He emigrated to Canada in 1875 and took a course at the Ontario Agricultural College and afterwards attended the Ontario Veterinary College, graduating in 1879 with the rank of Gold Medalist. Settling in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, he was President of the Manitoba Liberal Printing Company and the owner of a large veterinary infirmary. During the North-West Rebellion in 1885, Rutherford served with the Winnipeg Field Battery as a Veterinary Surgeon, and was present at the engagements of Fish Creek and Batoche, for which he received the medal and clasp.