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Marriage 1 |
Birth |
Death |
Notes |
|
George Washington Sims
(1892 - 1931) |
George Washington Sims |
March 31, 1892,
Georgiana, Bulter County, AL |
October 6, 1931,
Georgiana, Butler County, AL,7
of heart attack resulting from morphine overdose; buried Bay Minette,
Baldwin County, AL |
Married December 18, 1924 |
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Children |
Birth |
Death |
Notes |
| John Earl Sims |
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Still living |
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| George Ezell Sims |
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Still living |
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| Eva Mae Sims |
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Still living |
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| Etta Pearl Sims
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Still living |
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| Rev. Robert Elwood Sims |
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Still living |
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Marriage 2 |
Birth |
Death |
Notes |
| James Kelly Harris |
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November 10, 1959, at home, 252 Clark
Street, Prichard, AL, heart attack; buried Wolf Ridge Cemetery |
Married November 30, 1946,
Lucedale, MS, by Rev. F. J. Eubanks |
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Chronology of George Washington
Sims by Michael Vaughn Sims
Download
this chronology as a Word document
|
|
1892 |
Born - March 31, 1892, Georgiana, Bulter
County, AL; son of Robert Sims and Martha Coleman |
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1900 |
|
1900 U. S. Census, Starlington,
Butler County, Alabama |
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Name |
|
Rel. |
Race |
Gen |
Birth
Mon |
Birth
Yr |
Age |
Marital Status |
# Child |
#Child
living |
Occup |
Birth Place |
Birth Place
Father |
Birth Place
Mother |
| Sims |
Viola |
Head |
W |
F |
|
1877 |
23 |
S |
|
|
Farmer |
AL |
AL |
AL |
| |
Wm H |
Bro |
W |
M |
Jun |
1879 |
20 |
S |
|
|
Farm Labour |
AL |
AL |
AL |
| |
Susie |
Sis |
W |
F |
May |
1886 |
14 |
S |
|
|
Farm Labour |
AL |
AL |
AL |
| |
Elizabeth |
Sis |
W |
F |
|
1889 |
11 |
S |
|
|
|
AL |
AL |
AL |
| |
Lee Andrew |
Bro |
W |
M |
|
18?? |
9 |
S |
|
|
|
AL |
AL |
AL |
| |
George |
Bro |
W |
M |
|
1893 |
7 |
S |
|
|
|
AL |
AL |
AL |
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1910 |
|
1910 U. S. Census, Stockton and
Deans, Baldwin County, Alabama |
|
Name |
|
Rel. |
Race |
Gen |
Age |
Yrs
Marr |
#
Child
Born |
#
Child
Living |
Occup. |
Lang.
Spoke |
Birth Place |
Birth Place Fath |
Birth Place Moth |
| Philips |
George W |
Head |
W |
M |
39 |
M2 2 |
|
|
Farmer |
English |
AL |
AL |
AL |
| |
Susie |
Wife |
W |
F |
24 |
M1 1 |
1 |
1 |
|
English |
AL |
AL |
AL |
| |
Addie A |
Dau |
W |
F |
16 |
|
|
|
|
English |
AL |
AL |
AL |
| |
Ella M |
Dau |
W |
F |
11 |
|
|
|
|
English |
AL |
AL |
AL |
| |
Clara(?) |
Dau |
W |
F |
10 |
|
|
|
|
English |
AL |
AL |
AL |
| |
Emma(?) |
Dau |
W |
F |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
AL |
AL |
AL |
| |
Clarence |
Son |
W |
M |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
AL |
AL |
AL |
| |
Martha |
Dau |
W |
F |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
AL |
AL |
AL |
| |
George |
Bro-in-law |
W |
M |
18 |
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Laborer /
Home Farm |
English |
AL |
AL |
AL |
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Served in the U. S. Navy during World War I;
F2C US NAVY1
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Suffered an injury to foot or leg while
aboard ship; fell into or through some hole or hatch in deck; injury, or
possible blood-poisoning from injury figured into the cause of his
eventual death2
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|
1922 |
Bought first car - 19223 |
1924
|
Lizzie Mae Epperson graduated from Barton
Academy, Mobile, AL. She would ride the train (from St. Elmo?) to Mobile
on Sunday afternoon, and board during the week. Graduation exercises
were held on the stage of Mobile’s Lyric Theater |
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Married
Mary Elizabeth “Lizzie Mae” Epperson
(b. Sept. 5, 1897, Comer, Barbour Co., AL; dau. of
John Lemuel Epperson and
Jane Lamar Vaughn) - December 18, 1924 |
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Photograph of (l-r)
Katie Mae Wood Taylor, Mary Frances "Fannie" Braswell Epperson,
and Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie Mae" Epperson Sims Harris.
