Version 6.01

11 February 2025

David March © 2014

THOMAS JOHN F SMITH and HILMA MARIE SMITH née SANDBERG

Thomas John F Smith was born in1885 in Dundee Scotland. According to his obituary he came to Ontario after the Boer War in 1901 and travelled to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1905 on one of the last stagecoaches destined for that place. He engaged in the practice of optometry for over 50 years until his retirement in 1959. He first appeared in the 1912 Saskatoon Henderson Directory under the listing: Thomas J Smith of Saskatoon Optical and Drug - 11 Hunt Block. He could not be identified in the 1906 or 1911 Saskatoon census records, but was likely there in at least 1911 as it was almost assuredly there that he met his future wife.

Hilma Marie Sandberg sailed on SS 'Lusitania' from Liverpool, England and arrived in New York, New York on 4 October 1912. She gave her final destination as Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and the passenger list record indicated that she was a hair dresser that had previously been in Saskatoon for 6 years. It would appear that Thomas and Hilma had met and courted in Saskatoon and arranged to marry in the States three days after she returned from her trip. They were married on 7 October 1912 in Chicago, Illinois. From her death record, it was discovered that Hilma was born on 22 September 1883 in Stockholm, Sweden to Carl Sandberg and Anna.

Hilma Sandberg was listed in the 1911 Saskatoon Henderson Directory as follows: Hilma Sanberg, asst May Hair lvs 307 22nd St E. There was also an ad for her business in that directory that read: Hair and Sandberg, May Hair and Hilma Sandberg, Hair Goods, Hair Dressing, Manicuring, Chiropody and Swedish Massaging. Thomas and Hilma's first child, Hilma Margaret (Peggy) was born on 6 November 1913 in Stockholm, so it has been speculated that she returned home to have her first baby, likely because her parents were still living there. A daughter, Marion (1916-2000), was born in Saskatoon and another daughter was born some time after 1921. At the time of the 1916 census, the family of four was living at 1114 Spadina Cres. The 1918 Henderson Directory listed Thomas as a photographer, living at 736 6th Ave N. The family was still at the same address at the time of the 1921 census, but Thomas was identified as an optician. Thomas died on 28 June 1968 in Saskatoon and was cremated. No location was given for his burial. Hilma died on 7 May 1974 in Victoria, British Columbia and was also cremated with no location of burial given on her death certificate.

This family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title 3rd Ave Smith 3 Tree.