Abraham Sims was born in Wayne County, Tenn., June 13, 1834, son of Robert and Frances (Merritt) Sims, who were born in North Carolina. The father was one of the early settlers of Giles County, Tenn., coming to that county about 1819. He helped to clear and settle the country and was a successful farmer. He moved to Wayne County in 1834, and died in March, 1842. The mother died in 1871. Our subject made his home with his parents until he was seventeen years of age, and after his father’s death conducted the home-farm for his mother and sisters. In 1863 he enlisted in the Tenth Tennessee Infantry, and served as high private until September, when he was mustered out on account of bad health. He resumed farming, and in 1868 purchased his present place of 150 acres and is doing well financially. Mr. Sims has earned his property by sweat of his brow, and now enjoys his home. In 1875 he married Hannah Stockberry, a native of Anderson County, Tenn. They have four children born to them, three of whom are living: Joseph, Robert M. and Mary O. Mr. Sims belongs to the Republican party and has been magistrate of his district for eight years. Himself and family are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity eighteen years and was a member of the Union League a short time after the war. Mr. Sims is one of Wayne County’s successful farmers and stock raisers, and is recognized as a moral and upright citizen.
Category Archives: GoodspeedBiography
Sims, Henry Clay
Henry Clay Sims, trustee of Wayne County, Tenn., was born on the 15th of November, 1844, son of Matthew J. Sims, of Waynesboro. Henry C. secured the ordinary common schooling in his boyhood days, and in 1863 enlisted in Company H, Second Tennessee Federal Mounted Infantry, serving as a private in the late war until its close. He was conscripted by the Confederates in 1862 and taken to Libby prison, but managed to make his escape and joined the Union Army. Since the close of the war, up to the present time, he has farmed in Wayne County, and has been fairly successful. He is a stanch Republican in his political views and as such was elected to the county trustee’s office in August, 1884, and has discharged the duties of his office to the universal satisfaction of all. he was re-elected to the office in August, 1886. August 5,1865, the nuptials of his marriage with Jemima C. Copeland, of Wayne County, were celebrated. They have three children: Mahulda Isaphene, Dorothy W. and Mabel. Mr. Sims is a member of the masonic fraternity, and he and Mrs. Sims are worthy members in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Sims, Shields
Shields Sims was born in Wayne County, Tenn., December 18, 1838, son of Matthew J. and Dorothy (Greeson) Sims, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. The father was one of the early settlers of Giles County and a farmer by occupation. Since the war he has been engaged in the mercantile and tannery business in connection with farming. He is seventy years old and his wife is sixty-nine years of age. Shields Sims was reared on a farm and secured a good common education. At the age of twenty-one he began doing for himself, and in 1863 enlisted in Company H, Second tennessee Mounted Infantry, Union Army, and served as first sergeant. After his return home in 1865, he resumed farming, and soon established a tan-yard, which he managed four years, and then purchased his present farm of 290 acres on Falls Branch of Indian Creek. Besides this he owns 300 acres and has an interest in 160 acres near his home. He has farmed and raised stock on his present farm since 1870 and has met good success. In 1859 he married Edith M. C. Youngblood, daughter of Josiah Youngblood, who was born in Rutherford County September 29, 1818, and a son of William and Edith (Reed) Youngblood. William was among the early settlers of Rutherford County. He was a farmer and died in 1844; his wife dies in 1875. Josiah has farmed for himself since 1837, and the same year wedded Mary Horton, who died in 1879, leaving two living children, Edith M. C. and M. Elizabeth. Mr. Youngblood is a Republican, and a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Sims became the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living: Jeannette J. (Mrs. W. T. Nowlings), Mary M. (Mrs. James Kowland), Dorothy J, MatthewJ., Sarah E., John S. and Francis. Mr. Sims is a Republican, was magistrate of his district six years, and in now one of the board of school commissioners. He and family are members of the Baptist Church, and he has been a Mason since 1868 and joined the Union League in 1866.
Sims, Matthew J.
