Naismith was born on November 6, 1861 in Ramsay Township, a place near Almonte, Ontario (Zarum). His parents, Margaret and John Naismith, died of typhoid fever (Zarum). Naismith and his siblings moved to live with their uncle (Zarum). Naismith spent most of his time outdoors playing a game called “duck on a rock”(Zarum). “The rules of the game - and the development of the lob shot - stuck with Naismith and later became the basis of basketball”(Zarum).