1889 - 1974 (84 years)
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Name |
SIMS Benjamin Harrison |
Born |
21 Jul 1889 |
Village Springs, Blount Co., AL |
Gender |
Male |
Died |
14 Feb 1974 |
Clanton , Chilton Co., AL |
Buried |
UNKNOWN |
Clanton City Cemetery, Clanton, Chilton, AL [1] |
Person ID |
I0170 |
Combo |
Last Modified |
12 Apr 2002 |
Father |
SIMS Henry Claud, b. 31 Mar 1862, Cross Plains, Benton Co, AL , d. 9 Aug 1899, Murphy Valley, Blount, AL (Age 37 years) |
Mother |
COSBY Manilla Sylvania, b. 2 Jan 1867, Blount Co, AL , d. 17 Jul 1901, Murphy Valley, Blount, AL (Age 34 years) |
Married |
4 Dec 1884 |
Remlap, Blount Co, AL at Mrs. Martha Cozby's house |
Notes |
- Jamile has a copy of the inside page of a SIMS family bible for Henry and Silvanie, showing they were married by Wm. Heullet in Remlap, AL.
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Family ID |
F0104 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Family |
BRUCE Zelphia Anstis, b. 26 Jan 1892, Clanton, Chilton Co., AL , d. 14 May 1983, Clanton , Chilton Co., AL (Age 91 years) |
Married |
15 Nov 1919 |
Chilton County, AL |
Children |
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Family ID |
F0100 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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Notes |
- Ben's cousin Florida and her husband Felix Sullivan raised Ben and Josie Sims after their parents, Henry Claude and Silvanie Sims, died in their 30's.
Ben also lived with a Mr. & Mrs. Danford for some of the time. Jamile has picture of the Danfords with Ben.
Ben worked for the L&N Railroad. He was in Clanton because of the railroad when he met Anstis.Worked for L & N Railroad
From James C. Sims on 12/12/04:
Approx. 1935 Ben worked for the Federal government, for the department that paid subsidies to farmers for not growing cotton. He received arial maps of the farms and could tell when someone was growing too much cotton. He would then go out with his tape measure and measure the actual land, and the people would have to plow under any excess cotton they were not supposed to be growing. James said his dad really liked the job.
Nov 2004 James said his dad always ate one homemade biscuit and two figs preseved for breakfast each morning.
Jamile has a copy of Ben's enlistment record dated April 29, 1818 at Birmingham, AL. Record shows Ben was inducted (not enlisted) as a Corporal. He was single at the time and had "excellent" character. Assigned to Motor Transport Corps, Camp Jackson, SC on April 29, 1818. On this same paper is a rubber stamp showing he was paid $103.05 as Enlistment Ins. Bonus. Occupation Carpenter, blue eyes, dark brown hair, fair complexion, 5' 10 1/2 inches tall, home Village Springs, AL
Jamile has a copy of Ben's honorable discharge papers from the United States Army. Original is in the old family house in Clanton, AL. Ben was dispatched from Camp Jackson, SC on the 9th day of May, 1919.
Ben was named after the United States president in office at the time of his birth, and not for his grandfather, B. H. Sims, as previously thought. His grandfather's name was actually Beverly Hutson Sims.
1900 Census
Ben is living with his widowed mother Sylvania in AL/Blount County/Compton Precinct
1910 Census
Ben is an orphan living with Felix and Florida (his 1st cousin) Sullivan AL/Blount County/Compton Precinct
1917
Ben registered for the World War on June 5, 1917 in Birmingham, AL. 27 years old, living at 2213 6th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL. Born in Village Springs, AL. Occupation: Railway bridge construction for the L & N Railroad Co. working out of the Decatur - Montgomery Division. He was single. Build: tall, slender, with blue eyes and brown hair. Jamile has a copy of the registration card. When mentioning this card to Ben's son James, he said this was probably when Ben was living in Tarrant City, AL.
1920 Census
Edward Bruce married to Amanda, with married daughter Anstis Sims AL/Chilton County/Precinct 4. Did not find Benjamin Harrison Sims, husband of Anstis. He was already discharged from WWI and I don't know why he was not living in Clanton with Anstis.
1930 Census
Benjamin H. Sims married to Zelphia Anstis with 2 children, including James C. Sims AL/Chilton County/Part of Beat 4
Willie Jones of Clanton sued Ben and Anstis of slander in 1937. It was settled out of court in April 1938 after Ben paid $25.00 to Mr. Jones. The slander grew out of the destruction by fire of Ben's barbecue stand the first part of 1937. Jamile has the original settlement paperwork, signed by Willie Jones.
Was in veteran's hospital during his 30s or 40s after mastoid surgery (bad ears).
From The Union-Banner Newspaper, Clanton, AL July 10, 1924
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Sims and two sons, Harry and James, are leaving July 16 for a western tour. They will visit Mr. Sims's brother in Denver and a sister in New Mexico before returning.
Ben had a tiny dog named Tippy that he used to carry inside his zipped coat. Tippy was bitten by a snake and died.
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Sources |
- Jamile has a photo of headstone.
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