I-Pariss Sims, 1750-1833.

II-6. Matthew Sims, fourth son and sixth child of Pariss and Keziah Royster Sims, was horn near Winston-Salem, N. C., in l792-see Chapter Three. He was a circuit-riding Methodist minister and farmer in the Florence-Tuscumbia area of Alabama, where he married -- name of wife unknown-and had three children of which we have a record.

About 1828 he emigrated from Alabama, with his family and several other families, to Fayette County, Tenn., where they purchased a large block of land for settlement. In 1952 Leslie Sims, a great grandson of Alamo, Tenn., gave me the following information on his branch of the family:

"My father's name was John Sims. He had three brothers, James, William and Robert, and all of them, including my father, were doctors. They had one sister, Susie, who never married. My grandfather, William Sims, was a farmer and he had one older brother, Dr. John Sims, who lived in Lauderdale County, Tenn., near Double Bridges, where he was a country doctor. He had two sons, William and Edward.

"Dr. John Sims and my grandfather, William, had one sister, Martha who married Erastus White of Crockett County, Tenn. She was the grandmother of Dr. Robert H. White, Tennessee State Historian and the author of a State history, "Tennessee, It's Growth and Progress" which is used in the public schools of the State.

"I am almost sure that my great grandfather was Matthew Sims. I never heard my father say much about him for he died years before my father was born, but I understand he was a Methodist circuitriding preacher in North Alabama. He came to Fayette County, Tenn., about 1828 . . . . Robert W. Sims (12), the lawyer of Gadsden, Tenn., was a relative of ours (see Chapter Ten). I never knew him personally but my father did and I know that we are of the same family. Also father met Cong. Thetus W. Sims (160) several times and they figured out the family connection."

Leslie Sims has been editor and publisher of three weekly newspapers, known as "Sims Publications", Crockett County, for many years. In 1963 I spent some time with him in going over our family history. He has one son, Robert Bell Sims, who grew up in the newspaper plant of his father and is now Public Information Officer for the U. S. Navy in Washington, D. C.

Paul Sims, Leslie's younger brother, was editor of the States Graphic, Browasville, Tenn., until his death in 1962. Paul had one son, Paul Virgil, an engineer in Brownsville. In my work at the University of Tennessee I was closely associated with Paul for many years. He was an able leader and a power in the State Press Association, as expressed in the following resolution, issued by the Haywood County Court and printed in the Congressional Record at the request of Cong. Robert E. Everett:

"Whereas, the unexpected news of the untimely death of Paul Sims came as a distinct shock to the people throughout Haywood County and to his host of friends throughout the entire State .... for more than 40 years he had been associated with the States Graphic of Brownsville, having begun his connection there as a printer and over a period of years came to be elevated to vice-president and editor of the paper which enjoys an enviable reputation for its reporting of news and its splendid and thought provoking editorials . . . was a past president of the Tennessee Press Association and the Brownsville Rotary Club; past secretary of the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce; a former member of the Board of Aldermen and Mayor of Brownsville; an Elder in the Church of Christ and a teacher of a Men's Bible Class; member of the Masonic Lodge; listed in the 1961 edition of "Who's Who in Tennessee", and a member of Council of Boy Scouts, all of which activities bespeak of his interest and efforts in the promotion of the religious and political life of his town and country . . . . Whereas, in the death of Paul Sims not only Brownsville, Haywood County and the State of Tennessee, but the Nation as a whole has lost one of its great benefactors and his influence will be felt and appreciated in years to come; now, therefore, be it resolved by the County Court of Haywood County in regular session that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the said Court . . . ."

The following record of the Matthews Sims family was compiled with the assistance of Leslie and Paul Sims, his great grandsons, and that of several descendants of Dr. James and Dr. Will Sims, most of whom now live in other states:

Matthew Sims (6) and his wife, name unknown, had three children of which we have a record. They were:

III-291. Dr. John Sims, born near Florence, Ala., about 1822; died in Lauderdale County, Tenn., where he practiced medicine in the Double Bridges Community for many years. He married a McCullough and as far as we know had only three children:

IV-292. William Sims, who never married.
IV-293. Edward Sims, who was married twice but had no children.
IV-294. Laura Sims, who married Joe Tillman and had a family of four boys and two girls.

III-295. Martha Sims, born in Alabama, Nov. 29, 1824; died Nov. 11, 1869. She married Erastus White and had a son:

IV- Martin Thomas White, born in 1844; died in 1908. He was married twice. His second wife was Susan A. Neely, born in 1866; died in 1902. They had a son:

V- Robert H. White, born in Crockett County, Nov. 2, 1883. He is still active (1965) as Tennessee State Historian.

III-296. William Sims, born Oct. 26, 1826 in Alabama; died in Bonicord Community, Dyer County, Tenn., in 1901. He married Julia Cook, born in Rutherford County, Tenn., in 1837; died in 1895. Children:

IV-297. James R. Sims (Dr. Jim), been in 1853-see family record below.
IV-298. William Sims (Dr. Will), born in 1858-see family record later in this chapter.
IV-299. John P. Sims (Dr. John), born in 1861-see record of his family later in this chapter.
IV-300. Robert Sims (Dr. Bob), born in 1863; married Tommie Murray and practiced medicine in the Bonicord area of Dyer County. They had no children,
IV-301. Susie Sims, died unmarried at the age of 55.

