My Genealogy Hound

William C. Sims is worthy of being classed among the many prosperous farmers of Izard County, for by his own exertions he has become the owner of about 420 acres of fertile land, of which 300 are in Izard County and the rest in Sharp County. One hundred and seventy acres of this farm are under cultivation, and in addition to his farm work he gives much of his attention to raising a good grade of stock. He was born in Itawamba County, Miss., on the 7th of September, 1844, and is a son of Gray and Marinda (Mann) Sims, who were from the State of Alabama. Of two sons and four daughters born to them, the two sons only are living. The father, at the time of his death, was the owner of 160 acres of good land. He and wife were members of the Baptist Church, and after his demise, in 1846, his widow became the worthy companion of John Pressley, to whom she bore a family of four sons and three daughters. The mother’s death occurred on the 22d of June, 1863. William C. Sims was educated in Mississippi, and at the age of fourteen years moved to Van Buren County, Ark., remaining there until 1861. Then he volunteered in the Confederate army, and was mustered into service on the 14th day of July, 1861. After the war he located in Sharp County, and was married to Mrs. Sarah C. Wainwright, who was a Tennessean, their marriage being consummated September 4, 1867. This union resulted in the birth of eleven children, three sons and eight daughters, but only two of the family are now living. After the death of Mrs. Sims, on the 18th of March, 1881, Mr. Sims was married, August 10, of that year, to Miss Sallie P. Haile, a Mississippian. He has attained a high rank in the I. O. O. F., and he and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.