Matthew J. Sims is a son of Robert and Frances (Merritt) Sims, and was born in North Carolina June 9, 1816. (See sketch of A. M. Sims, for parents history.) After attaining his majority he began doing for himself. His early education was such as could be obtained in the rude and primitive log schoolhouses of his boyhood days. he followed farming and school-teaching for ten or twelve years, and in 1840 purchased a large farm on Indian Creek, where he farmed and raised stock until 1865. After the close of the war he established his general merchandise store in Waynesboro, and continued with good success up to the present time. In 1865 he was appointed clerk of Wayne County Circuit Court, and held that office ten years. In 1837 he united his fortune with that of Dorothy Greeson, of Bedford County, Tenn., and their union has been blessed in the birth of ten children, eight of whom are living: Shields, Elizabeth (Mrs. J. McWilliams), Z. Taylor, H. C., Winfield S., Dorothy A., (Mrs. John Turman), Mahulda C. and Malinda T. Mr. Sims is a stanch Republican, and was clerk of the circuit court a number years, and also held the office of magistrate, and is one of the old and strictly honorable citizens of the count
Shipman, Charles W.
Charles W. Shipman, sheriff, and native of Wayne County, Tenn., was born on the 17th of March, 1838. He was educated in the common schools of his native county, and in 1863 enlisted in the Federal Army, in the Second Tennessee Regiment of Mounted Infantry, as a private, but was soon commissioned first lieutenant, and was afterward made captain of Company D in the same regiment. After the final surrender he returned to Hardin County, and was elected sheriff of that county in 1866, and held that office two terms. In 1870 he moved to his farm on Indian Creek, where he followed agricultural pursuits until 1875. He then located at his present place of residence, where he owns 200 acres of land, 100 acres being well cultivated. Mr. Shipman started in life with no other capital other than that bestowed upon him by nature, but has surmounted many hardships and difficulties, and is now well to-do in worldly goods. In 1880 he was elected trustee of Wayne County, and held the office until 1884, when he was elected county sheriff, and yet holds the office. He is a stanch Republican in his political views, and belongs to the K. of H. and F. & A.M. fraternities. Jane E. Arrendell became his wife January 17, 1867, and the following children were born to them: William H., Henry T., Eddie, Jesse T., Ida E., Ola M., Charles and Pantha U. Mrs. Shipman’s parents were Erasrus and Mary Arrendell, and our subjects parents were Edward and Elizabeth (Thompson) Shipman.
Robnett, John
John Robnett, a pioneer of Wayne County, Tenn., was born in the Palmetto State in 1804, and is a son of John and Margaret (Nesbitt) Robnett, natives of Delaware and South Carolina, respectively. They came to Tennessee in 1816, and were the second family that located in Wayne County. The father until his death, which occurred about 1824. The wife died in 1819. The father took for his second wife a lady by the name of Farris, who died in 1831. John Robnett, our subject, resided with his step-mother two years after his father’s death, when he moved on his present farm of 1300 acres. In 1828 he married Nancy Staggs, daughter of Joseph and Fannie (Nesbitt) Staggs, and their union has been blessed in the birth of ten children: Joseph N, John, Cynthia P., Fannie, James, Margaret, Jane, Jerimiah, Neal S., and Ellender. Mr. Robnett in now eighty-two years old, but bids fair to live many years yet. He vividly remembers many incidents of pioneer life, and the hardships, with which the early settlers were obliged to contend, in the settlement of the county. In politics he is a Republican, and furnished two sons for the Union Army. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.
Ricketts, W. T.