 

Dr. James R. Sims (297), oldest son of William and Julia Cook Sims, was born Oct. 24, 1853; died Oct. 11, 1903; married Ascenith Avery in 1868. She was born Jan. 26, 1852; died May 27, 1933. Their first child, born in 1869, died before he was a year old. Dr. Jim, as he was known, first taught school. Then he attended the Dr. James Marion Sims College of Medicine and began the practice of medicine at Bells, Tenn., in 1878. It is said that he visited in the home of Dr. James Marion Sims and they claimed kinship--see sketch of Dr. James Marion Smith, Chapter Nineteen.

In 1889 Dr. Jim moved his family to DuQuoin, Ill., where he was a typical country doctor until his death in 1903. Loved by his community for his devotion to his practice, he was never known to refuse to go to a patient day or night. Children:

V-302. Edgar Earl Sims, born Jan. 14, 1878 in Crockett County, Tenn., and now lives in Murphysboro, Ill., where he was in the restaurant business for many years. He was also associated in the Sims Ford Agency at DuQuoin with his brother, Horace, and at one time operated a variety store. He has been married three times, his present wife being May Perrymen Sims. His first wife was Bertha Yates who died in 1905. Children:

VI-303. James Hamlet Sims, born in 1898; died in April 1963; married Deane Teague, Oct. 11, 1944. No children.
VI-304. Edra Sims who died when she was seven years old.
VI-305. Julia Marie Sims who died in infancy.

Children of Edgar E. Sims by his second wife, Bertie Sulser:

VI-306. Earl Eugene Sims, born May 15, 1907. He is in the insurance business at Pane, Ill.; married Edwinna McCrosky, Aug. 9, 1933 and they have one daughter:

VII-307. Marilyn Sue Sims, married John Edward Ryan and has one daughter:

VIII- Julia Ann Ryan

VII-308. Marion Wilard Sims, born June 27, 1909; rural mail carrier, Murphysboro, Ill.; married Eula Nelson, Aug. 10, 1931; has two children:
VII-309. William (Bill) Sims, born Oct. 13, 1932; flight attendant for Eastern Airlines, Miami; married Rosemary Pieron, June 23, 1956; daughter:

VIII-310. Bambi Lynn Sims

VII-311. Sharon Sims who married H. E. Marko, Feb. 12, 1960; children, twins:

VIII- Eugene and Tammy Sue Marko.

VI-312. Ethel E. Sims, born May 13, 1912; married Merle Lipe and live in Murphysboro, Ill. Children:

VII- Phyllis, Edward and Allan Lips.

VI-313. Leslie Sims, born in 1913; died in 1917.
VI-314. Edgar Sims, born July 31, 1918. He is associated with the Sims Motor Sales (Ford) Agency in DuQuoin. He married Jeanie Wright, Aug. 25, 1940. Children:

VII-315. Judy Sims, born Dec. 29, 1943; married Charles Sheehan. Children:

VIII- James Sheehan, born in August 1962.
VIII-David Sheehan, born in January 1964.

VII-316. Jane Margaret Sims, born June 26, 1950.

V-317. Horace R. Sims, second son of Dr. James and Ascenith Avery Sims, was born in 1880 and has a record of being one of the oldest active Ford dealers in the country, having operated the Sims Ford Agency at DuQuoin for 53 years. Sons and nephews have been associated with him in the agency. He died Feb. 8, 1966. He had two children:

VI-318. Russell Haines Sims, who was associated with his father in the Ford Agency until his death in 1957. He had two sons:

VII-319. Horace Gene Sims, born Dec. 30, 1923; associated in the Ford Agency; married Betty L. Emling and they have eight children:

VIII-320. Brenda Jo Sims, born July 17, 1949.
VIII-321. Steven Wayne Sims, born Sept. 20, 1951.
VIII-322. Russell A 1 a n Sims, born Dec. 22, 1953.
VIII-323. Larry Eugene Sims, born Aug. 12, 1955.
VIII-324. Jeffrey Scott Sims, born Aug. 27, 1957.
VIII-325. Janet Kay Sims, born Jan. 4, 1960.
VIII-326. Donald Paul Sims, born Oct. 10, 1962.
VIII-327. Charles Brett Sims, born July 30, 1964.

VII- 328. George Russell Sims, born Jan. 13, 1928; married Patricia L. Brokdon. Children:

VIII-329. David Russell Sims, born Oct. 15, 1950.
VIII-330. Danny D. Sims, born March 1, 1953.
VIII-331. Elizabeth Ann Sims, born Jan. 7, 1959.

VI- 332. Florence Sims, daughter of Horace R. Sims, married Ben Goddard and they live in Kansas City where he is associated with Goodrich Tire Co. Children:

VII- Benjamin, Ronald and Barbara Goddard.