Select the image to see a larger
version
Photo provided by Michael Vaughn Sims |
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George Sims worked as crane operator of
bridge-building crew for the L&N Railroad; including one period at
Corbin, Kentucky.4
The family lived in a company-owned camp car, which was hauled over a
territory from Bay St. Louis, MS to Louisville, KY. They were stationed
for a time near Louisville, KY, beside the Cumberland Rive, where
George’s job was to use a crane to remove rocks from the side of the
mountains and place them in the river bed to prevent water from washing
the railroad tracks away.5
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Lizzie Mae Epperson Sims worked as a ticket
agent for the L&N Railroad |
|
19-- |
Birth of son John Earl Sims - Bay St. Louis,
MS |
|
19-- |
Birth of son George Ezell Sims - Bay Minette,
AL |
|
19-- |
Birth of daughter Eva Mae Sims - Plateau, AL |
|
19-- |
Birth of daughter Etta Pearl Sims - Atmore,
AL |
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Lizzie Mae said she only heard George
raise his voice once during the time they were married. One day when he
was chopping wood, Ezell picked up a snake by the tail. George swung the
axe around and knocked the snake out of Ezell’s hand and yelled at Ezell
for picking up the snake.6
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1931
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Died - October 6, 1931, Georgiana, Butler
County, AL,7
of heart attack resulting from morphine overdose; buried Bay Minette,
Baldwin County, AL |
|
|
One story
relates that George Sims was persistently troubled by an injury to his
foot which he incurred in WWI; morphine given to alleviate pain in foot.
Another story says that he suffered from severe indigestion on the
evening prior to his death, and for this he was given morphine. The
family was camped in L&N camp car at Georgiana, Butler County, AL, at
the time of his death.8
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The day prior to
his death, George Sims and his children visited his half-brother Nap
Sims in Butler County, where they all went into a field and picked
sugarcane. That evening, George sat and peeled sugarcane for the
children. The next morning the children were awakened by their mother
who told them that their father was dead.9
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19-- |
Birth of son Robert Elwood Sims - St. Elmo.,
AL |
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Lizzie Mae for
International Paper Company, and for Prichard City Hall. At one point
she made $6.50 per week. Of this, $3.25 was used to buy groceries for
the family, leaving the remaining $3.25 for all other family expenses |
1946
|
Widow Lizzie Mae Sims married James Kelly
Harris - November 30, 1946, Lucedale, MS, by Rev. F. J. Eubanks |
1951
|
From Lizzie Mae Harris to Robert Elwood
Sims; April 3, 1951:
Kelly seems very much interested in Sunday
School. They had 55 men above 35 years of age in his class Sunday. He
has 4 men that promised him to go with him next Sunday. They started the
6 point system last Sunday and it calls for bible reading each day. He
has read a chapter each night this week in addition to references given
in the S. S. lesson. I rather go to our church but feel if he will go it
better for me to go with him where he is interested and willing to work.
After all we are all going to be together when we get to heaven. |
1959
|
James Kelly Harris died - November 10, 1959,
at home, 252 Clark Street, Prichard, AL, heart attack; buried Wolf Ridge
Cemetery |
1984
|
Death of widow Mary Elizabeth (Epperson)
Sims Harris - April 11, 1984, Chickasaw, Mobile County, AL, at home of
daughter Pearl Sims Stephenson; buried Bay Minette, Baldwin County, AL -
April 14, 1984; funeral by Radney Funeral Home, Saraland, AL10
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Obituary for Lizzie Mae (Epperson) Sims Harris;
Mobile Press; April 13, 1984; p. 7-C: |
HARRIS
Mrs. Lizzie Mae Sims Harris - - A native of Comer, AL and a former
resident of Prichard for 53 years, residing in Chickasaw died at her
residence Wednesday, April 11, 1984 at 8:30 p.m. Mrs. Harris is a
retired clerk from the city of Prichard. She is survived by two
daughters, Mrs. Eva Mae Sims Preston of Chickasaw and Mrs. Pearl
Stephenson of Chickasaw; three sons, Mr. John E. Sims of Wilmer, Mr.
