Bio of SIMS, John Parker (b.1838 d.1916), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical

Vol II, pg 691-692
JOHN PARKER SIMS
Almost seven years have passed since John Parker Sims was called to his final
rest, yet none who knew him will ever forget him. He was for many years a
conspicuous figure in connection with the lumber industry in the Northwest and
the record o'f Mis business is written in the terms of success. It was not
merely the attainment of prosperity that kept him before the public but rather
the possession of those qualities which converted acquaintances into friends and
which won for him the high respect and warm regard of all with whom he came into
contact. Mr. Sims was a native of Ottawa, Canada, born on the 16th of August,
1838, his parents being William and Mary (Shea) Sims, who were also natives of
Ottawa. While his youthful days were spent in the Dominion, the greater part of
his life was passed on this side of the border. In young manhood he became
identified with the lumber industry at Saginaw, Michigan, and was associated in
the conduct of his affairs with Wellington R. Burt, Charles Stinchfield and D.
C. Whitney, names well known in connection with lumber operations in the upper
Mississippi valley. At this period of his career he built and controlled several
logging railroads in the pine region of lower Michigan and was known at that
time as the "Grant" of lower Michigan logging operators.
Minnesota gained a most substantial citizen when in 1886 he removed to
Minne­apolis and became associated with H. C. Akeley and R. W. Turnbull in the
organization of the Itasca Lumber Company, of which he was made general manager,
and In that capacity he built the first logging railroad in northern Minnesota.
His capable manage­ment was a strong contributing force to the success of the
enterprise until 1900, when he sold his interest and from that time forward gave
his attention to the management of private affairs and to his duties as
president of the Sheldon-Mather Timber Com­pany and the Sims Timber Company,
Limited, the latter a corporation of British Columbia. He was very thorough and
painstaking and had the reputation of being a severe disciplinarian in all
business matters. Notwithstanding this he was a man of most unassuming manner
and kindly disposition, and while he exacted capability and fidelity from his
employes, no one was more ready to assist an employe than was Mr. Sims.
In Ottawa, Canada, Mr. Sims was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Kelly and
they became the parents of two daughters and a son: Mrs. H. E. Mather and Miss
Daisy Sims of Minneapolis; and W. F. Sims, who is now living in Spokane,
Washington. The death of the wife and mother occurred in 1877. Mr. Sims survived
until August 22, 1916, passing away when seventy-eight years of age. He had been
a lifelong repub­lican from the time when stated residence in the United States
brought to him American citizenship. In an obituary which appeared in one of the
trade journals, of the country it was said: "Another one of the 'Old Guard' of
lumbermen has gone-one of that sterling lot of pioneers whose word was as good
as his bond and who transacted thousands of dollars' worth of business on mere
verbal agreements." While he believed in a legitimate competition, his path was
never strewn with the wreck of other men's failures and his business was built
up along constructive lines. He attained his success by the utilization of those
opportunities which open up in the natural ramifications of trade as the result
of the settlement of a section of the country, and in the course of years he
became one of the prominent figures in connection with the lumber industry of
the Northwest.