V-333. Nina Irene Sims, oldest daughter of Dr. James and Ascenith Avery Sims, was born in 1883; married Edward B. Macun of DuQuoin in 1016; died in 1954. They had one child:

VI- Bernard Maclin who died in infancy.

V-334. William Andrew Sims, the third son of Dr. James and Ascenith Avery Sims, was born in 1884; married Mayme Schickendang. He operated a men's clothing store in DuQuoin, now retired. They have two children:

VI-335. Clifford Sims, born Sept. 11, 1910; married Goldie Rhine and has three children:

VII-336. Stanley Sims, born Feb. 11, 1934;
VII-337. Roger David Sims, born Aug. 22, 1949.
VII-338. Phillip Sims, born July 12, 1950.

VI- 339. Dorothy Sims married Lavern Wilkinson and has two children:

VII- Stephen and Thomas Wilkinson.

V-340. Ida Elnora Sims, second daughter of Dr. James and and Ascenith Avery Sims, was born July 21, 1886; married Hall Moore; died in 1961; no children.
V-341. Julia Ann Sims, born July 25, 1889; married Karl F. Federer in 1908. He died in 1951 and she and her brother Horace (310) who lost his wife in 1957 made their home together in the old Sims family home in DuQuoin. She has two children:

VI- Karl and Frances Jane Federer.

V-342. James Avery Sims, the youngest son of Dr. James and Ascenith Avery Sims, was born in 1894; married Bess Holden who died in 1951; now retired and living with his second wife, Mae Sims. No children by either marriage.

Dr. William Sims (Dr. Will) (298), second son of William and Julia Cook Sims, was born in 1858 in Dyer County and began the practice of medicine at Tiptonville, Lake County, Tenn. Later, he practiced in Faragould, Ark., and in St. Louis, Mo., where he died. Children:

V-343. Ernest Canton Sims, born at Tiptonville Nov. 18, 1884; married Elizabeth Blackburn Elliott, June 22, 1914. He was a pharmacist for many years, now retired and living in Santa Monica, Calif. One child:

VI-344. Mildred Grace Sims, born in Little Rock, Ark., May 4, 1917; married James Donald Mexico; lives in Santa Monica.

V-345. Herbert McCullock Sims, born at Tiptonville, Tenn., Aug. 3, 1887; now a retired electrical engineer, living in Pueblo, Cob. He married Sadie Shelton, Aug. 1, 1912. Children:

VI-346. Herbert Malcolm, born at Paragould, Ark., Jan. 13, 1915; married Mary Ann Wilson. They have no children. He is an electrical engineer.
VI-347. Bettic Louise Sims, born in St. Louis, Oct. 3, 1917; married Francis Rollin Poe of Pueblo, June 11, 1939. Children:

VII- Sara Lee Poe, born May 30, 1940.
VII- Rollin Lee Poe, born July 31, 1941.
VII- Susan Maria Poe, born May 21, 1946.
VII- Rosland Margo Poe, born Nov. 30, 1950.

VI-348. William Loyd Sims, born June 24, 1931; married Kay Rose, June 24, 1955. He is a Captain in the Air Force and in 1964 was stationed at Panama City, Fla. Children:

VII-349. Katherine Louise Sims, born May 27, 1956.
VII-350. Karen Lee Sims, born June 25, 1959.
VII-351. William Malcolm Sims, born April 1, 1961.

V-352. Edith Bingham Sims, youngest child and daughter of Dr. William Sims, was born at Paragould, Ark., Nov. 13, 1889; married Loyd Scruggs Nov. 16, 1909. He died July 5, 1955. She was living in St. Louis in 1964 and I am indebted to her for the above record of her father's family. She has no children.

Dr. John P. Sims (299), third son of William and Julia Cook Sims, was born in 1861; died in 1928. He was a graduate of the old Memphis Hospital Medical College, now the University of Tennessee Medical College, and practiced medicine at Crockett Mills, Tenn. He married Effie Amos in 1891 and they had the following children:

V-353. Leslie Sims, horn in 1892; newspaper editor and publisher, Alamo; married Lucile Bell, Dec. 25, 1922. Children:

VI-354. Robert Bell Sims, born Nov. 16, 1934; Public Information Officer, U. S. Navy, Pentagon, Washington, D. C. He married Patricia Lytton and they have a daughter:

VII-355. Carolyn Sims, born Aug. 4, 1962.

VI-356. Rebecca Jane Sims, an adopted daughter, married Robert Lee Green who is associated with the Leslie Sims Publications, Alamo. They have one child:

VII- Robert Lee Green, Jr.

V-357. Paul Sims, born in 1894; editor of the Brownsville States Graphic until his death in 1962; married Susie Grabel and had one son:

VI-358. Paul Virgil Sims, graduate engineer, Brownsville.

V-359. Lyda Sims, born in 1900; married W. L. Hardison. He died in Chicago in 1955. Children:

VI- Leslie Hardison, born in 1929; married and has six children.
VI- Ann Hardison; married Bill Van Beek and has four children.

Dr. John and Effie Amos Sims had two children that died in infancy.

Footnote: Roman Numerals indicate generations: Figures are Sims identification numbers.

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