Herbert Sims
1878 - 1954
Herbert Sims was born Oct 5, 1878 in Bay City, Michigan. The 4th son of Walter Sims (1847-1916) and Elizabeth Knowles (1841-1917), he always maintained close ties to his brothers and appears to have always lived under the aegis of one or another. At some time after 1900, he moved from Bay City, Michigan to Chicago as had his three older brothers. He moved to Washington, DC possibly in relation to his brother’s move in 1903. In 1905, he listed as a resident of Chicago, and within a year, moved with his brother Harry to New Mexico. Herb was a partner in the Valley Ranch Company which, along with other owners- Harry Sims, Frank Wilson and Laz Noble, a large parcel of land on the Upper Pecos River, which was being developed as a year-round health spa and vacation spot. By 1909, Herb was sued for breach of contract by other investors and he, Frank and Laz decided to “retire”. The 1910 census showed Herb as a “boarder” in Chicago and listed his profession as “Stock Broker”. No data can be found about higher education and it is possible that his education ended with high school.
Herb Sims married LaNorma “Norm” Mabel Laduc-Clausen (1890-1950) in Norm’s hometown of Port Huron, Michigan on Nov 24, 1925; he was 46 and she was 35. On the 1930 Census, Herb stated that he first married when he married Norm; she reported that Herb was her first husband. This was belied by public records that show Herb had previously married Rose Ann Allen in 1920 (then age 20) in Highland, Michigan. Two years later, Rose Ann sued for divorce claiming extreme cruelty as the reason. Norm omitted to mention her two previous marriages in 1909 and 1918 both of which ended in divorce and a son Gerald born in 1910.
Known to the family as “Uncle Herb”, he seemed to have many professions. Listed as bookkeeper, stock broker, advertising solicitor and advertising manager for the Board of Commerce in Detroit and later for a publishing house. He lived predominantly in Detroit but his summers were spent in AuGres. Here, under the aegis of E. W. Sims, he was a major factotum to his eldest brother. It was Herb’s job to sell off the shore frontage between the Ranch House (at the end of Delano Road) and the Marina in the 1930’s and the holdings at Whitestone Point. He was a notary for Arenac County which allowed him to notarize all the paperwork E.W. required when dealing with trusts for the property. Herb spent the major part of his life, with his eldest brother as benefactor.
When at the “Ranch”, Herb and his wife LaNorma, always called “Norm”, lived at Stagger Inn, a small guest cottage on the sidewalk from the Ranch House to the stolid brick summer home of Frank Smith Sims, eldest son of Ed Sims. Housekeeping was not a strong suit and Elsie Pendred, daughter of Walt Pendred – caretaker for the vast Sims Ranch, remembers having to spend an entire day on her hands and knees just scrubbing the baseboards in the little house.
It was in the role of “Merry Man” that he truly shone. He was social director and caretaker of the boats when the family was at Sims Ranch. Constantly organizing fishing trips, poker games, and maintaining lively fun that was difficult for his more Victorian older brother. Herb was the king of practical jokes. As the more important guests would be stepping into a rowboat off the dock, Herb was known to push the boat out with his foot causing the august personage to end up in the water. He also short sheeted beds, woke guests in the morning with a string of lady- fingers (a small firecracker) under their beds and actually paid E.W.s grandchildren to collect frogs, garter snakes and other creatures that could be left in a guest’s bed. He was viewed as more of a playmate by children and a social director by the adults.
He was also the man who taught people to drive on the back roads of Sims Ranch including Gale Coffin and Johnnie Evans and is credited with introducing the water-down-the-oilcloth-in-to-your-lap during lunch on the back porch of the Ranch House. He was integral to arranging the hunts that took place every fall. Less driven than his brothers, less accomplished but always under a watchful eye of an older brother.
After 1930, he and his wife Norm spent the winters in New Port Richey, Florida (developed by brother George Reginald “Reg” after WW I) and were listed as residents in the 1945 Florida census. Herb died as he lived - enjoying life’s amusements, having a heart attack while planning to watch the Gasparilla parade in Tampa, Feb 8, 1954.
LaNorma “Norm” LaDuc (Claussen) Relken Trumbell, (b. Sept 18, 1890) took Herb Sims in marriage and as her true soul mate. She too, was a partier and loved good food. She is remembered for her hennaed hair (think Lucille Ball) and party hearty attitude. She died of a heart attack at the local hospital in Omer, Michigan, Aug 2, 1950.
