Robert Eaton Simril (1844-1901) was elected to two terms as the Coweta County, Georgia Treasurer. He resigned during his second term due to failing health, he died shortly after. His parents moved the family from York, SC to Newnan, Georgia in the 1850's. He was a musician and served as a drummer and later a bugler in the Confederate Army. He first enlisted in the Company M, 38th Regiment, Georgia Infantry as a drummer and finished with this company as a bugler according to Micro Film Number M226 roll 55. He then joined Capt. Hanleiter's Co., Georgia L. Art'y. (Jo Thompson Artillery) as a bugler according to micro Film Number M226 roll 55. A history of both regiments is below and is from the national Civil War Soldiers and Sailors website.

He married Annie Sallie Robinson on 19 April 1866 in Milltown, Chambers Co., Al.

Attended Daniel Walker Academy until 1861 when he entered the Confederate Army. Served 4 years as a member of Jo Thompson's Regiment Artillery near Fort Beaulien, Savannah. Worked at Johnson Hardware Company for 20 Years. Known as Bob Simril, described as "unusally gifted man; having an inventive turn of mind and histrionic ability combined with a sense of humor and wit. He loved his family and friends, his church .. and revered his pastor, Rev. James Stacy.

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Note: His grandson, Roger Simril Bryant married Florine Walker. Florine was the great granddaughter of Daniel Walker.

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The Herald and Advertister
Newnan, Ga., Friday, June 14th

We regret to chronicle the death of R. E. Simril, one of Newnan's best-known and most popular citizens, which occured yesterday morning at the home of his son-in-law, Mr. F. M. Bryant, on Spring Street.

He had been a helpless invalid for more than a year, during which period, he suffered a martyrdom to pain as was distressing as it was severe, and death must have come finally as a welcome relief.

He was a warm hearted, genial, and generous, and had scores of friends throughout the county, who will read the announcement of his death with sorrow and regret.

He was a member of the old Newnan Guards, and the cause of the Confederacy did not have a more patriotic or devoted follower, nor one that rendered more valiant service in the clash of conflict that "tried men's souls".

He was 58 years of age at the time of his death, and leaves a wife and four children - the latter all grown and married, viz: Mr. R. F. Simril of Washington, D.C., Mr. L. M. Simril of LaGrange, Ga., and Mrs. F. M. Bryant and Mrs. H. A. Goolsby of this city.

The funeral will occur this afternoon at 8 o'clock and will be conducted by Rev. Jas. Stacy, assisted by C. O'N. Martindale.

*** Many thanks to Kenneth (#47641333) for finding this obit

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Name: Robert E Simril
Enlistment Date: 26 Sep 1861
Rank at enlistment: Drummer
State Served: Georgia
Survived the War?: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company M, Georgia 38th Infantry Regiment on 26 Sep 1861.
Mustered out on 10 Jun 1862.
Transferred to on 10 Jun 1862.
Mustered out on 26 Apr 1865 at Greensboro, NC.

Sources: Roster of Confederate Soldiers of Georgia 1861-1865
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Name: Robert Simril
Enlistment Date: 26 Sep 1861
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: Georgia
Service Record: Enlisted as a Drummer on 26 September 1861.
Enlisted in Company M, 38th Infantry Regiment Georgia on 26 Sep 1861.
Transferred out of Company M, 38th Infantry Regiment Georgia on 10 Jun 1862.
Transferred Hanleiter's L A Regiment Georgia on 10 Jun 1862.
Surrendered Hanleiter's L A Regiment Georgia on 26 Apr 1865 at Greensboro, NC.

