Person:Albert Ormsby (2)

- One of William and Maud Ormsby's children lists Uncle Albert as a contact on a border crossing card. - Not listed in Kith 'n Kin.

1881 Canadian Census James Ormsby 47, a Laborer lived in Orillia, Simcoe North, Ontario with his wife Ellen 39 and their children William 21, Albert 18, Ellen 14, Charles 12, Robert 4 and Elizabeth 3. They were all born in Ontario and their religion was Calvanistic Methodist.

2 Sep 1885 - James and Ellen listed as parents on marriage certificate.

1888-9 Advertised in Ontario Gazetteer and Business Directory for 1888-89 , pg 15. Online at www.collectionscanada.gc.ca.

1901 Canadian Census Albert B Ormsby, aged 38, born on 6 Feb 1863 in Ontario, lived in District 117, Toronto East with his wife Sarah, 38, and his children Douglas, 14, Kate, 13, Iva May, 11, Violet, 9, and Albert 4. There are two lodgers (one possibly a relative of Sarah Armstrong Ormsby) and a domestic living with the family. Albert’s occupation is listed as contractor. His tribal origin is listed as Irish and his religion as Presbyterian.

1903 - A.B. Ormsby and Co. advertisement in Toronto Globe. Manufacturers of metallic skylights, galvanized iron and blow piping. (Toronto Globe, 4 Jun 1903, 9 Jun 1903, 11 Aug 1903, 19 Sep 1903) -A.B. Ormsby paid $290 for public school metal ceilings. C. Ormsby paid $87.38 for tinsmithing (Toronto Globe, 16 Jun 1903).

1903. Newspaper Article “One of the best known and most firmly established business houses in Toronto is that of A.B. Ormsby and Co., roofers and metal workers, who are now occupying large and most commodious manufacturing premises at the southwest corner of Queen and George streets. “(Toronto Globe, 6 Jun 1903)

1904 Manufacturing steel caskets, metal ceilings, fire proof windows and doors (Toronto Globe, 10 Feb 1904, 14 Jan 1904, 27 Aug 1904)

1905. Newspaper Article “Some of the largest contracts in Canada have been successfully undertaken by the firm; In the west they have installed over 60,000 feet of improved skylight on the large new CPR shops at Winnipeg, while in Montreal, they put up over 10,000 feet of skylights.... on the work of the Locomotive and Machine Company. ... Under the vigorous management of Mr. A.B. Ormsby the firm has rapidly come to the front, and his endeavours have built up an industry which is one of the notable ones of the Dominion. (Toronto Daily Star, 23 Jun 1905)

12 Jul 1906 Attended William Ormsby’s funeral (obit)

1906. A.B. Ormsby and Co. involved in a case of graft with regards to the building of the Lawrence St. Market. (Toronto Globe, 10 Jul 1906)

1906 . Myrtle Villa “Another large Mimico estate was later to become the focus of much public attention was established about 1906 by A.B. Ormsby manufacturer of metal doors and window frames. The Ormsby’s first acquired the property as a summer home and later built a large year-round residence there. They often played hosts there to groups from Wesley United Church and there are still a good many young people living in Mimico today who can recall attending Young Peoples’ society parties at the Ormsby estate...When A.B. Ormsby retired in 1925 and moved to California his large lakefront property was purchases for a reported $150,000 by James Franceschini...”

1907. Newspaper Article Mr. A.B. Ormsby, with his wife and daughter left yesterday afternoon on return to their home in Toronto. They have been on a trip around the world, and came up to Edmonton to spend a day with MR. Ormsby's brother, A.W. Ormsby, the city electrician. Mr. Ormsby is greatly impressed with the growth and prosperity of the capital city of Alberta, and carried back to Eastern Canada new ideas of the great future that lies before this city and province. While at the coast, Mr. Ormsby opened up branches of his business, at Vancouver (?) and Seattle, in addition to the branch at Winnipeg. The head quarters are at Toronto, where one of the largest Canadian manufacturers of galvanized iron specialties, fire proof windows and doors, etc. is owned by Mr. Ormsby. (http://www.rootsweb.com/~abwcobit/NewsExtract/1907Edmonton/1907/3/ORMSBY19070325.txt) (Edmonton Daily, March 25, 1907.)

1911 Canadian Census Albert B. Ormsby, 48, is living at 249? Lakeshore Rd., York Centre in Mimico Village. He is listed as a manufacturer. The family’s religion is listed as Presbyterian. He is living with his wife Sarah, 48, his daughters Kate, 23,Violet, 20, and his son Albert, 15. There are two domestics living with the family.

1913 Advertising Preston Steel Doors and Ceilings (Various ads in Toronto Star and Globe)

1917-1919 Manufacturing pre-fab garages (Various ads in Toronto Star and Globe)

1919 Toronto to LA in a Franklin Car - Letter from AB Ormsby appears in an ad for Franklin cars. He describes his trip to LA from Toronto in the car. (Toronto Globe, 27 Dec 1919)

1921 - 1923 Several articles appear about A.B. Ormsby’s gardening efforts. He made entries in a peony show (Toronto Star, 15 Jun 1912), a rose show (Toronto Star 22 Jun 1921) and his garden in Mimico is featured in the Toronto Globe (1 Aug 1923).

11 Feb 1927 Arrived in Detroit. Lists birthdate as about 1872. Born in Simcoe. Irish nationality. Departure contact is his sister E. Walterhouse. Arrival contact is his wife Sarah A.

