John R. Sims was born August 12, 1864, in Bristol Township, Fillmore County, Minnesota.

The 1880 United States census showed John R. Sims Jr. (age 15, born in Minnesota) living with his parents John (age 41, born in England, farmer) and Elizabeth (age 35, born in Vermont) in Bristol Township, Fillmore County, Minnesota. His other siblings were Willard (age 12, born in Minnesota), Walter E. (age 9, born in Minnesota), and Nellie G. (age 5, born in Minnesota).

The 1885 Minnesota census showed John Sims Jr. (age 20, born in Minnesota) living with his parents John (age 45, born in England) and Elizabeth (age 40, born in Vermont) in Bristol Township, Fillmore County, Minnesota. His other siblings were Willard H. (age 16, born in Minnesota), Walter E. (age 14, born in Minnesota), Nellie G. (age 10, born in Minnesota), and Ernest F. (age 16, born in England).

John Sims Jr. married Alice E. Darrah on February 19, 1889, in Bristol, Fillmore County, Minnesota.

The 1900 United States census showed John Sims (age 35, born in August 1864 in Minnesota, farmer) married to Alice (age 32, born in October 1867 in Iowa) and living in Hammond Township, Polk County, Minnesota. Children Gladys (age 9, born in November 1890 in Minnesota), Irwin (age 8, born in February 1892 in Minnesota), Alice (age 5, born in October 1894 in Minnesota), Grace (age 2, born in August 1897 in Minnesota), and Harold (age 6 months, born in June 1900 in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.

The 1905 Minnesota census showed John Sims (age 38, born in Iowa, land man) married to Alice (age 34, born in Iowa) and living in Crookston, Minnesota. Children Gladys (age 15, born in Iowa), Irwin (age 13, born in Iowa), Geneva (age 10, born in Minnesota), Grace (age 7, born in Minnesota), and Evert (age 2, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.

The 1910 United States census showed John Sims (age 46, born in Minnesota, proprietor of factory) married to Alice E. (age 43, born in Iowa) and living in Lake City, Calhoun County, Iowa. Children Gladys M. (age 21, born in Minnesota, bookkeeper of factory), Irwin (age 17, born in Minnesota), Alice G. (age 14, born in Minnesota), Eva G. (age 11, born in Minnesota), and Everett (age 6, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.

The 1915 Iowa census showed John Sims Junior married and living in Cresco, Howard County, Iowa.

The 1920 United States census showed John Sims (age 55, born in Minnesota, manager of brick and tile company) married to Alice E. (age 50, born in Iowa) and living in White Bear Village, Ramsey County, Minnesota. Children Gladys M. (age 30, born in Minnesota), Paul S. (age 2, born in Minnesota, grandson), Irwin J. (age 28, born in Minnesota), Geneva A. (age 24, born in Minnesota), and Everett A. (age 16, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.

The 1930 United States census showed Johns Sims (age 65, born in Iowa, manufacturer brick and tile) married to Alice (age 55, born in Iowa) and living in Garfield Township, Polk County, Minnesota. A son, Irwin (age 36, born in Minnesota, laborer), also lived with the couple.

John Sims Jr. died November 13, 1932, in Polk County, Minnesota.