Sources: 6
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Name: Robert E. Simril
Side: Confederate
Regiment State/Origin: Georgia
Regiment Name: 38 Georgia Infantry
Regiment Name Expanded: 38th Regiment, Georgia Infantry
Company: M
Rank In: Drummer
Rank In Expanded: Drummer
Rank Out: Bugler
Rank Out Expanded: Bugler
Film Number: M226 roll 55
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38th Regiment, Georgia Infantry
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38th Infantry Regiment, organized near Decatur, Georiga, during the summer of 1861, contained thirteen companies and 1,200 men. First called Wright's Legion, it served at Skidaway Island and Savannah. In May, 1862, when it was ordered to Virginia, two companies were detached and one transferred. The remaining ten were from the counties of De Kalb, Milton, Emmanuel, Oglethorpe, Hart, Jefferson, Elbert, and Dawson. The 38th was assigned to Lawton's, John B. Gordon's, and C.A. Evans' Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It fought in many conflicts from the Seven Days' Battles to Cold Harbor, then moved with Early to the Shenandoah Valley and was active around Appomattox. The unit lost 54 killed and 118 wounded at Gaines' Mill, sixty-two percent of the 123 at Sharpsburg. In the fight at Fredericksburg there were 10 killed and 91 wounded, and of the 341 at Gettysburg, more than thirty-five percent were disabled. It surrendered with 112, of which 73 were armed. The field officers were Colonels George W. Lee, James D. Matthews, and Augustus R. Wright; Lieutenant Colonels Philip E. Devant and Lewis J. Parr; and Majors Thomas H. Bomar and John Y. Flowers.

and his 2nd unit

Hanleiter's Company, Georgia Light Artillery (Jo Thompson Artillery)
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"Units of the Confederate States Army" by Joseph H. Crute, Jr. contains no history for this unit.

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Source: Our Noble Ancestors NC Division CofC

Robert Eaton Simril was born on May 21, 1843 in York, South Carolina. He married Annie Sallie Robinson in Chambers County, Alabama on April 19, 1866.

Robert Eaton Simril enlisted on September 26, 1861 as a buglar with the 38th Georgia Infantry. On June 10, 1862 he transferred to Capt. Hanleiter's Co., Jo Thompson's Regiment, Georgia Light Artillery, serving as a drummer. He served until being surrendered at Greensboro, North Carolina on April 26, 1865.

After the War Between the States, Robert Eaton Simril was employed by Johnson Hardware Company in Newnan, GA for twenty years. He was elected to serve as the County Treasurer for Coweta County. Georgia in October 1898. He served his term until the time of his death on June 13, 1901. He is buried in Oak Hill, Cemetery in Newnan, Georgia. He was described as a loving, gifted man with a sense of humor....

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Other members of his company:

- Spencer M. Carlton
- John H. Cash
- James Abner DeFoor
- Daniel B. Englett
- James J. Englett
- Pulaski W. Englett
- William J. Armistead
- Lewis J. Parr
- ??Edmond R. Adams
- Algernon Sidney Robbins
- Augustus Shaw

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See also: http://38thga.com/drupal/node/15

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Ellen J Simril
United States Census, 1860
Name Ellen J Simril
Event Type Census
Event Date 1860
Event Place Newnan, Coweta, Georgia, United States
Gender Female
Age 45
Race White
Birth Year (Estimated) 1815
Birthplace S. C.
Page 16
Value of Real Estate $1000
Value of Personal $200
Household
Ellen J Simril F 45 S. C.
Robert Simril M 17 S. C. App Tin? shop
Frank Simril M 14 S. C. attended school
Mary E Simril F 13 S. C. attended school
G L Dickinson F 36 Pa.
George A Dickinson M 10 Tennes
Mary D Dickinson F 6 Tennes
Emily Dickinson F Ga

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His daughter Sallie's family

Sallie S Bryant
Wife
United States Census, 1940
birth: 1874 Georgia
residence: 1940 Newnan, Militia District 646, Coweta, Georgia, United States
spouse:Frances M Bryant
child:Crames Marion Bryant

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Sallie S Bryant
Wife
United States Census, 1930
birth: 1873 Georgia
residence: 1930 Newnan, Coweta, Georgia, United States
spouse: Frances M Bryant
children: Marion Bryant, Sarah Bryant

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Sallie S Bryant
Wife
United States Census, 1920
birth: 1872 Georgia
residence: 1920 Newman, Coweta, Georgia, United States
spouse: Francis M Bryant
children: Marion Bryant, Simril F Bryant, Annie R Bryant, Sarah E Bryant

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Sallie S Bryant
Wife
United States Census, 1900
birth: July 1872 Georgia
residence: 1900 Militia District 646 Newnan city, Coweta, Georgia, United States
spouse: Francis M Bryant

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I believe he may have been named after his first cousin: Robert Eaton Love

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Many thanks to Kenneth (#47641333) who writes: "There were several advertisements [in the Newnan Herald] saying that he was a tinsmith as well."

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