1927 Naturalization as U.S. citizen

1927 Avocado Farming (18 acres, 15 acres with Fotheringham) (Online source. Have pdf)

From A History of Vista by Harrison and Ruth Doyle, C 1983, Hillside Press, Vista, CA:

"A native Scotsman, George M. Cosh came to Vista from Toronto, Canada on Oct. 1, 1925 with A.B. Ormsby and subsequently set up the 'Ormsby Plantations' in the Vista Grande area. Graduated from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, at age 16; was made a life member of the Royal botanical Gardens at age 18. Peeples, Scotland, was his birthplace. Prior to his association with Ormsby, he taught horticulture at Cornell University, New York for three years. He pioneered the commercial growing of avocados in this area." *

". . . A.B. and Sarah Ormsby . . . purchased 700 acres on East Vista Way. George M. Cosh planted 400 acres of this land to avocados, 200 acres to passion fruit and approximately 100 acres to tomatoes. The rans was called 'Ormsby Plantations.'"

A.B. and Sarah Ormsby were the parents of Ivy Ormsby Fotheringham who was married to Joseph H. Fotheringham, later to become the first mayor of Vista." (P.269)

"In Nov. of 1927 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Martin invited a group of Christian Scientists to their home . . . Attending were . . . Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Ormsby." (P.89)

• Ormsby and Cosh followed West India Gardens (20 acres in 1913) and a few others. "The advocates of the planting of this fruit say the avocado is the most valuable fruit grown. A fair sized avocado will make a substantial and appetizing meal for one person. It is most easily digested, wholesome, of high nutrituous value, and builder of blood, bone, and muscle." (P. 125, from the May 24, 1913, Oceanside Blade newspaper)

1929 Ads appear in the Toronto newspapers suggesting people come to California for avocado farming (Toronto Star 5 Nov 1929)

1930 US Census Albert B. Ormsby, 67, born in Canada English, is living with his wife Sarah A, 67, in Oceanside Township, San Diego County, California. He lists his occupation as nurseyman - avocados. He was naturalized as an American citizen in 1927. His wife Sarah was naturalized in 1926. They have one servant living with them.

1943 - Mother’s maiden name listed as Reed on death certificate

Obituary Ormsby. Mr. A. B. Ormsby, born in Ontario, Can. 1862, died in Laguna, Cal., January 28, 1943. Came to California from Toronto, Can in 1922; was a manufacturer in Toronto for many years; after settling in Los Angeles became interested in Los Angeles real estate and for a number of years was quite active i this section of Southern California. Seventeen years ago Mr. Ormsby built a home in Vista, Cal. and engaged in growing, packing and shipping of avocados and other semi-tropical fruits under the name of Ormsby Plantations. This was the largest independent packing plant in Vista. Recently, he sold most of his Vista interests and had retired to Laguna Beach, Cal. where he passed away. Interment Santa Ana. (L.A. Times, 29 Jan 1943)

A.B. Ormsby Dies in California Word was received yesterday by Albert N. Ormsby, 242 Maplewood Avenue, of the death at Laguna Beach, Calif., of his father, Albert B. Ormsby, 80, founder and one-time president of A.B. Ormsby Company Limited. Before moving to Vista, Calif., 20 years ago, he lived at “Ormscliff,” Mimico. Mr Ormsby was born at Rugby, Ont. For some years he operated a steel and sheet-metal business in Toronto. He was for a time joint owner of the York-Adelaide Building. Surviving also are his widow, Mrs. Sarah Ormsby: another son, Douglas of Vancouver, and two daughters, Mrs. R. H. Pattison of Montreal and Mrs. R. H. Fotheringham of Los Angeles, Calif. (Toronto Globe. 30 Jan 1943)

After Death:

AB Ormsby factory at 1175 King St. W. is declared a historical building by Toronto City Council, 2005.

1. ↑ Ontario, Canada Marriages, 1857-1922.
2. ↑ 1901 Census of Canada.
3. ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census.
4. ↑ 1911 Census of Canada.
5. ↑ California Death Index, 1940-1997.
6. ↑ Detroit Border Crossings and Passenger and Crew Lists, 1905-1957
   Arrival Date: 11 Feb 1927 Arrival Place: Port Huron, Michigan.
7. ↑ Ontario, Canada Marriages, 1857-1922.
8. ↑ 1901 Census of Canada.
9. ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census.
10. ↑ 1911 Census of Canada.
11. ↑ California Death Index, 1940-1997.
12. ↑ Detroit Border Crossings and Passenger and Crew Lists, 1905-1957.
13. ↑ New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957.
14. ↑ Florida Passenger Lists, 1898-1951.
15. ↑ California Death Index, 1940-1997.
16.   Detroit Border Crossings and Passenger and Crew Lists, 1905-1957.
17.   1930 United States Federal Census.
18.   California Death Index, 1940-1997.
19. ↑ Date: 1911
    Place: Ontario,
    
    Date: 22 MAR 1913
    Place: Canada,
    Toronto (East/Est) (City/CitÈ) Ward/Quartier No 2, Toronto (East/Est)(City
    Date: 1901
    Place: CitÈ), Ontario,
    Toronto (East/est) (City/CitÈ) Ward/Quartier No 2, Toronto (East/est)(City
    Date: 1901
    Place: CitÈ), Ontario,
    
    Date: 1920
    Place: Mimico Beach, Ontario, Canada
    
    Date: 1930
    Place: Oceanside, San Diego, California,