intrical part of the Tignish community. The Myricks operated a canning factory where they canned fish for export as well as beef, blueberries and strawberries. J. H. Myrick & Co. also operated two stores in Tignish, the Station Store and the Shore Store. Both stores carried farming and fishing supplies, hardwares, groceries, building supplies, dry goods, wall paper and clothing. The Haywood Mill was also an active part of the Myricks' Island business and during the winter months the mill was used to make and store lobster traps. James’ son Edward became involved in the family business and married Bessie Botume in 1884 in Boston. James died in Boston 23 June 1911 after contracting a throat condition. It is unclear when J. H. Myrick & Co. ceased operation but the business continued to operate until at least 1939. Edward died 29 December 1957.