The following text makes reference to the departure of Robert Blair (1830 or 1831) from Canada, Stormont County, Roxborough Township, along with mother Sarah and siblings Joseph and Roberta.

"EDWARD BLAIR (Robert’s father) died in 1850 at age 40 years (born 1810, County Derry, Ireland (as per tombstone, 6th Concession Cemetery, Lodi). EDWARD's wife (widow) SARAH BLAIR sold the property to EDWARD's brother Robert (this is NOT the Robert who is the subject of this document) in 1866. …Children of EDWARD and SARAH BLAIR from the 1851 Canada Census: Robert (1830), Edward (1833), Alexander (1836), Jane (1837), Joseph (l840), Nicholas (I843), James (I845), William (l847), Roberta (l849) …After selling the property in 1866 to EDWARD's brother there is no further record of SARAH (Blair) therefore presumed she left the area or remarried. There is no further record of children Robert, Joseph, and Roberta, therefore may have left the area with SARAH." (extracts from text written by Elizabeth Devolin, nee Blair).

The rest of this document is speculation, as yet there is no proof that the following records relate to the same Robert Blair, however the similarities are there (or is it just coincidental). By way of introduction, the following is a recap of Robert’s parents and siblings , as known.

This starts with a search for Robert Blair in census records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints web site using the parameters: First Name: <Robert> , Last Name: <Blair>, Birthplace <Canada>, Birth Year <1830>, Range: <+ or – 2 years>. This returns a hit in the 1880 United States Census on a Robert Blair born in 1831 in Canada, with both parents born in Ireland (see below).

The birth year is slightly off (1831 versus 1830). As will be shown later in the document, the migration to the US seems not to be a contradiction. Items to also note:

• Ellen Blair was born in Ireland
• The children, except for Fannie were born in Ohio between 1861 and 1870, Fannie was born in Missouri in 1872.

Source Information: Census Place Saverton, Ralls, Missouri - Family History Library Film 1254711 - NA Film Number T9-0711 - Page Number 595D

The following is extracted from actual US 1880 Census images and reveal the same results (names and ages):

Note: One should take note of the next household in this 1880 census is Simes, and in particular, Margrie and Abiner Simes.

The next step is to look at the 1870 US Census records.

• Margaret’s/Margrie’s place of birth (and year off by 1)
• Sarah’s place of birth (Illinois, not Ohio)
• Edward’s/William’s first names and year of birth (off by 1 year)

This does suggest that migration from Canada could have been during or around 1857.

There was no 1890 census for Missouri so the next step is to look at the 1900 US Census records:

The (Eng) is believed to mean "English" Canada, i.e. probably Ontario versus French Canada/Quebec.

Both of Robert’s parents listed as born in Ireland, Both of Ellen’s parents listed as born in Ireland.

Robert and Ellen have been married for 48 years (married abt 1852)

The grandson named Abner Simms age 22 in the 1900 census corresponds well to Abiner Simes age 2 in the 1880 census.

In the 1900 census, Abner Simms’ father is born in Missouri and mother is born in Ohio

This 1900 census also provides information about when immigrants arrived in the US. In the census image it indicates that both Robert and Ellen arrived in the US in 1853 and were in the US for 47 years. This now indicates that

• Robert Blair left Canada in 1853, was married to Ellen (nee ?) at the time.
• the first daughter Margaret was born in Ohio, not Canada.
• in 1900 Robert and Ellen were married 48 years (married about 1852) and

The next elements with respect to the 1900 census are the "next households"!

To add to the complexity the next page of the census has Lavoo, Margrie scratched off at the top of the page, however, the first two individuals on the page are:

This indicates that Margaret Blair married William Simes/Simms and had 4 children and later married someone named Lavoo with whom she had 8 children. In total she had 12 children. The census image indicates that Margie had 12 children or which 11 were still alive as of 1900.

By the time we reach the 1910 US Census, it seems that Robert Blair is no longer around (likely passed on).

We find Ellen Blair living in Hannibal, Missouri (divergence: list as having 9 children, 3 still alive in 1910)

We find Margaret/Margrie still living in Saverton Missouri.

A few facts are confusing:

• Neva (female) now seems to be called Lon E (male) – difficult to read
• Norman H. (male) seems to be called Elery H (male) – difficult to read
• Mary E. now seems to be called Ellen M (a switch in first and middle names)
• This census image also indicates that Margrie had 12 children of which 10 were still alive in 1910.

The next item discovered was a 1911-1912 Rural Route Directory for Marion County Hannibal Missouri which lists a Mrs Margie Lavoo in Rural Route 3. This last item seems to indicate that Margie Lavoo may have moved after 1910 from Saverton to Hannibal Missouri.

