Wiley H. Sims

Male, #9807, (4 Nov 1811 - 3 Dec 1871)

Father*Martin Sims (s 1785 - )
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. say 1785|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  Wiley H. Sims was also known as Simms. 
Birth*4 Nov 1811 Wiley was born at Oglethorpe Co., Georgia, on 4 Nov 1811.1 
 He was the son of Martin Sims and Elizabeth Hartsfield. 
Marriage*23 Dec 1841 He married Virginia Jefferson Sterling at Troup Co., Georgia, on 23 Dec 1841.2 
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.3 
Event-Misc*1852 Worshipful Master (presiding office) of the Union Masonic Lodge. in 1852 at Troup Co., Georgia. 
Event-Misc1857 He was Inferior Court Judge (1857-58 and 1861-63) at Troup Co., Georgia. 
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.4 
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.5 
Will*3 Dec 1871 He made a will at LaGrange, Troup Co., Georgia, on 3 Dec 1871.
(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).6 
Death*3 Dec 1871 He died at LaGrange, Troup Co., Georgia, on 3 Dec 1871. 
Probate*12 Dec 1871 Wiley's will was probated on 12 Dec 1871.6 
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.].7 
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."8 
Descendant* See footnote for the name and contact info of a descendant of Wiley H. Sims who would like to communicate with other descendants.9 

Family

Virginia Jefferson Sterling (6 Feb 1825 - after 1900)
Children

Charts Warren Culpepper's Ancestry Chart
Andrew Hartsfield Descendants
Last Edited 8 Nov 2007

Citations

  1. Commentary by Warren L. Culpeppere-mail address. Feedback and additional facts will be welcomed.
  2. 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.
  3. 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).
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Wiley H. Simms Probate File, (Transcribed by Warren Culpepper), Troup Co., GA Archives in LaGrange, Call No. Wiley Simms Folder/Loose.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. Warren L. Culpepper, Publisher of Culpepper Connections, See link below for e-mail address.