Ascension County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....Sims, William Anderson - September 8, 1876
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Mary K. Creamer marykcreamer.00@gmail.com October 17, 2022, 1:36 am


source: The Donaldsonville Chief. (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current,
September 09, 1876, page 3


We are pained to chronicle the death of Wm. Sims, Esq., who died Friday morning, 
at the residence of his father-in-law, in Assumption parish. We shall refer to 
this mournful event at greater length next week.



source: The Donaldsonville Chief. (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, September 
23, 1876, page 4

Death of Capt. William Sims. [Assumption Chronicle.]

As already announced in the mortuary column of last week's issue, this lamented 
gentleman breathed his last at Glenwood, on Friday, the 8th day of September, 
1876, at 8 o'olock (sic) A.M. It can not be expected, even at the risk of 
unbinding fresh wounds, to pass unnoticed one whose life had been replete with 
stirring events and whose character was distinguished by marked traits. Capt. 
Sims was born at Donaldsonville, parish of Ascension, on the 4th day of April, 
1838, but removed here with his parents while a mere lad and grew up to splendid 
manhood in this parish. After having attained sufficient proficiency in his 
elementary studies, he entered the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 
company with the following classmates, then all of Assumption: R.N. Sims, Esq., 
(his sole surving (sic) brother); the brave Major Whit. Martin, killed in action 
at the siege of Vicksburg; R.L. Pugh, Esq., and R.C. Martin, Jr., both planters 
residing in this parish. Immediately after his creditable graduation at Chapel 
Hill he returned home, making the whole way from North Carolina here on foot, 
not from necessity, but to indulge his strong passion for pedestrian exercise, 
and found our country on the verge of a gigantic civil war. Capt. Sims started 
with one of the first military organizations that left the bayou for the seat of 
war, the Phoenix Guards, whose officers were Capt. (afterwards General) Francis 
T. Nicholls, Lieutenants L.D. Nicholls, Victor St. Martin, Whit. Martin, and 
Capt. Sims as Orderly Sergeant. Upon the organization of companies into 
regiments at Camp Moore, the Phoenix Guards were attached to the Eighth 
Louisiana Regiment C.S. Volunteers, and Capt. Nicholls became Lieutenant Colonel 
of the Eighth. As soon as the Eighth was formed it proceeded without delay to 
Virginia, and was soon after its arrival baptised (sic) in the fire of the first 
Manassass.

All of the original company officers of the Phoenix Guards, Captain L.D. 
Nicholls, Victor St. Martin and Ben. Birdsall, were killed. Lieut. Whit. Martin 
having been called to a new field of duty as Major of the Twenty-sixth La. 
Regiment, the Orderly Sergeant, Wm. Sims, was made the last captain of the 
Phoenix Guards, and led its survivors until his capture in one of the 
Rappahannock battles. At the battle of Fredricksburg he was severely wounded and 
incapacitated from service for several months. Upon his recovery he rejoined his 
company and, together with a large portion of Hays' Louisiana Brigade, was 
captured on the Rappahannock eighteen months prior to the close of the war. For 
eighteen long, weary months he was confined as a prisoner of war at Johnson's 
Island, and was only released at the cessation of hostilities between the 
States. He then returned here, and after completing his legal course was 
admitted to practice in the courts of this State. A copartnership (sic) was 
formed between two ex-Confederate officers, Hiram H. H. Carver, Esq., and 
William Sims, under the name and style of Carver & Sims. Mr. Carver being 
elected District, comprising the parishes of Assumption, Ascension, St. James, 
St. John and St. Charles, in 1866, was necessarily absent on official business 
some four months in the year, and the junior member of the firm had almost 
exclusive charge of its onerous civil affairs, which, by the untiring industry 
and talents of Mr. Sims, invariably met with success.

On the 4th of April, 1869, Capt. Sims married one of the most charming and 
accomplished daughters of Mr. George W. Jones, Miss Lizzie, and the future of no 
loving twain ever appeared more auspicious. The young husband was full of 
health, hope and admirable self-reliance, and the blooming young bride glowed 
with devotion, and cheered with woman's sweetest smiles the joyful and sanguine 
anticipations of a fond associate in life's stormy struggles.

