Crawford Co., AR - Biographies - George W. Sims

***********************************************
This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
Archives by: The Goodspeed Publishing Co

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgenwebarchives.org
***********************************************

----------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed 
Publishing Co., 1889.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

George W. Sims is only six months and ten days the junior of the 
Nation itself, having been born January 14, 1777, in the "Old 
Dominion." His father, Briggs Sims, was also a native of Virginia, and 
his mother, Frances (Duke) Sims, was born in North Carolina, whither 
Mr. Sims went when a young man and was married. Some time after his 
marriage Mr. Briggs and wife moved to Tennessee, and there engaged in 
farming, and reared a family of seven sons and seven daughters. Of 
this family, Mr. George W., the oldest, and Mr. Burl Sims, the 
youngest, are the only survivors. Mr. Briggs Sims was an active member 
of the Primitive Baptist Church, and died in 1840, his wife having 
passed away in 1836. Both the paternal and maternal grandfathers, 
Zachariah Sims and Burl Duke, were born in America, of English 
parents. The latter and his wife. Frances Duke, were early residents 
of Warren County, Tenn., where George W. passed his early life. At the 
age of twenty-one Mr. Sims started in the world for himself, and was 
soon united in marriage to Rachel McWreath, daughter of Michael 
McWreath. This union was blessed with seven children, the following 
four of whom survive; Mrs. Elizabeth Eddy, of this county; Mrs. 
Clerrinda Rankin, of this county; Mrs. Nancy Price, of Missouri, and 
Mr. Benjamin F. Sims, of this county. In 1854, having lost his first 
wife, Mr. Sims married Miss Nancy Hamblin, who was born in Hardin 
County, Tenn., in 1826. This lady is a niece of ex-President John 
Quincy Adams, and daughter of William and Elizabeth (Crosslin) 
Hamblin. The father was twice married, and by both marriages had 
twenty children, of whom but four live. Of these Mrs. Nancy Sims is 
the eldest. The others are: Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, of Washington 
Territory; Mrs. Jane Miller, of this county, and Uriah Hamblin, of 
Newton County, Mo. Mrs. Sims' father was a mechanic by trade. Mr. 
George Sims is a living representative of the War of 1812, in which he 
served as a private in Capt. Jones' company under Col. John Williams. 
About a year ago he was the recipient of a pension from the Government 
of $866, back dues, and $8 per month bounty for said services. Mr. 
Sims is one of the early settlers of this county, having long ago 
homesteaded his present property, from which he has never moved. He 
owns 160 acres of land, and although nearly one hundred and twelve 
years old, and becoming feeble physically, his strength of mind is 
wonderful for one of his advanced years. Mr. Sims was once an active 
member of the Masonic fraternity, but for many years now has attended 
none of the lodge meetings. He is non-partisan in politics, casting 
his vote for issues and not men.  

----------------------------------------------------------------------