Clara Belle Simms1

Female, #9583, (2 Feb 1866 - 28 Jan 1955)

Parent*Wiley H. Sims (4 Nov 1811 - 3 Dec 1871)
Parent*Virginia Jefferson Sterling (6 Feb 1825 - a 1900)
Clara Belle Simms|b. 2 Feb 1866\nd. 28 Jan 1955|p9583.htm|Wiley H. Sims|b. 4 Nov 1811\nd. 3 Dec 1871|p9807.htm|Virginia Jefferson Sterling|b. 6 Feb 1825\nd. after 1900|p9808.htm|Martin Sims|b. say 1785|p45971.htm|Elizabeth Hartsfield|b. 19 Sep 1788\nd. 6 Jan 1831|p45970.htm|Wiley J. Sterling|b. 1 Jul 1796\nd. 7 Nov 1851|p45919.htm|Bethena Bonner|b. 20 Dec 1802\nd. 27 Jun 1881|p45920.htm|

Name Variation  Clara Belle Simms was also known as Sims. 
Birth*2 Feb 1866 Clara was born at East Vernon, Troup Co., Georgia, on 2 Feb 1866. Death certificate gave DOB as 1865.2,1 
 She was the daughter of Wiley H. Sims and Virginia Jefferson Sterling. 
1870 Census1 Jun 1870 Virginia, Charles, Wiley, Adelle, Jefferson, Emily and Clara was listed as a household member (Clara Sims, 3, F, GA) living with Wiley H. Sims on the 1870 Census at Troup Co., Georgia.3 
1880 Census1 Jun 1880 Adelle, Emily and Clara was listed as a daughter in Virginia Jefferson Sterling's household on the 1880 Census at East Vernon, Troup Co., Georgia.4 
Marriage*11 Jun 1889 She married Sterling Gardner Culpepper at Guadalupe Co., Texas, on 11 Jun 1889.5 
Married Name11 Jun 1889  As of 11 Jun 1889, her married name was Culpepper. 
Deed4 Jul 1894 Sterling Gardner Culpepper and Clara Belle Culpepper granted a deed witnessed by Charles Lawrence Simms on 4 Jul 1894 at Alachua Co., Florida.
(Sterling G. and Clara B. (wife) Culpepper of Thomas Co., GA to Imperial Phosphate Company, a Florida Corporation, for $7,500, 150/2000 interest in 2,000 acres of undivided lands in Townships 8 and 9 in Ranges 16E and 17E (very complex description of land provided in deed) in Alachua County, Florida.  Witnesses for Clara included C. L. Simms and James M. Jones. Witnesses for Sterling were A. T. Green and R. M. McCarthy. Alachua Co., FL Deed Book 40-426. Recorded 16 Jul 1894. (This is the final of three deeds involved in the sale, and this one appears to be a summary of the earlier two, in which the second corrected an error in the first. The first was dated 8 Feb 1894, only one month after the date that Sterling had purchased the land)).6 
Relocationcirca 1896 Family member(s) Clara Belle Culpepper, Charles Simms Culpepper, Harry Stuart Culpepper Sr., Clara Belle Culpepper, John Gardner Culpepper and Mary Foy Culpepper, accompanying Sterling Gardner Culpepper, relocated circa 1896 at White Springs, Hamilton Co., Florida. 
1900 Census1 Jun 1900 Clara was listed as Sterling Gardner Culpepper's wife (Clarabelle Culpepper, W, F, Feb 1869, 31, Mar 11 yrs, Ch 4/4, GA, GA, GA) on the 1900 Census at White Springs, Hamilton Co., Florida.7 
Deed*8 Apr 1904 Sterling Gardner Culpepper and Clara Belle Culpepper granted a deed on 8 Apr 1904 at White Springs, Hamilton Co., Florida.