W. T. Ricketts was born in Wayne County, Tenn., in 1841, son of Samuel S. and Mary (Roper) Ricketts, who were born in North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. The father became a wealthy merchant of Clifton, and was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He was a Whig, and died in 1863. His wife died twelve years earlier. The father’s second wife was Mary J. Walker. Our subject was married, in 1866, to Nancy L. Montague, daughter of John and Nancy Montague. She was born in Tennessee in 1846, and is the mother of eight children: Della M., John S., Milton (who died October 15, 1873), Frank, Joseph, Mary, Tennessee R. and Nancy. Mrs. Ricketts died July 21, 1882, and November 13, of that year, he married Melissa Montague, sister of his first wife. She was born about 1842, and is the mother of one child, James T. At the age of ten years our subject moved to Clifton with his father, where he remained until 1879, when he purchased and moved on his present farm of 275 acres of land on Buffalo River. He gives his principal attention to raising corn and peanuts, and is extensively known in the county. He is a member of the Cumberland presbyterian Church, and in May, 1861, enlisted in the Confederate Army, in the First Tennessee Regiment, but was discharged on account of disability. He re-enlisted in the Ninth Tennessee Regiment, and was captured in Wayne County in July, 1863, and was retained until the close of the war. He has been magistrate of the Clifton District for several years, also postmaster of Flatwood. He is a Democrat.
Rasbury, Lott G.
Lott G. Rasbury was born in Tennessee in 1811, and is son of Lovick Rasbury. (see sketch of A. C. Rasbury.) He has followed the free and independent life of a farmer from boyhood, and was married at the age of twenty-three and began doing for himself, but continued to reside on his father’s farm. He wedded Elizabeth Phillips, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Phillips. Mrs. Rasbury was born in 1813 and died in 1835, leaving one child – Sarah J. After his wife’s demise our subject returned to his father’s house, and made that his home until 1843, when he married Rebecca, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Grimes) Benham. Mrs. Rasbury was born in this state in 1812, and is the mother of seven children: Elizabeth (who died in 1875), Lydia C., Mary, Martha A., William L., Rebecca E. and John A. (who died in infancy). Mr. Rasbury has confined himself to farming and stock raising from early boy-hood, and has prospered well in his undertakings, owning in all about 790 acres of land. He has served the people as magistrate of his district for fourteen years, and has made a good and efficient officer. He took up arms during the Rebellion in behalf of the Confederacy, but was only in actual service about three weeks, when he supplied a substitute and returned home. He is a Democrat and a member of the Primitive Baptist Church.
Rasbury, Andrew C.
Andrew C. Rasbury, a pioneer of Wayne County, Tenn., was born in 1816, son of Lovick and Jane (Campbell) Rasbury, who were North Carolinians. They came to Tennessee in 1814, and settled on the farm where our subject now lives, in 1816. The father died in 1858 and his widow in 1875, being ninety-eight years of age. Our subject has lived on the home farm since one year old. It consists of 525 acres of fairly improved land, 135 being in a high state of cultivation. In 1843 he married Jane Voorhies, a daughter of David and Elizabeth Voorhies. Mrs. Rasbury was born in Tennessee in 1820, and is the mother of the following eight children: John C., (an infant, deceased, not named),Mary A., Elizabeth J., Alonzo M., Eudoxia R., Surilda A., and Lovick D. Three of the children are dead. Mr. Rasbury served in the Confederated Army four months, and lost considerable property during that conflict. He served as constable for a short time, and also as deputy sheriff. He is an enterprising citizen and a good and prosperous farmer. He belongs to the Democratic party.
Nutt, James A.
James A. Nutt is a native of Wayne County, Tenn., born in 1842, son of Maben A. and Rebecca (Montgomery) Nutt. Maben A. was a farmer and shoe-maker and minister of the gospel of the Old Baptist persuasion. he raised a family of ten children, and in 1869 came to Wayne County, where he accumulated some property and died October 4, 1873. The mother died in 1884. After the father’s death, James lived with and near his mother until her death. He inherited a portion of the old home place, and is owner of 350 acres of well cultivated land. In 1872 he and Sarah Davasier were united in marriage. She is the daughter of Green and Malinda Davasier, and was born in Tennessee about 1854. David A., Pleasant G., Anna Lee, Maggie, William and an infant daughter (deceased) are the children born to their union. In 1862, Mr. Nutt enlisted in the confederate services, Capt. Whiteside’s company, and remained in service until Hood’s raid in Tennessee, when he was wounded at Nashville and taken to the hospital, where he remained a short time. he was at Atlanta, Jackson, Missionary Ridge and many other battles, and was always at post of duty. He is a stanch Democrat in politics.