Home Sweet Homestead: SIMs in Ontario

Recently, Ontario Genealogy posted records on Ontario pioneers and the location of their homes. In the 1870 list for Cramahe Township, Northumberland, we find a James SIMM at “bf pt 30 t.”

• In the 1871 census for Cramahe, we found 52 year old James SIM as head of household; occupation laborer. Wife Elizabeth is 39 and not employed outside of home. Children listed were Isabella (16), Mary (14), Sarah (12), Margaret (10), Emma (8), Jemima (4) and our ancestor John Wm (8 months old).

The site location referenced in the pioneer document translates to “broken front concession, part of lot 30, tenant”. A broken front concession is when a lot is on a shore. Tenant indicates that he did not own the property.

We found an old map of Northumberland and located lot 30 – which is on the shore of Lake Ontario. This map also showed the location of the houses on the property. One of these homes is where the SIM family lived.

Lot 30
Black squares show the houses.

Comparing the old map to Google maps, we can see that some of the homes are still there and there are a few foundations left of those that were demolished. Back in 1870, it was a dense cedar forest. Today, most of the area is now part of Victoria Beach, Ontario.  There is a large gravel pit nearby.

Victoria Beach was a famous vacation spot for the wealthy at the turn of the century. The forest was cleared by 1894 and there were numerous hotels. By 1901, James and Elizabeth had moved into their daughter's home in Cramahe Township.  James passed away in 1902 and Elizabeth in 1907. 

Victoria Beach is rated as one of the best beaches in Ontario today.  If you are in the area and can visit, send us some photos and we can post them on this blog.

Read more about the history of Victoria Beach.

Oh Canada

Our Sim and Otwell ancestors originally came from Scotland, England and Ireland.  However, five of our ancestors were born in Ontario, Canada.  All five of them later immigrated to the United States where they died and are buried.

Jane ASH-OTWELL was born in Toronto on November 13, 1847 and died in Detroit on January 18, 1935.

Mary Ann WALLACE-SIM was born in Owen Sound in May 1869 and died in Buffalo on May 2, 1945.

John Wm. SIM was born in Colborne on August 7, 1870 and died in Buffalo on July 4, 1954.

Edwin J. OTWELL was born in St. Mary's on October 11, 1871 and died in Buffalo on June 2, 1920.

Mary J. CHARNOCK-OTWELL was born in London, ON on March 3, 1874 and died in Buffalo on October 18, 1935.

Two of our relatives were returned to their beloved Canada for burial.   James SIM died in Batavia, NY and his body was returned to Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada for burial.  John Franklin Otwell died in Detroit, Michigan and was buried in London, Ontario.

Canada was a stepping stone in our journey to the land of opportunity, the United States.  Eleven other ancestors are buried in Canada.  They include Elizabeth Gruer-Sim, William Wallace, Mary Huston-Wallace, William Huston, Esther Park-Huston, Robert Charnock, Eliza Scott-Charnock, Maurice Otwell, William Ash, Anna Maria Marks-Ash-Atwell and Mary H. Taylor-Otwell.

Ontario Map with Locations of Families

James SIM (1818 - 1902)

Flag of Scotland

George SIM > John Wm SIM > James SIM

BIRTH - James Sim was born May 12, 1818 in Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland. William George Sim had always said William was James' middle name. Bill said he was the fourth Sim to have William in his name. We have been unable to find James Sim until the time he is with Elizabeth Gruer.

Click here for Map of Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland

OCCUPATION - 1871 and 1881 Canadian Census reports list James as a laborer. His 1902 Register of Death states he was a farmer.

FAMILY - No records have been found of his actual marriage, date or place. Many documents list his wife as Elizabeth Gruer. He was the stepfather of Jessie Coglan Gruer Sim. James was the father of Isabella, Mary, Sarah, Margaret, Emma, Willie, Jemima and John. Read more about their children here. James' brother, William Sim, was married to his wife's twin, Mary Ann Gruer. We also found a  George Sim, who was married to his wife's sister, Isabella Stewart Gruer.  We do not know if George is James' brother or a cousin due to a 30-year age difference.

James, Elizabeth and their daughter, Isabella, immigrated from Scotland to Canada in 1855.

CANADA CENSUS REPORTS

186l    Age 43    Percy, Northumberland, ON                Religion FC (Free Church or
                                                                                     Presbyterian)
1871   Age 52    Cramahe, E. Northumberland, ON      Religion Presbyterian
1881   Age 62    Colborne, Northumberland East, ON  Religion E. Methodist
1891   Family not found
1901   Age 83    E. Northumberland, ON                      Religion Presbyterian
           James is living with his daughter and son-in-law, Sarah & Edward Cox.