(S. G. Culpepper and wife sell for $100, a 1 acre lot in White Springs (in Sec 12, T.2 S.R. 15-E) to B.F. Camp. Lot bounded by lots owned by L. C. Williamson, B.F. Camp and S. G. Culpepper. Witnessed by W. G. Cate and G. S. Mobley.).8 
Deed29 Dec 1905 Sterling Gardner Culpepper and Clara Belle Simms granted a deed on 29 Dec 1905 at White Springs, Hamilton Co., Florida.
(S. G. Culpepper and Clara B. Culpepper, his wife, sell for $800, five lots of Block 18 in White Springs (in Sec 12, T.2 S.R. 15-E) to Annie S. McAlfred(?). Lot bounded by lots owned by Pritchard, Barton, Alley and Bridges. Witnessed by M. Swires(?) and B. F. Bullock.).9 
Deed10 Sep 1907 A deed was granted to her by Sterling Gardner Culpepper on 10 Sep 1907 at White Springs, Hamilton Co., Florida.
(S. G. Culpepper sells for $100, a 1 acre lot (in Sec 12, T.2 S.R. 15-E) to Clara B. Culpepper. Lot bounded by lots owned by Denure and John Quincy. Witnessed by W. G. Cate and G. S. Mobley.
     S. G. Culpepper sells for $100, Lots 11 & 17 in Block 114 & 97, and lots 2 - 2 in Block 105 & 56 in town of Mystic, Irwin Co., GA, to Clara B. Culpepper. Lot bounded by lots owned by Denure and John Quincy. Witnessed by W. G. Cate and G. S. Mobley.
).10 
1910 Census*15 Apr 1910 Clara was listed as the head of a family on the 1910 Census at White Springs, Hamilton Co., Florida.11 
Relocation*say 1915 She, accompanied by family member(s) Frances Louise Culpepper, Clara Belle Culpepper and Adelle Corine Simms, relocated say 1915 at Atlanta, Fulton Co., Georgia, (After her husband Sterling's death in 1907, Clara remained on the farm in White Springs, FL for several more years. Then, at some unknown date between 1910 and 1920, she relocated to Atlanta with her daughters (Louise and Clara Belle) and sister (Adelle), and opened a boarding house at 704 Piedmont Avenue.). 
1920 Census*1 Jan 1920 Clara was listed as the head of a family (Clara Culpepper, head, F, W, 51, Wd, GA, GA, GA) on the 1920 Census at Atlanta, Fulton Co., Georgia. Four unrelated boarders (Harris family) and two servants were also listed as living in Clara's boarding house.12 
1930 Census*1 Apr 1930 Clara was listed as the head of a family on the 1930 Census at Atlanta, Fulton Co., Georgia.13 
Photographed*22 Mar 1942 She was photographed on 22 Mar 1942 at Atlanta, Fulton Co., Georgia.14
Clara Belle (Simms) Culpepper & Warren Culpepper
Death*28 Jan 1955 She died at Dothan, Houston Co., Alabama, on 28 Jan 1955.2,15 
Burial*29 Jan 1955 Her body was interred on 29 Jan 1955 at Dothan City Cemetery, Dothan, Houston Co., Alabama. Her death certificate indicates that she was buried in Dothan City Cemetery, but Bitsy Law believes she was buried in Boston, Thomas Co., GA. Neither the 1959 census of Dothan City Cemetery or Joe Craigmile's 1990 "Cemeteries of Thomas Co." show Clara.. 

