John “Henry” Collins Mathias (1853-1939) was born at Lac Ste. Anne and worked at Fort Edmonton as a water hauler. Of Métis descent, Collins was known by the nickname Muchias. “Muchias” may have been an incorrect rendering of his actual name, Mathias. In the 1870s he settled across the North Saskatchewan River from Fort Edmonton, and worked first for Richard Hardisty, Hudson’s Bay Company factor at Fort Edmonton. He later became a labourer and handyman for John Walter. Mathias, a dwarf, was a skilled archer and a strong swimmer.
His purpose-built house was across the road from the Walter home. The doors of Mathias’ house were only four feet high and the furniture was built in miniature to accommodate its owner’s small size. As reported in the original recommendation to the City Council for the naming of this park, Muchias' “life was spent beside the river, and each day he brought several barrels of water on his stone-boat to the families living in the Fort Edmonton stockade....He was a powerful swimmer and was reputed for swimming the river when it was in full flood. In his spare time he watched the children play, and one day saved an Indian child from drowning.”
Mathias lived beside the North Saskatchewan River for more than 40 years. He died at the age of 86. His distinctive house was torn down in 1950. The Muchias Park is in the Bisset neighbourhood and has an area of 0.41 ha.