Click here for Map of Northumberland, Ontario, Canada

DEATH - James Sim died from general debility on Friday, June 27, 1902 at the home of his son, John Sim, who lived at 138 Summit Street, Batavia, NY. He was 84-years old.  His death transcript states his parents were Edward Sim and Mary Gala. No information has been found on his parents. He was buried in the Salem Cemetery, Cramahe, Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada.

  

Obituaries from the Sim Scrapbook

Death Registry

Visit his on-line memorial
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=116859139

Reference:
SIM is included in Clan Fraser and more clan information is available on-line:
http://www.scotclans.com/scottish-clans/clan-fraser-of-lovat/fraser-of-lovat-history/

Read about SIM male Y-DNA test results

17 Wadsworth, Buffalo, NY

George and his associates
17 Wadsworth, Buffalo, circa 1926

Photo courtesy Uncle Jerry

During Prohibition (1920-1933), residents were allowed to keep all of the liquor that they stockpiled, but once that was gone, that was it.  Saloons and the 20 Buffalo breweries were closed and this resulted in the illegal manufacturing and distribution of liquor.

Because Buffalo was so close to the Canadian border, it was tempting for people to smuggle liquor to sell on the black market.  Canada had its own temperance movement in the late 1880s, but that was repealed.  Smugglers were called “rumrunners”.  And, they often employed boats across Lake Erie to deliver the goods to drop off points along Lake Shore Road outside of Buffalo.  The liquor was then distributed to local illegal taverns or “speakeasies”, which were often fronted by “soda shops”.  According to the Buffalo Mayor’s 1922 Annual State of the City Address, there were 8,000 soda shops inside Buffalo.

There were also microbreweries established during this period.  Many bakeries had the connections to obtain the needed large quantities yeast and grain and would set up breweries in their back rooms and cellars.

Amateurs would also produce “bathtub gin” where grain alcohol was diluted with water and juniper berry juice in a bathtub; gin being the preferred drink in the late 1920s.  The government even had a program in which toxic chemicals were added to industrial alcohols to prohibit their use in this activity.  Over 10,000 people died and it is suspected that George’s death in 1941 from aplastic anemia may have been a result of ingesting tainted liquor.

Both the manufacturers and traders of illegal liquor were known as “bootleggers”; a word that dates back to colonial times when traders hid liquor in their tall boots to sneak it into dry colonies.

***

From the following news article, we know that John W. SIM owned the “soda shop” at 17 Wadsworth as early as May 1926 (Buffalo Courier).  He also purchased a fire arm in January 1927 after George was stabbed (Buffalo Evening News).

 

George SIM’s stabbing occurred in December 1927 (Read the 10/18/16 post).  It is suspicious that the attacker was let go with no penalties. 

George's stabbing put 17 Wadsworth on the police radar.  On February 3, 1928, John W.’s bail was set at $1,000.00 after the saloon was raided (Buffalo Courier Express).  More liquor was seized on the 7th (Buffalo Courier Express) and John W. was arrested again on the 8th (Buffalo Evening News).  He was held for further reading on the 18^th (Buffalo Evening News).

 

 

George and his brother-in-law, Fred OTWELL, were summoned for liquor law charges in May 1928 and it was established that George had sold the speakeasy to Fred by that date.

In October 1928, Fred is raided (Buffalo Courier Express).  He is fined $200.00 in November (Buffalo Evening News).

 

Soon after, Fred sold the fixtures from the bar according to this advertisement. (Buffalo Evening News)

John W. went on to establish another speak-easy on Grant Street.  It appears there were no raids at that location. 
The next owner turned the location into a furniture store and later, it became a children’s dance studio.  Today, it is an apartment.

Patrick B., 17 Wadsworth, Buffalo, 2013

Photo courtesy cousin Patrick B.

Mary Ann WALLACE-SIM (1870-1945)

John William and Mary Ann, 1941, Buffalo

50th Wedding Anniversary

Photo courtesy of cousin Mary Ellen F.

George SIM>Mary Ann WALLACE-SIM

Early years- Mary Ann was born in 1869 in Sarawak Township, Grey, Ontario, Canada to Irish immigrants William WALLACE and Mary HUSTON.   (This area was also known as Owen Sound and today, it's part of Georgian Bluffs ).  She had an 8^th grade education.

Immigration and Citizenship- The family immigrated to the US about 1898.  In 1915, Mary Ann became a US citizen.

Religion- Mary Ann was Presbyterian.

Work History- prior to marriage to John William SIM  in 1891, she was a waitress in Toronto, York, Ontario.  As was common, she did not work outside of the home during marriage.

4 Generations: Judy & Doris CHAPIN, Alice MCCALL and Mary Ann, 1944, Buffalo

Photo courtesy of cousin Judy B.

