KREW KUTS: Legacies - Western Ostrander

By Bernie Krewski

Some may say there is probably no historical significance in one of this district’s pioneer settlers being “a painter and decorator by trade,” in the words of his daughter, whose advertisement in The Oyen News in June 1917 said, “PAPER HANGER AND PAINTER.” That was the illustrious and legendary Mr. Western Ostrander, long time resident of the village of Oyen.

Wallpaper has a long history. The earliest known surviving wallpaper In England dates from 1509 as Wendy Andrews notes in her research paper, “How wallpaper archives contribute to our understanding of historic building interiors.”

Wallpaper has also been prominent in literature. “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a well-known short story by writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman published in 1892, often studied in Alberta high schools. It illustrates the attitudes towards the mental and physical health of American women in the 19th century. This story certainly influenced my daughter Laura. It was the subject of her first creative work as a professional choreographer.                                                           

FAMILY HISTORY

Daughter Margaret (Ostrander) Funnell offers an excellent history of her family in “Many Trails Crossed Here,” vol. 1, pp. 216-218. It begins in 1861 with her father’s birth in Ontario, his marriage to Fanny Peters Watson in 1895, several moves in Manitoba, and then the long arduous trip to a homestead at 5-28-4-4, a mile and a half west of Oyen.

Mr. Ostrander was the Chairman of the Feadview School (p. 266) several years before a school was established in Oyen. Margaret was the only surviving child of their three children – Wes passing at age 27 in 1923 and Leola, age 18, the following year. Her parents moved to Oyen where they lived until 1966. Her father died at age 106 and her mother a short time before turning 100 in 1975. 

The following news items and stories supplement the Ostrander family history and add interesting details.  

Also present in this community, I learned, was another Ostrander family living nearby - on section 9, namely Chris Ostrander (see map. 69). However, I have found no definitive information indicating if or how they might have been related. My guess is that Chris and Western were cousins if not brothers.

Keith MacLean’s burial record includes six people with the surname “Osterander” (a misprint in MTCH, v. 2, p. 174): Alice E. (no information available); Western Jr. (1898 – Jan. 9, 1923); George D. (1919 – Nov. 13, 1923); Leola (1906 – 1924); Western (1861 – Jan. 8, 1968); and Fanny (1886 – August 27, 1975).

We know from Margaret’s family history that Western and Fanny had three children: Leola, Western Jr. (referred to as “Wes”), and Margaret herself.

There were two other Ostrander children cited in The Oyen News besides George D. who died in 1923. They likely belonged to the Chris (C.W.) Ostrander family. 

Maggie Ostrander passed the Department of Education exams in January 1915, qualifying to serve as a teacher, and later conducting the children’s Christmas concert in December 1916. She was holidaying in Edmonton in April 1919 and then disappears from local news reports. Andrew Ostrander, a grade 6 student, was a prize winner for the best-bred calf at the Oyen Fair in July 1924.

There are no archived copies of The Oyen News when Western Ostrander Jr., Fanny and Western’s son, died in January 1923. But we know a little about Leola passing. “The latest report from Calgary is that Miss Leola Ostrander is making satisfactory progress” (September 10, 1924).

Then on October 8: “The death of Leola, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Western Ostrander occurred yesterday (October 7) at Calgary, following an illness of six weeks duration. The body will be shipped to Oyen today and the funeral will take place tomorrow.” Rev. C.R. Corcoran conducted the service “for the large congregation assembled. Special music was sung by the choir and a solo by Mr. W.D. Guthrie.”

A month later, on November 22, B.H. Dial, briefly announced the dates of four auction sales. It included a sale by “Mrs. W. Ostrander’s, November 22” with no further details.

Then on January 7, 1925, The Oyen News reported: “Mrs. Western Ostrander left Oyen last Saturday en route to Florida where she will spend the coming four months.” Two other news reports in 1925 followed a few months later.

One was a “Card of Thanks” on May 20: “Mr. C.W. Ostrander has received word of the death in Winnipeg last Friday of his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Fred Ostrander, after a prolonged illness. The deceased lady was about thirty-five and leaves to mourn her husband who is totally blind, and two tiny daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Ostrander paid a visit to Oyen last summer just before Mr. Ostrander lost his sight.”

A second news item occurred on July 22: “Mr. Western Ostrander left last Thursday for Calgary en route to the coast.”

Western Ostrander was contracted to paint the new United Church in Oyen. On January 22, 1930, The Oyen News reported he was “doing the interior finish on the main floor.”

A generation had passed when the Calgary Herald publicized the marriage of Miss Leola Margaret Funnell, the daughter of Margaret (Ostrander) Funnell, and Mr. John Henry Horner of Pollockville Alberta on May 15, 1950. Mr. Horner, later becoming known as “Cactus Jack” Horner, a popular and prominent Canadian politician.

A generation had passed when the Calgary Herald publicized the marriage of Miss Leola Margaret Funnell, the daughter of Margaret (Ostrander) Funnell, and Mr. John Henry Horner of Pollockville Alberta on May 15, 1950. Mr. Horner, later becoming known as “Cactus Jack” Horner, a popular and prominent Canadian politician. His grandson, Nate Horner, currently represents the electoral district of Drumheller-Stettler in the provincial legislature and is the Minister of Finance and President of the Treasury Board.

THE 1960s

Western Ostrander’s age became highly newsworthy in 1963 and thereafter. The Calgary Herald briefly acknowledged “Oyen Citizen 102” on February 7, 1963.

The Oyen Echo did so as well when he turned 104 in 1965. The Hanna Herald salutation in 1965 was more extensive, based on an interview with daughter Margaret Funnell.

Her father, she noted, is “enjoying good health although he has not been able for the past few years to take the long walks which he used to enjoy so much. These have been curtailed due to the fact he is now blind. However, his mind is clear, and he can look after himself and get about his home. Due to the cold weather and the snow and ice conditions, he has been very much confined to the house this winter.”

“He is keenly interested in world affairs and is an avid radio listener. He and his wife have resided in their own little home in Oyen for many years since disposing of their homestead.   Being a painter by trade, he carried on with his trade for many years before retiring.”

On his 106th birthday in 1967, the Calgary Herald published a feature story with an accompanying photograph.

Mr. Ostrander remembers “celebrating the Confederation of Canada,” He grew up in an era of horse buggies and open-fire cooking. “When he was a child, his mother did all cooking over an open fire. Bread was baked in what was called the big kettle. The loaf was round and fully filled the pan. Coals were put on the lid, in a special groove, and left until the bread was done.” When we got a three-lidded stove, he said, “We figured we were up with the best in town.’

Mr. Ostrander and his wife, now residents of the Brownview Nursing Home in Northwest Calgary since last year, have been married for 80 years. 

On November 18 Mr. Ostrander received a silver-footed serving tray as a Centennial gift, presented by Len Werry, Calgary-Bowness, MLA.

Western Ostrander, “a sculptor and painter by vocation,” died on January 8 1968, a few weeks short of his 107th birthday. Funeral services were held in the Chapel on the Hill in Calgary on January 11. 

The Oyen Echo recorded the death of Mrs. Fanny Ostrander, “Pioneer of Oyen Passes at 99” September 8, 1975, at the Sarcee Auxiliary Hospital, Calgary, at the age of 99 years. If she had lived until October 13, she would have been 100. Mrs. Ostrander was instrumental in the organization of the first Ladies’ Aid in Oyen and was a life member.

Legendary residents like the Ostranders do so much to enrich the life of communities like Oyen!”