SYNOPSIS OF THE LIFE OF MABEL ETHEL CHAPMAN
Compiled by Alan Kay from information supplied by her daughter, Janet Lorraine Coatham (née Ferguson)

On 24th September 1911 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Mabel married Frank Topple, her childhood sweetheart.
Some time during the first decade of the twentieth century, Frank preceded Mabel to Canada.
When planning her departure, among the advice she was given was a warning that Canada was a wild place and that there were no dentists . . . therefore she should have all her teeth extracted before she left England . . . which she did!
What courage! and what a way to prove her love! (A.K.)

Frank Topple met Thomas Harrison Ferguson in Canada, became friends and homesteaded together near Caroline, Alberta.

At Cabri, Saskatchewan Mabel and Frank became the proud parents of Jessie May Topple on 27th June 1912.
Following a tragic accident, when he was attempting to light a stove with kerosene, Frank died on 21st February 1915 at Monitor, Alberta.
Thomas proved to be a true friend to Frank and did all he could to help Mabel and baby Jessie May in their time of difficulty. Later he married Mabel and adopted Jessie as his own.

Mabel and Thomas eventually had four more children: Ruby Ethel was the first; then William Ernest; third, Harold Leonard and finally Janet Lorraine.
Mabel died on 22nd March 1968 at Red Deer, Alberta, Canada and ten years later Thomas died on 25th August 1978 also at Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.

Mabel's elder brother, Ernest, also moved to Canada but sadly died in the First World War after enlisting in the Canadian army and being sent to France.
It would be interesting to know if Mabel or Ernest was the first to go out there.