In 1870, Capt. Sims, with his usual sagacity, quickly perceived that his native 
State, so deeply involved in civil dissensions and political convulsions, was 
rapidly declining in industrial, social and business interests, and his opinion 
was that it was better to seek another location. He stated to the writer, "I 
will seek another field of operation in a new and rapidly increasing city in 
Missouri - Kansas City, with which I desire to identify myself, and where my 
children can grow up within a great commercial centre (sic). There I will have a 
full opportunity to engraft myself upon a people who guarantee all possible 
educational facilities; in short, a wide field in which I can become connected 
and firmly established with all the social, industrial and moral institutions of 
a progressive, prosperous and enlightened community."

With this commendable view view in mind, Capt. Sims emigrated to Kansas City in 
1870. He remained, however, but two years in the bleak climate of Kansas City. 
To tell the truth, although treated well by its inhabitants, there appeared to 
him and family no place like home, and he resolved to return to the spot of his 
nativity - Donaldsonville, to share the fate of his dearly beloved Louisiana in 
adversity and distress. On his return he formed a copartnership (sic) with his 
talented brother, R.N. Sims, Esq., under the style of R.N. & Wm. Sims, and at 
once entered upon the active practice of his profession at the place of his 
birth. The well earned reputation of R.N. Sims had brought him a large and 
rapidly increasing business. Wm. Sims found his hands full of office work upon 
his entrance in the firm. The drudgery, or more dignified part of the 
profession, was more congenial to his tastes, and he at once applied himself to 
the desk with an intensity natural to the man. For four years he labored 
incessantly and paid no attention to the silent inroads of an insidious disease. 
He was often warned by his anxious friends that he was overtasking what he 
conceived to be an iron constitution; but still he labored and denied himself 
that out-door exercise so essential to mitigate, if not to cure, that dreaded, 
fatal disease, which, like the upas (sic) tree, destroys every thing that comes 
within its fell influence. He was under the flattering impression that a few 
days' recreation with his family at the delighted retreat of Glenwood would soon 
re-establish his health and enable him to resume his professional labors.

Some three months ago he came to Glenwood, but rapidly declining health caused 
him to iuvoke (sic) the medical aid of Dr. R.R. Beasley, who was constantly at 
his bedside and rendered in vain all possible asistance (sic).

The many devoted friends and old comrades of Capt. Sims were continually at the 
bedside, giving all necessary aid and comfort without avail, and the morning of 
the 8th of September, 1876, witnessed the curtain dropped on the sad scene. His 
sufferings were intense and borne with the fortitude of a brave and heroic 
spirit. Like a bright meteor, he flashed in the heavenly sky and was no more.

As soon as the intelligence of the death of Capt. Sims was confirmed, the 
Masonic order assembled and prepared to give him a fraternal interment.

Past Master Geo. G. Garner, assisted by Past Masters E.B. Cox and J.E. Moseman, 
performed the beautiful and solemn ceremonies over the corpse at the residence 
of Mr. Jones, and Bros. I.D. Moore of Benevolent Lodge No. 90, Mayer Cahen of 
Orus Lodge No. 170, Joseph Dalferes of Orient Lodge No. 173, and George Drury, 
T.H. Jones, Francois Gaudin, F.W. Pike, L.U. Folse and Adolphe Badeaux of 
Assumption Lodge No. 203, as pall-bearers bore the body of Bro. Sims to the 
Episcopal Church, of which he was a member, and where the impressive service of 
the Church was read by the Rev. Bro. Lyne. The casket in which Bro. William Sims 
was enclosed was conveyed by the Masons to its place of final interment, and 
after religious services were administered Bro. Garner concluded with Masonic 
burial rites.

In person Capt. Sims was tall, handsome and graceful. In his intercourse with 
the public, he was frank, manly and courteous, always leaving a favorable 
impression upon all those with whom he came in contact. He leaves a widow and 
four children to mourn his death. *** M.M.  
     

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NOTE: www.findagrave.com memorial # 119196304


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