George E. Sims of Eight Mile and Rev. Robert E. Sims of Selma; her
brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Joel Vaughn Epperson of
Mobile, 14 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, nieces, nephews
and other relatives. Funeral services will be held from the chapel
of Radney Funeral Home in Saraland on Saturday, April 14 at 10 a.m.
Visitation will be held from the funeral home after 5 p.m. Friday,
April 13. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the College
Park Baptist Church Building Fund. Interment will be in the Bay
Minette Cemetery. Funeral arrangements by RADNEY FUNERAL HOME, 1200
Industrial Parkway, Saraland, AL |
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Last Will and Testament of Lizzie Mae
(Epperson) Sims Harris; 1971:
Kilborn, Darby & Kilborn, Lawyers
154 Saint Louis Street
Mobile, Alabama 36601
State of Alabama
County of Mobile |
I, Lizzie Mae Harris, being of sound mind
and dispositing memory, do MAKE, PUBLISH and DECLARE this my Last
Will and Testament, expressly revoking all other wills and codicils
by me heretofore made.
ITEM ONE
I GIVE, DEVISE and BEQUEATH all of my property of
whatsoever kind and nature and wheresoever situated which I may own
or be entitled to at the time of my death to my children, John Earl
Sims, George Ezell Sims, Eva Mae Preston, Pearl Stephenson, and
Robert Elwood Sims, share and share alike.
ITEM TWO
I NOMINATE, CONSTITUTE and APPOINT my daughter, Pearl
Stephenson, as Executrix of this Will and expressly exempt her from
giving bond or security for the performance of her duties as such,
or from filing any inventory or accounting in any Court of her
duties hereunder. I authorize and empower my Executrix to sell,
convey, lease, mortgage or dispose of any or all of my property in
her capacity as Executrix on such terms and conditions she may see
fit to impose, all without necessity of any report to , confirmation
by, or authority from any Court. Should my daughter, Pearl
Stephenson, die, resign or become incapacitated so that she cannot,
for any reason, act as Executrix under this Last Will and Testament,
then in that event I NOMINATE, CONSTITUTE and APPOINT my son, George
Ezell Sims, as Executor of this Will and grant unto him the same
authority and exemptions as hereinafter granted to my daughter,
Pearl Stephenson. [words “and Elwood” written in manuscript]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and seal
in the presence of the witnesses whose names are subscribed below
this ___ day of ____, 1971.
[words “House and Decota (sic, “DeSoto”) to Ezell” written in
manuscript]
_____________________ (SEAL)
Lizzie Mae Harris
The above will consisting of two pages was SIGNED,
SEALED, PUBLISHED and DECLARED as her Last Will and Testament by
Lizzie Mae Harris, in our presence and we in her presence and in the
presence of each other and at her request have hereunto affixed our
names as subscribing witnesses:
________________________ Address ________________________________
________________________________
________________________ Address ________________________________
________________________________
________________________ Address ________________________________
________________________________
[The following lines added in manuscript]
The music cabnet to Earl for his incine tax papers and tax forms
Please Do not ask my grand Sons to act as palbears
Pictur of Comora[n]t to Pearl Brad(?)
George Crosser the atlant on. (George crossed the Atlantic on?)
My old Sewing macene to Diane
Dining Room Table Eva Mae |
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Children of George Washington Sims and Mary
Elizabeth Epperson |
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John Earl
Sims |
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George Ezell
Sims |
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Eva Mae Sims |
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Etta Pearl
Sims |
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Rev. Robert
Elwood Sims |
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From “L&N:” Its First 100 Years
(John E. Tilford; Newcomen Society of North America; New York;
1951) |
p. 15
The L& N’s southernmost terminal did not long remain at Montgomery.
