Wiley H. Sims

Male, #9807, (4 Nov 1811 - 3 Dec 1871)
Father*Martin Sims (19 Nov 1786 - 30 Dec 1851)
Mother*Elizabeth Hartsfield (19 Sep 1788 - 6 Jan 1831)
Wiley H. Sims|b. 4 Nov 1811\nd. 3 Dec 1871|p9807.htm|Martin Sims|b. 19 Nov 1786\nd. 30 Dec 1851|p45971.htm|Elizabeth Hartsfield|b. 19 Sep 1788\nd. 6 Jan 1831|p45970.htm|||||||Richard Hartsfield|b. 17 Feb 1747/48\nd. between 1830 and 1835|p45212.htm|Anna T. McElroy|b. 1751|p45213.htm|
Name Variation He was also known as Simms. 
Birth*4 Nov 1811 Wiley was born at Oglethorpe Co., Georgia, on 4 Nov 1811.1 
1820 Census7 Aug 1820 Wiley was probably a free white male, age under 10, in Martin Sims's household, on the 1820 Census at Oglethorpe Co., Georgia. Free wh male 26-45.2 
1830 Census1 Jun 1830 Wiley was probably a free white male, age 15 and under 20, in Martin Sims's household, on the 1830 Census at Pike Co., Georgia. Free male 40-50.3 
Death of Mother6 Jan 1831 His mother Elizabeth Hartsfield died on 6 Jan 1831 at Pike Co., Georgia.4,1 
1840 Census1 Jun 1840 Wiley was probably a free white male, age 20 and under 30, in Martin Sims's household, on the 1840 Census on 1 Jun 1840 at Pike Co., Georgia.
(free wh male 50-60).5 
Marriage*23 Dec 1841 He married Virginia Jeffersonia Sterling at Troup Co., Georgia, on 23 Dec 1841 at age 30.6 
Birth of Son22 Apr 1844 His son Robert Dawson Simms was born on 22 Apr 1844 at Troup Co., Georgia.7,8 
Birth of Son30 Mar 1849 His son Charles Lawrence Simms was born on 30 Mar 1849 at Troup Co., Georgia.9 
1850 Census*1 Jun 1850 Wiley was listed as the head of a family (Wiley H. Sims, 39, M, Merchant, $53,400, $1,800, TN) on the 1850 Census at LaGrange, Troup Co., Georgia.10 
Birth of Son26 Oct 1851 His son Wiley Sterling Simms was born on 26 Oct 1851 at LaGrange, Troup Co., Georgia.11 
Death of Father30 Dec 1851 His father Martin Sims died on 30 Dec 1851.1 
Event-Misc*1852 He in 1852 at Troup Co., Georgia, Worshipful Master (presiding office) of the Union Masonic Lodge.  
Event-Misc1857 He was Inferior Court Judge (1857-58 and 1861-63) at Troup Co., Georgia. 
Birth of Son2 Apr 1858 His son Jefferson Hartsfield Simms was born on 2 Apr 1858 at Troup Co., Georgia.11 
1860 Census*1 Jun 1860 Wiley was listed as the head of a family (W. H. Sims, 49, M, Insurance Agt, $15,000, $210,000, GA) on the 1860 Census at East Vernon, Troup Co., Georgia.12 
1870 Census*1 Jun 1870 Wiley was listed as the head of a family (W. H. Sims, 59, M, Farmer, $1,600, $800, GA) on the 1870 Census at Troup Co., Georgia.13 
Death*3 Dec 1871 He died at LaGrange, Troup Co., Georgia, on 3 Dec 1871 at age 60. 
Will*3 Dec 1871 He made a will at LaGrange, Troup Co., Georgia, on 3 Dec 1871, naming as executor(s) Charles Lawrence Simms.

Wiley H. Simms, Will of 3 Dec 1871
Georgia, Troup County: Mr. James S. Walker, L. J. Robert, and C. H. C. Willingham were present on Sunday the third day of December 1871 at the residence of Wiley H. Simms before his death and in his last illness and after having been advised by his attending physician that he must soon die. And in full possession of all his mental faculties, the said Wiley H. Simms did call in the said subscribers to his bedside and request religious services there to be held which were conducted by the said L. J. Robert, a minister of the gospel. And the attending physician of said deceased in the presence of said subscribers ___ and a large portion of the family of the said deceased and after such services in which the said deceased was advised of his near approaching end. And in the presence of the persons aforesaid did there and then call his son Charles L. Simms to his bedside and advised him of his pecuniary affairs and said to him, "I wish you to take charge of all my business and manage it for the best." There was no specific intention expressed at that time that such was intended to be a will, but from the circumstances surrounding the deceased and from the expectation of his immediate death, both on his part and of those in his presence, we regard it as his final will or wish as to the management of his estate.
/s/ James S. Walker, L. J. Robert, and C. H. C. Willingham