Other information related to the Lavoo family has been gathered from the US Social Security Death Index as follows (some of the dates conflict and not all information matches are validated):

• Edna N. Lavoo was born August 16 1888 and died April 1975 (Hannibal Missouri last known address)
• Ralph W. Lavoo was born February 10 1890 and died March 1973 (Saint Louis Missouri last known address)
• Stanley R.Lavoo was born January 12 1892 and died March 1971 (Hannibal Missouri last known address)
• Neva Lavoo was born May 24 1894 and died August 1982 (Hannibal Missouri last known address)
• Norman Lavoo was born May 24 1894. He married a Lula Elizabeth James born August 22 1895 and she died March 1982 (Hannibal Missouri last known address). Children of Norman and Lula:
• Norma Elaine Lavoo, married James Robert Kneeland. Children of Norma and Robert:
• Rebecca Frances Kneeland
• Margaret Elaine Kneeland
• Ellen M. Lavoo was born August 07 1899 and died February 1981 (Hannibal Missouri last known address)
• Gladys I. Lavoo was born September 1899 and died 1987 (Oceanside California last known address).

The following household was, by chance, discovered in the US 1870 Census (could there be a connection?).

• Is this Sarah the Sarah Blair, born about 1821 in Ireland?
• Is this Joseph the Joseph Blair born 1840 in Canada?
• Could C A be the spouse of Joseph Blair?
• Could Rebecca have been Roberta Blair born 1849 in Canada?

• Is it a coincidence that this household is very near the Robert Blair and Ellen household?

.The GAP

• More needs to be known about the time gap when Robert Blair and Ellen were in Ohio

• Does Sarah, Joseph and Roberta ever appear in any Ohio records during the 1860’s (if so they probably would have arrived in Ohio after the 1860 census and left Ohio before the 1870 census).

Robert Blair

January 25,2003

"The following marriage is in my data for Ralls Co. "

"The CCH indicates that it is a courthouse record, thus, the marriage lic.should have the name of her parents on it. I don't know if we have anyone in the BSGR who lives in Ralls Co., but if so, they might look at it for you. Missouri didn't keep death records until 1910, thus we probably can't get a death certificate for Sarah, but if we can find where she is buried, we might be able to find cemetery records. It would certainly clear. If she is your Sarah and maybe find her maiden name? HUM... I wonder if Robert became a U. S. Citizen? Again, if we could find his naturalization it might help. Then again, it might not, as he probably will just say he came from Canada".

Two things to note:

1. This confirms that Margaret (Margery) Blair and Margery Sims/Simms/Symes are the same person
2. In looking at the 1900 US census images for Robert Blair there was an "Na" under the column labeled "Naturalization".

"Guess what I found this morning!! This appeared as a query in the Winter

1985 Blair Family Magazine"

""Robert Blair was born about 1833 near Cornwall, Ontario. He married in Cornwall Ontario on 23 Jan 1852 to Ellen Rawley/Rowley/Rauleigh. He gave his residence at that time as Roxborough Twp. By 1861 he was living in Butler Co., Near Hamilton, Ohio where he enlisted in the 35th Regt. Ohio Volunteers. He died 4 October 1904 in Ralls or Marion County, (Hannibal, MO). A brother Joseph Blair accompanied him to Missouri. Allen, James I. BSGR Member #0189 He submitted no descendancy chart from this ancestor."" "This James Allen was a member way back then and he lived at:515 Chatham Ave., Columbia, SC 29205."

The next step is to look at the 1860 US Census records (as there is now a point of reference)

Robert’s age as 22 is probably an error (or what he said in order to join the military). Well this just about ties it all in. This is a Robert Blair who:

• was from Roxborough Township (Stormont County), Ontario, Canada
• was born around the 1831 – 1833 timeframe
• married in Cornwall Ontario on 23 Jan 1852 to an Ellen Rawley
• left Canada and was in Ohio by 1860
• he had a brother names Joseph
• both Robert and Joseph were in Misssouri by 1870

This seems to be sufficient evidence that Robert Blair, son of Edward Blair and Sarah has been found.

The facts all seem to support the theory, the timeframes fit, the names fit.

What’s left!

• Who was Ellen Rawley (or was is Rowley or Rauleigh)?
• Who is this James Allen who lists Robert and Ellen as his oldest ancestors?

Searches on the US Social Security Death Index provided the following facts:

• Abner Blair Sims, born 24 March 1878 in Marion County Missouri, died 22 October 1938
• Robert Elmer Sims, born 20 November 1879 in Ralls County Missouri, died 30 April 1894
• Walter William Sims, born August 1881 in Ralls County Missouri, died 18 March 1904

• Edgar Hays Sims, born 29 October 1883 in Missouri, died 24 May, 1962

Searches on the International Genealogical Index provided the following facts:

• Margery Blair, born 10 February, 1857 in Glendale, Hamilton, Ohio with parents Robert Blair and Ellen Mc Carthy Raleigh

Robert Blair

February 15, 2003

In March 2003, "out of the blue" I received a response to a query posted on the internet from an individual working in the Ralls County Library in Missouri. The following are selected portions of emails containing further mostly about the Margery Blair and her Sims marriage children.