. . . In that fiscal year [1880] the L & N secured control of the
Mobile & Montgomery Railway, 180 miles; leased the New Orleans,
Mobile & Texas Railroad, 141 miles; purchased the Pensacola
Railroad, 45 miles; and acquired a majority of the capital stock of
the 508-mile long Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway. |
p. 16
The 141-mile line from Mobile to New Orleans follows the Gulf Coast,
much of the roadbed between the two cities is supported by piling
and there are nine miles of bridges and trestles alone - - which
carry it across bays, bayous, inlets, marshes, streams, and rivers.
A considerable portion of the original line had to be rebuilt within
a few years after completion because of the destructive activities
of the teredo navalis, a sort of seagoing cousin of the
termite which thrives on a diet of untreated timber. |
pp. 17-18
During the period 1879-1881, lines were acquired in Indiana,
Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee. . . . In April 1886, a start was
made from Corbin, Kentucky, toward the coal field of Eastern
Kentucky. This became the Cumberland Valley Division, the southern
branch, eighty-seven miles, having been completed to Norton,
Virginia in May 1891. |
p. 21
A major contribution to this greater efficiency of operation in the
L&N was the extensive double-tracking that occurred after the First
World War. Outstanding was the fifty-five mile second track laid
down between Winchester and Sinks, Kentucky, whose completion, in
February 1928, gave the Road a low-grade, double-tracked line all
the way from the Harlan coal field to the Cincinnati Gateway, a
distance of 255 miles. . . . Another addition to the System in the
late ‘20s was the Louisville, Henderson & St. Louis Railway, with a
137-mile line between Louisville and Henderson, Kentucky,
paralleling the Ohio River. |
|
From The Louisville & Nashville
Railroad 1850-1963.
Kincaid Herr; Public Relation Department , L&N; Louisville, KY,
1964 |
p. 388
L& N acquired the Bay Minette and Fort Morgan Railroad in 1905 |
p. 248
photograph of the C& O Bridge (Cincinnati at the Ohio River), completed
1929
photograph of the Henderson , Kentucky bridge, completed 1932
photograph of the Tennessee River Bridge (Danville, TN), completed Nov.
1932 |
p. 235
photograph of the Rigolets Bridge (30 mi. east of New Orleans), completed
June 1925
Chef Menteur Bridge (19 mi. east of New Orleans), completed Feb. 1926 |
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Construction of the bridges just mentioned
occurred at a time when the L&N was rebuilding a number of bridges
between Nashville and Louisville in order to permit the use of heavier
motive power and trains, and while it was also engaged in the
re-construction of its Tennessee River Bridge at Knoxville, its Licking
River Bridge between Newport and Covington, and its Alabama Bridge north
of Montgomery |
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1 |
Grave marker of
George W. Sims; Bay Minette Cemetery, Baldwin County, AL. |
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2 |
John Earl Sims;
2005. |
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3 |
Robert Elwood
Sims; 2005. |
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4 |
Robert Elwood
Sims. |
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5 |
John Earl Sims;
2005. |
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6 |
John Earl Sims;
2005. |
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7 |
Maida Grace
Epperson Hayslett. |
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8 |
Robert Elwood
Sims. |
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9 |
John Earl Sims;
2005. |
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10 |
Obituary for
Lizzie Mae (Sims) Epperson Harris; Mobile Press. April 13, 1984; April
13, 1984; p. 7-C. |
|
11 |
Maida Grace
Epperson Hayslett. |
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12 |
Maida Grace
Epperson Hayslett. |
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13 |
Alma Shultz Vick
Sims; 2005. |
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14 |
John Earl Sims;
2005. |
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15 |
Maida Grace
Epperson Hayslett. |
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16 |
Grave marker of
Marie Sims; Bay Minette Cemetery, Bay Minette, Baldwin County, AL. |
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17 |
Maida Grace
Epperson Hayslett. |
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18 |
Maida Grace
Epperson Hayslett. |
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19 |
Eva Mae Sims
Preston. |
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20 |
Maida Grace
Epperson Hayslett. |
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21 |
Etta Pearl Sims
Stephenson. |
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22 |
Etta Pearl Sims
Stephenson. |
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| November
29, 2007 |
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