Before me, H. H. Cary, Ordinary of said county, personally came said James S. Walker, L. J. Robert, and C. H. C. Willingham who on oath say that they were present at the residence of Wiley H. Simms, dec'd, when the contents of the foregoing will were spoken by him in his last illness and in extremis and immediately after he was advised by his attending physician of his approaching decease; that he was then of disposing mind and memory and fully conscious of his condition; and in the opinion of deponents spoke the same as his last will and testament and that he remained conscious up to the time of his death. And we believe he fully intended the same as the final disposition of his property and never revoked the same. And the same was reduced to writing in six days after his decease. Sworn to and subscribed ?? January, 1873.
/s/ H. H. Cary, Ordinary; James S. Walker, L. J. Robert, and C. H. C. Willingham.14 
Probate*12 Dec 1871 Probate action was taken on Wiley's estate, with Wiley Sterling Simms, Adelle Corine Simms, Jefferson Hartsfield Simms and Emily Alice Bertha Simms receiving property, with Charles Lawrence Simms as executor(s) on 12 Dec 1871

On 12 Dec 1871, the County Ordinary named Charles L. Simms as administrator of Wiley's estate, and the Estate Return, filed by Charles on 10 Aug 1872, included the following disbursements: Tuition for Adelle, Jeff and Emma Sims, Fall Term 1871, $45.00; Musical tuition for Adelle Simms 1871, $18.00; Tuition for W. S. Simms 1867, $10.00. No disbursements to or for the benefit of other family members appear to have been made. [Warren Culpepper comment: Prior to the Civil War, Wiley was quite wealthy. However, he appears to have been destroyed financially by the war, like nearly everyone else in the South.]14 
Biography* "There were several Sims families that settled in Troup Co. as well as in neighboring Coweta Co. The latter tended to spell their name Simms and were much more intermarried with the Orr family.
     "The first of the Sims in Troup Co. was the family of Wiley H. Sims, b. 1811 Tenn. [WLC: He was actually born in GA, but the 1850 census did say TN] Married 1841 Troup Co., GA to Virginia J. Sterling. She was b. 1826 Ga. Wiley H. Sims was the first Ordinary of Troup Co. in 1852. He served as Inferior Court Judge 1858 and 1861 to 1863, and was thus an official of the Confederacy. Until 1852, the work that was done by the Ordinary (now Probate Judge) was carried on by the Inferior Court. Wiley H. Sims and Virginia Sterling had:
     1. Robert D., Sims b. 1844 = 1863 Troup Co. to Frances E. "Fannie" Sheppard, b. 10-7-1844 d. 1-19-1905.
     2. Mary Virginia Sims b. 1846 Troup Co. = 1863 Troup Co. to Alexander J. Roberts
     3. Charles L. Sims b. 1848 Troup Co.
     4. John W. S. Sims b. 1852 Troup Co.
     5. Adeline Corrine Sims b. 1856 Troup Co.
     6. J. D. Sims (male) b. 1858 Troup Co.
     7. Emma Sims b. 1862 Troup Co.
     8. Clara Sims b. 1867 Troup Co.
     "Wiley H. Sims was a planter and lived in LaGrange where he was an insurance agent in 1860 with real and personal estate valued at $35,000. The reverse of the War Between the States left him, in 1870, with property valued at only $1,800. In 1869, he was the agent in LaGrange for Georgia Marble Works of Jasper, Pickens Co., GA [In 2002, this business is still in operation and only a few miles from the Big Canoe, Pickens Co., GA home of Wiley's 2-great-grandson, Warren Leigh Culpepper, Sr.]. He was a promoter of the North-South Railroad, raising over $100,000 in subscriptions in Carroll Co., Ga. He was active in the Troup Agricultural, Mechanical and Manufacturing Society. He sold tombstones for the Snow White Marble company, too. [WLC: His estate records show a $75 tombstone being bought from Georgia Marble, but in spite of good cemetery records in Troup Co., I have been unable to determine where he is buried]
     "There was a second Wiley Sims in Troup Co. in 1850, only two years younger than Wiley H. Sims above. Their relationship, if any, is unknown. The 2nd Wiley Sims was b. 1813 GA and married in Troup Co., 1844 to Mrs. Sarah Samples, a widow. They had Mary E. Sims b. 1845, Allen T. Sims b. 1848, and Sarah Sims b. 1850. Mrs. Sample, had by her previous husband…" [The book goes on to also describe several other apparently unrelated Sims families in Troup Co.].15 
Biography "The home of Wiley Sims was the site of the old LaGrange Country Club, the old house being remodeled as a club house. Wiley was the first Ordinary of Troup County, the office being created in 1852 (he served until 1856). He was prominent in the social and political life of the early days."16 
Descendant* See footnote for the name and contact info of a descendant of Wiley H. Sims who would like to communicate with other descendants.17 

Family

Virginia Jeffersonia Sterling (6 Feb 1825 - after 1900)
Marriage*23 Dec 1841 He married Virginia Jeffersonia Sterling at Troup Co., Georgia, on 23 Dec 1841 at age 30.6 
Children
ChartsWLC / Ashlynne (and Jenna) Culpepper: Ancestral Chart
WLC / Andrew Hartsfield: Descendant Chart
WLC / Martin Sims: Descendant Chart
Last Edited26 Jan 2010