She was the mother of Alice, Edith, George, Bertha and Esther Sim.

Death- Mary Ann died 2 May 1945 in Buffalo.  She was 75 years old and the causes of death were pernicious anemia and cerebral hemorrhage.  Her remains are interred at Ridge Lawn Cemetery in Cheektowaga.

Clipping from the SIM Scrapbook
Courtesy cousin Wendy P.

From the Buffalo Courier Express

found on Old Fulton NY Postcards website

Visit her on-line memorial at:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=92409196

See photos of the SIM Family here.

See the SIM Family Bible with Mary Ann's hand written notes

John William SIM (1870-1954)

John Wm, Buffalo
Photo courtesy of cousin Mary Ellen F.

George SIM >John Wm SIM



Early years- John Wm was the youngest child of James SIM and Elizabeth GRUER.  He was born on 7 August 1870 in Ontario, Canada. The SIM family lived in Cramahe Township in the Village of Colborne, Northumberland, Ontario.  He had an 8^th grade education and was also known as “Jack”. 

Military service- He served 5 years in the Canadian armed forces; 2 years as a private and 3 years as a Gunner in the Canadian Field Artillery (C.F.A.) 37th Regiment.  This likely occurred some time between 1891 and 1898.

Work history- In the marriage registry on 1891, he was listed as a bartender.  From 1900 through 1920, he was a lineman and electrician for a telephone company.  He next owned a couple of speakeasies, I mean "soda shops", in Buffalo.  By 1940, he worked as a security guard at the Fowler Plant (an airplane manufacturing) in Buffalo.  

Immigration and Citizenship- John Wm immigrated the family to the US about 1898.  In 1915, he became a US citizen.   Later, in Canada during WWI, he signed draft documents pledging his loyalty to the crown.

Physical: John Wm was 5' 8", fair complexion with auburn hair and blue eyes.

Religion: In the marriage registry, he was listed with no religious affiliation.  In a 1911 Canadian census, he was listed as Presbyterian (same as wife).

Family- At age 18, John Wm met Mary Ann WALLACE (1870-1945), a waitress at a Toronto restaurant.  Two years later, they were married on 11 September 1891 in Toronto, York, Ontario. 

From the Gloversville Leader Republican, 1941: 

 They had at least 5 children:

• Alice Elizabeth SIM-MCCALL (1894-1966)
• Edith May SIM-FOLEY (1895-1968)
• George William SIM (1899-1941)
• Bertha M. SIM-HOFMAR (1901-1959)
• Esther Jemima SIM-MAHONEY-UNGER (1908-1992)

In the early years, they lived in Mary Ann's hometown of Owen Sound and their first 2 children were born there.  Then things got confusing:
They appear on the 1900 census in Rochester, Monroe, NY and it is likely that they moved there because his sisters where living there (Mary, Jemima and Jessie).  It appears that they owned several properties in Western New York and Ontario.  By 1905, they appear in the Batavia, Erie, NY census.  In 1905, there was a newspaper article stating that they were moving to Toronto.  In a 1907 obituary, they are listed as living in Springville, NY.  They appear in the 1910 through 1940 census in various locations around Buffalo.  In 1911, they appear in the Owen Sound, Canada census.  We found out from Aunt Pat and Aunt Joan that they owned several properties in Western New York and Ontario.  Here are the Buffalo addresses:

• In 1910, they lived at 91 Peach Street in Buffalo.
• In 1915, they lived at 106 Congress Street in Buffalo.
• In 1917, they lived at 500 Niagara Street in Buffalo.
• In 1920, they moved to 330 Hudson Street in Buffalo.
• In 1930-1940, they lived at 217 LaSalle Avenue in Tonawanda.
• By 1945, they lived at 150 Norwalk Avenue in Buffalo.

Death- John Wm died 4 July 1954 at the Betty Storck Nursing Home in Buffalo.  He was 83 years old and died of coronary thrombosis.  His remains are interred at Ridge Lawn Cemetery in Cheektowaga.
Documents we have found tell us he was 5'8", fair complexion, auburn hair and blue eyes.

From the Buffalo Courier Express, 1954

Visit the on-line memorial at:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSvcid=343001&GRid=92409185&

Read more on how the SIM Family came to Buffalo, NY

How did we get to Buffalo, NY?

John William SIM and his wife Mary Ann WALLACE met and married in Toronto, Canada.  John William grew up in Colborne, Ontario and Mary was from Owen Sound, Ontario.  They initially immigrated to Rochester, NY where John William's sisters were living.  They came to Buffalo about 1899 and owned properties in Batavia, Springville and Owen Sound.  George was the first SIM born in the US. 

John William worked as an electrician and lineman for a telephone company and it is likely he moved to Buffalo due to his job.