Family

Sterling Gardner Culpepper (11 Mar 1851 - 21 Nov 1907)
Children

Charts Warren Culpepper's Ancestry Chart
Andrew Hartsfield Descendants
Last Edited 26 Jan 2006

Citations

  1. Harry Stuart Culpepper and Alma Elaine Payne Ancestors, Culpepper/Payne Family Bible, Steven Edward Culpepper, owner, Sandy Springs, GA, (2005).
  2. Death Certificate.
  3. 1870 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 391, Unknown Townships, Antioch P.O., Troup Co., GA, Ancestry.com image 127 of 236
    W. H. Sims, 59, M, Farmer, RE=$1600, PE=$800, GA
    V. J. Sims, 45, F, Keeping house, GA
    C. L. Sims, 20, M, Farm hand, GA
    W. S. Sims, 19, M, Farm hand, GA
    Adaline Sims, 13, F, GA
    J. D. Sims, 11, M, GA
    Emma Sims, 8, F, GA
    Clara Sims, 3, F, GA.
  4. 1880 Federal Census, United States.
  5. Texas Department of State Health Services, compiler, Texas Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2002, Online database at Ancestry.com, 2005.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8795
    Sterling Culpepper and Clara B. Sims, Guadalupe Co., TX, 11 Jun 1889.
  6. Volunteer Compilers, compiler, Alachua County, Florida Deeds, 1826-1914, Alachua County Clerk of the Court, Jan 2005.
    http://www.clerk-alachua-fl.org/archive/AncientJ/FrontPage.cfm?BID=602
  7. 1900 Federal Census, United States.
    ED 41, sheet 20; Page 283a, 65 River Street, White Springs, Hamilton Co., FL
    Ancestry.com Image 40 transcribed by Warren Culpepper
    S. G. Culpepper, HH, W, M, Mar 1852, 48, Md 11 yrs, AL, GA, GA, Land agent
    Clarabelle Culpepper, Wife, W, F, Feb 1869, 31, Md 11 yrs, GA, GA, GA
    John Culpepper, Son, W, M, Apr 1883, 17, Sng, GA, AL, GA
    Charles Culpepper, Son, W, M, Oct 1890, 9, Sng, GA, AL, GA
    Harrie Culpepper, Son, W, M, Aug 1892, 7, Sng, GA, AL, GA
    Clarabelle Culpepper, Daughter, W, F, Dec 1894, 5, GA, AL, GA
    Francis L. Culpepper, Daughter, W, F, Aug 1897, 2, GA, AL, GA
    Lucy Willis, cook, B, F, May 1833, 62, M, Ch: 13/9, GA, GA, GA
    Rebecca Cooper, Visitor, W, F, Apr 1874, 26, Mar 3yrs, Ch: 1/1, TN, TN, TN
    Margaret Cooper, Visitor, W, F, Jul 1897, 2, GA, TN, TN.
  8. County Clerk, Hamilton Co. FL, Deed Book, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. Film 1,940,621.
    Book P, Page 330.
  9. County Clerk, Hamilton Co. FL, Deed Book, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. Film 1,940,621.
    Book P, Page 340.
  10. County Clerk, Hamilton Co. FL, Deed Book, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. Film 1,940,621.
    Book P, Pages 338 and 346.
  11. 1910 Federal Census, United States.
    ED 96, Sheet 12A, Lines 31-39, Scrub Town?, White Springs, Hamilton Co., FL
    Clara Culpepper, Head, F, 38, wid, ch 5/5, GA/NC/GA, Hotel Keeper
    Charlie Culpepper, Son, M, 19, S, FL/GA/GA
    Harry Culpepper, Son, M, 17, S, FL/GA/GA
    Clara Culpepper, Daughter, F, 15, S, FL/GA/GA
    Louise Culpepper, Daughter, F, 12, S, FL/GA/GA
    Sterling Culpepper, Son, M, 9, S, FL/GA/GA
    Della Sims, Sister, F, 43, S, GA/NC/GA, Hotel Housekeeper
    + two boarders.
  12. 1920 Federal Census, United States.
    GA, Fulton Co., Atlanta, ED 134, page 7A; Ancestry.com image 13 of 32; Transcribed by Warren Culpepper.
  13. 1930 Federal Census, United States.
    ED122, page 20A, 1093 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, Fulton Co., GA
    Rent=$75, Radio=Y, Farm=N
    Clara B. Culpepper, Head, F, 64, Wd, GA/AL/GA, Keeper of Boarding House
    John P. Culver, Son-in-law, M, 32, Md @ 22, AL/AL/AL, Furniture Salesman, Vet WW-I
    Louise Culver, F, 30, Md @ 20, GA/VA/GA
    John P. Culver Jr., Grandson, M, 4, S, AL/AL/GA
    Bobbie L. Culver, Grandson, M, 3/12?, S, AL/AL/AL
    Lula M. Williams, Boarder, F, 28, S, GA/GA/GA, Stenographer for electrical co.
    Frank DeVane, boarder, M, 60, Md @ 22, NC/NC/NC, salesman
    H. M. Stainton, boarder, M, 24, S, MS/MS/MS, salesman.
  14. Warren L. Culpepper, Publisher of Culpepper Connections, See link below for e-mail address.
  15. State of Alabama Center for Health Statistics / Record Services Division, compiler, Alabama Death Records, 1908-1959, Online database at Ancestry.com, 2000.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5188
    Clara S. Culpepper died 28 Jan 1955 in Houston Co., Alabama.