Oliver Aldridge, son of William Aldridge and Anna
(Rolph) was born at Bear Lake, Utah, September 24,
1885. He came with his parents to Canada in 1888. His
brothers David and Charlie and a sister Mary also came.
They brought some horses and cattle with them and lived
at Taylorville, Whiskey Gap, and Milk River. They later
moved to Waterton Lakes where his father planned on
raising cattle, but due to the severe winter and shortage
of hay the cattle died, so the father and the boys took up
fishing and hunting for a living.

While at Waterton, Oliver and his father, while on a
hunting trip, discovered oil at Oil City. The family
gathered this oil from the stream with gunny sacks, and
sold it in bottles to people in the Cardston District as oil
for machinery and as medicine. A well was drilled at Oil
City, the first oil well in Alberta.

They returned to Cardston where he attended school
when Sterling Williams was the Principal.

At the age of 16 years he went to Blairmore intending
to work in the mines, but one trip into the mine changed
his mind about becoming a miner. He then went to
Nelson, B.C. and worked on the "Steamer Inter
national", where he learned to be a Steam Engineer.
When the boat sank he returned to Cardston and worked
for the Town of Cardston when they were installing the
water system. At this time the Town was also putting in
the first power plant. Since Oliver was a Steam Enginee
he helped install the machinery. It was to be only a tem-
orary job, but the council asked him to stay on and
operate the steam power plant. His job with the Town of
Cardston lasted for 49 years.

When the steam plant was converted to a diesel plant
he helped install the plant and operated it until Calgary
Power took over and the machinery was sold.

He served the Town of Cardston as engineer,
lineman, policeman, and janitor and worked on the water
system. He worked as lineman during the day and did
police duty at night. He was asked to guard prisoners.
One night a prisoner beat him very badly and as his
health would not permit him to work, he was forced to
resign.

Rachel Anderson was born July 16, 1883 at
Cookstown Co. Tyrone, North Ireland. Her mother and
three sisters and herself came from Ireland to live in
Cardston in 1907. Oliver and Rachel were married July
13, 1911 at Cardston. They had three children; two sons
and one daughter.They made their first home at the
Engineer's Residence near the power house and
then moved to 629 Main Street where they lived until
Oliver's passing, November 2,1960.

Rachel lived with her daughter at Camrose,
Alberta, until her death November 27, 1974. She was
buried at Cardston, Alberta.

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