0.5.1. Florence Rutherford with husband David Mathers and
family. Back row: Jake and Ellen Hendricks, Ova-rand and
Betty, Doris and Donald Mothers. Front row: Betty Anne,
David Sr. and Florence, David Jr. and Kenneth Mathers, at
Edson, Alberta. 1952.

Their original homestead was the northeast quar-
ter of Section 20, Township 8, Range 3, just west of
the second meridian on open prairie, but with some
protection from the Moose Mountains, a ridge of
hills. Their first house, built of prairie sod, had a roof
of poplar poles covered with sod and earth. Young as
she was, Florence was learning to help at home .._.
trained by a capable mother who ran farm and busi-
ness whenever John was away as fire and forest
ranger. Florence was knowledgeable enough to pre—
vent small sister Anne from falling over the edge
when her mother placed the two girls on their sod
house roof out of reach of the prairie fire she saw
threatening on the distant horizon. Florence watched
her while her mother rode out to size up the situation
and decide what was to be done if the wind shifted in
their direction.

As the oldest daughter, Florence had her respon-
sibilities from her early years. Walking along coun—
try roads to school, she must keep an eye on Anne,
and later brother Jack. When father was absent and
mother was called away as nurse or midwife to the
neighbors, at first the children had to be taken along,
but later were entrusted to carry on with chores and
household duties they could manage. In this way
Florence grew up, getting her own education and the
music lessons she so enjoyed, but accustomed to a
demanding life, caring for others around her. She
combined her father's sociable nature with her moth-
er‘s practical capabilities.

By the time the early sod house had given place to
a small log and finally a large square frame house,
Florence was her mother’s capable lieutenant. The
nursing took much of their mother’s time and energy.
At home, Florence ran the house much of the time,

    

63

taught music lessons, and hosted visitors or Tar—
bolton relatives. How the young people made the
rafters ring!

In 1916 Florence married David Mathers and
worn to live at Wainwright, Alberta, where David
was employed at the big Canadian National round—
house. All the Mothers children -~— Overand, Don—
ald, Ellen and David — were born there. Young
David was three when his father was transferred to
Edson, which from then on was home. From Edsou,
the family has grown up and spread out. Overand and
wife Betty are at Whitccourt, 65 miles away with the
Forestry Service. Young David, after many years in
Calgary, with wife Irene has a business back in
Edson. Donald and Doris live in Oakvillc, Ontario,
while Ellen (Mrs. Jake Henricks) now calls Ottawa
home.

David senior lived almost to the celebration of
their 50th anniversary in 1966; Florence, only seven
years longer. Family remember her as an outgoing
fun-loving person, good cook and homemaker, kind
and patient teacher of music. One daughter—in-law
describes Florence as “simply a beautiful person”,
the hub of the family circle.

0.5.1.1

Overand MatherSIElizabeth Hinehey

Overand Mathers —— 1919 —

Elizabeth Caroline Hinchey _._ 1923 -
Married 24 Dec. 1942

0.5.1.1.] Elizabeth Anne -- 1943 -

0.5.1.1.2 William Over-and —-- 1947 -

Overand, the eldest son of Florence and David
Mathers, was born at Wainwright, Alberta, just after
the First World War: He got most of his formal
education there before the Canadian National Rail-
ways transferred his father and his family west to
Edson, Alberta, where the family grew up. At Ed-
son, Ovic finished off his formal schooling and be-
came interested in the field of automechanics, the
type of work which was to become the main focus of
his career. Alex Matuschewski used to talk of work-
ing with Ovic Mathers about the time of the Second
World War when both men worked as automechanics
in Neilburg, Saskatchewan.

Soon after the war broke out, Ovie enlisted in the
Canadian Air Force but he did not see service over-
seas. Stationed at Lethbridge he worked as a ground
crew maintenance mechanic, and as such was kept
busy throughout the wartime years. After his dis-
charge at the war‘s end Ovie joined the Canadian
Forestry Service as a skilled service mechanic who in
the early days went out on service calls north and
west from Whitecourt, Alberta. Later he has come to