WILLIAM STARK SIMS was born 1855 Saverton Township, Ralls County, Missouri, died December 22, 1884, Ralls County, Missouri, buried in Antioch Cemetery, Ralls County, Missouri. He married November 16th, 1876, Saverton Township, Ralls County, Misssouri, MARGERY BLAIR, born February 10, 1857, Glendale, Ohio, died March 22, 1934, Ralls County, Missouri. She is also buried in Antioch Cemetery. After her first husband's death hse married (second) Februay 24, 1887, Hannibal, Missouri, EDWARD LAVOO. By the second marriage there was a daughter, Miss EDNA MARGERY LAVOO.

MARGERY BLAIR was the daughter of ROBERT BLAIR and ELLEN MCCARTHY RALEIGH. ROBERT BLAIR was born of Scotch ancestry at Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. The village of Cornwall and other nearby towns in that section are now part of the new St. Lawrence Seaway. The family made many trips to ottawa each year to shop and to care for business matters. ROBERT BLAIR's parent were EDWARD and SARAH HARRISON BLAIR. The father and three sons, ROBERT, EDWARD and JOSEPH, were wheat farmers. ROBERT BLAIR married ELLEN RALEIGH at Cornwall, Canada, January 23, 1852. In the early days of their marriage they also lived at West Roxborough, Ontario; Greenupsburg (now Greenup), Kentucky; at Glendale, Ohio (now the best residential section of Cincinatti); and at Hamilton, Ohio. ROBERT BLAIR served in the Civil War in Company E, 65th Ohio Infantry, ist Ohio Volunteers. He died October 1904 Ralls County, Missouri.

ELLEN RALEIGH BLAIR, was the daughter of THOMAS RALEIGH and KATHERINE MACCARTHY (or MCCARTHY) and was born 1832 in County Cork, Ireland, supposedly in some small village belonging to the Blarney Estate in southern Ireland. She sied April 1915 in Hannibal, Missouri.

Although ELLEN RALEIGH BLAIR was originally Catholic, she and her husband became members of the Antioch Baptist Church in Ralls County of which he was a founder and deacon. They are both buried in th Antioch Cemetery.

ABNER BLAIR SIMS was born March 24, 1878, Palmyra Rd, Marion County, Missouri died October 22, 1938, New Franklin, Missouri, married November 1922 New Franklin, Missouri, GEORGIA DOUGLAS BROOKMAN, who died March 23, 1926, Boonville, Missouri. Both are buried in Mount Pleasant Cemberey, New Franklin, Missouri. He was an engineer on the North Division off the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway.

ROBERT ELMER SIMS, born November 20, 1879, Saverton Township, Ralls County, Missouri, died April 30, 1894, Ralls County, Missouri, unmarried. He is buried in Antioch Cemetery, Ralls County, Missouri.

WALTER WILLIAM SIMS was born 1881 Saverton Township, Ralls County, Missouri, died March 18, 1904 Carbondale, Illinois. He is buried in Atioch Cemetery, Ralls County, Missouri. He was not married. He was a member of the Fifth Street Baptist Church in Hannibal, Missouri. (("William Walter Sims died March 18 1904, at Catholic hospital, Belleville, Illinois. Died of mail crane accident sustained on St. Louis-Collinsville branch of Illinois Central Railroad. Was said to be the youngest engineer on Illinois Central at that time. Possessed an inventive, creative turn of mind; had completed International Correspondence School Engineering course as prescribed at that time by Illinois Central for its training engineers. Built several miniature locomotives of various types and parts as a hobby. Interred in father's plot at Antioch.""))

EDGAR HAYS SIMS was born October 29, 1883, Saverton Township, Ralls County, Missouri, died May 24, 1962, Decatur, Illinois. He is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Decatur, Illinois. He married November 22, 1910, Fifth Street Baptist Chuch, Hannibal, Misouri, HELEN E. COLBORN (daughter of SYLVESTER COLBORN and NORA WINDERS) born January 10, 1887, Hannibal, Missouri. They were members of the Antioch Baptist Church in Ralls County, Missouri, and of the First Baptist Church in Decatur, Illinois.

The above information from "The Simms Family of Stafford County Virginia by W.K. Hall and Wilma Chappell and the Ralls County, Missouri marriage licenses.

With the above Sims/Simms information, further searches on World Family Trees in Family Tree Maker, I was able to piece together several generations of descendants of Abmer Sims. These are included in the InterneTree and genealogy reports for Edward Blair (1810) on this Genealogy site.

The following is text from a second email from Ralls County Library:
"Searched the index to marriages for Ralls County Missouri up to about 1920 last night and found one marriage listed for: --- ALICE BLAIR married to WILLIAM E. KANE..(about 1877/1878 as I recall) "

Robert Blair

May 3, 2003