Citations

  1. Justus Lake Murphy and his wife Elizabeth Sims or one of their children, Sims/Murphy Family Bible, Unknown, owner, Info furnished to Corine Sims via e-mail, (15 Sep 2004).
    Martin Sims b. 19 Nov 17?? (Other records have shown a birth date of 19 Nov 1786), d. 30 Dec 1851
    Betsey Sims b. 22 Sep 1787 (Elizabeth Hartsfield Sims - other records indicate 19 Sep 1788), d. 6 Jan 1831
    Martin Sims and Elizabeth Hartsfield married 29 Jan 1807 (agrees with Oglethorpe Co. record)
    Martin Sims and Margaret Scroggins married 29 Mar 1832 (other records also indicate 1832, Troup Co.)
    Children of Martin and Elizabeth Sims:
    1. Vianna Sims b. 8 Feb 1808, d. 12 Nov 1890, m. James M. Hambrick 16 Jan 1834
    2. baby sims b. 3 Sep 1809 (probably Sarow (Sarah?) who married Jordan Fayde(?) 16 Feb 1832
    3. Wiley Hartsfield Sims b. 11 Jun 1811
    4. Mark Sims b. 28 May 1813
    5. Elisa Sims b. 29 Jul 1815, married Benjamin F. Shennate? 15 Feb 1844
    6. Haskey Sims b. 2 May 1817
    7. Carroll Martin Sims b. ?? Mar 1817 (other records indicate 26 Mar 1819 which appears to be the correct date because Haskey was born in 1817 according to 1850 and 1860 census)
    8. Malachi Reeves Sims b. ?, married Frances Bottoms 27 Dec 1842.
  2. 1820 Federal Census, United States.
    Oglethorpe Co., GA, page 181, Ancestry.com image 12 of 28
    Martin Sims, 1M0-9, 1M16-25, 1M26-44, 3F0-9, 1F10-15, 1F16-25, 2 Agr, 0 Slaves.
  3. 1830 Federal Census, United States.
    Pike Co., Georgia, Page: 106; NARA Roll: M19-20; Family History Film: 0007040
    Martin Sims, 1M0-5, 2M5-10, 2M15-20, 1M20-30, 1M40-50, 1M50-60, 1F0-5, 2F5-10, 2F15-20, 1F20-30, 1F40-50.
  4. Hartsfield Web Site.
    http://members.aol.com/Hartsfeld/Hartsfield1.html
    http://members.aol.com/Hartsfeld/Richard4Andrew3Godfrey2.htm
  5. 1840 Federal Census, United States.
    District 534, Pike, Georgia; Roll 48; Page: 124; Image: 255; Family History Library Film: 0007046
    Martin Sims, 1M10-15, 1M15-20, 1M20-30, 1M50-60, 1F5-10, 1F10-15, 1F15-20, 1F20-30, 1F50-60, 1F60-70.
  6. Merle Massengale Bruce, compiler, Early marriages Troup County, Georgia, 1828-1900, Roswell, GA: WH Wolfe Assoc., 1982, Repository: Georgia Department of Archives & History in Atlanta.
    Wiley H. Sims and Virginia J. Sterling on 23 Dec 1841 by James Wilson, M.G. in Troup Co., GA, Book B-174.
  7. 1850 Federal Census, United States.
  8. Jean J. Boicourt, compiler, Boicourt Genealogy, Rootsweb: WorldConnect (online family tree).
  9. 1880 Federal Census, United States.
  10. 1850 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 113, Family 14, LaGrange, Troup Co., GA, Ancestry.com image #106
    Wiley H. Sims, 39, M, Merchant, RE=$53,400, TN
    Virginia J. Sims, 24, F, GA
    Robert D. Sims, 6, M, GA
    Mary Virginia Sims, 4, F, GA
    James Sims, 2, M, GA (Mot likely this was Charles Lawrence Simms).
  11. 1860 Federal Census, United States.
  12. 1860 Federal Census, United States.
    Unk Twnshp, page 236, Troup Co., GA, Ancestry.com image 64
    W. H. Sims, 49, M, Insurance Agent, RE=$15,000, PE=$21,000, GA
    V. J. Sims, 35, F, GA
    Robert D. Sims, 16, M, GA
    Mary V. Sims, 14, F, GA
    Charles L. Sims, 11, M, GA
    John W. Sims, 8, M, GA
    Adel Corin Sims, 4, F, GA
    ? Sims, 2, M, GA.
  13. 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.
  14. Wiley H. Simms Probate File, (Transcribed by Warren Culpepper), Troup Co., GA Archives in LaGrange, Call No. Wiley Simms Folder/Loose.
  15. Forrest Clark Johnson III, editor, A History of LaGrange, Georgia, 1828-1900, Vols. I & III, LaGrange, Georgia: Family Tree, 1980, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. 975.8463 H2j v. 1,3.
  16. Clifford Lewis Smith, History of Troup County, Georgia, 1933, Atlanta: Foote & Davis Co., 1935, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. 975.846 H2s.
  17. Warren L. Culpepper (#1942), Publisher of Culpepper Connections, See link below for e-mail address.
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