Memorable Manitobans: William Henry Sims (1872-1954)

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William Henry Sims
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Farmer, municipal official, MLA (1914-1915), MLA (1916-1920).

Born at Galt, Ontario on 4 January 1872, son of William Andrew Sims (1846-?) and Clara Last (1846-1887), he came to Manitoba in 1873 and was educated at Brant School and Winnipeg High School, receiving a Teachers Certificate. He moved to the Swan River valley where he farmed and served as a Councillor (1907-1913) and Reeve (1914) for the Rural Municipality of Swan River (1907-1913). He was elected for the Swan River constituency in the 1914 and 1915 provincial general elections but was defeated in 1920 and 1927. He was county clerk for the municipality for ten years until retirement in 1938.

He was married three times, first on 19 August 1902 to widow Catherine Emily Richards (1860-1903, wife of Joseph Richard Marsh) and he adopted her three children: Bert Marsh (c1882-?), Mildred “Millie” Marsh (1889-1979, wife of Murdoch Fraser) and Dora Marsh (1893-?, wife of Frank Donald Clark). She died having their son Elmir Cecil Sims (1903-?). His second wife, married on 30 June 1909 in the RM of Rockwood, was nurse Christina Sophia McIntosh (1861-1938, widow of James Mounsey). His third wife was Mary Elizabeth Campbell (1872-1944, widow of George Hubert Siddons). He was a member of the Masons and Presbyterian church.

He died at Winnipeg on 16 August 1954 and was buried in the Birchwood Cemetery.

Sources:

Marriage and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

1901 and 1911 Canada censuses, Automated Genealogy.

The Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1915.

“Mrs. W. H. Sims passes away; resident of valley for 34 years,” Swan Valley Star and Times, 26 May 1938, page 1.

“Mrs. W. H. Sims dies after lengthy illness,” Swan River Star, 15 June 1944, page 1.

“William H. Sims, former MLA, dies in Winnipeg,” Winnipeg Free Press, 16 August 1954, page 12.

“W. H. Sims passes away,” Swan River Star and Valley Times, 26 August 1954, page 5.

Obituary [Millie Fraser], Winnipeg Free Press, 23 January 1979, page 45.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 16 January 2021

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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