History of Algoma District

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Return to Algoma District, Ontario

Contents 1 Algoma District 1.1 First Nations Reserves 1.2 Industry 1.3 Notable Families 2 Sources

Algoma District

Algoma District is located north of Lake Huron and Lake Superior, in Northern Ontario. It was created by procamation by the government of Canada West in 1853 as a judicial district. The original boundaries included all the territory north of the French River, west to Pigeon River, and all the islands on the Canadian side of the Canada-US border in Lake Huron and Lake Superior. Sault Ste. Marie was designated the district seat in 1858 and remains so, to this day.

Algoma District's size was reduced in 1871 when Thunder Bay District was created by the Ontario government. It was reduced again, when Manitoulin District was established in 1888. Sudbury District was created on the eastern side in 1894, and Timiskaming District to the northeast, was established from parts of Algoma District in 1912.

The district contains numerous Provincial Parks and protected areas. The forested area is a mix of yellow birch, white spruce, balsam fir, sugar maple, and eastern white cedar. The landscape was popularized by the Group of Seven, a group of Canadian artists.

First Nations Reserves

• Garden River 14
• Goulais Bay 15A
• Gros Cap 49
• Gros Cap Indian Village 49A
• Missanabie 62
• Obadjiwan 15E
• Rankin Location 15D
• Sagamok
• Serpent River 17
• Thessalon 12
• Whitefish Island

The name Algoma comes from the Ojibwa name for Lake Superior.

Prior to 1868, Algoma District was part of Rupert's Land

Industry

In 1926, the main industry in the district was logging.

Notable Families

The Pim Family

David Pim was born in Dublin, Ireland about 1827. He first lived in York (now Toronto) before he married Margaret Campbell Butchart on November 22, 1852, in Owen Sound, Canada West. That same year, they moved to Sault Ste. Marie and began operating a hotel. David Pim became a leading member of society and was appointed post master in 1858. He was appointed Revenue Inspector for Algoma in 1861. He died unexpectedly in 1870 at age 43. He was buried in Old Town Cemetery, in Sault Ste. Marie. (NOTE: He does not yet have a profile)

Margaret Campbell Butchart Pim was born April 2, 1833 in Dundee, Scotland. After her husband died, she was appointed postmistress. She held the position until 1903. She died on February 19, 1906 and was buried with her husband.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Article: David and Margaret Pim

• Algoma District GenWeb http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~onalgoma/