CAPT. J. N. SIMS DEAD.
_______

The End Came Monday Night at His
Home on Jackson Street.
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He Lived a Life of Usefulness and His
Character Was Unspotted-Was One of the
Landmarks of the County—The
Funeral Arrangments.
___

Capt. J. N. Sims, known and beloved by all, has joined the silent throng upon the other side, and the grief felt at his death is not confined alone to relatives of the dead man. He was a friend to all and as such will be mourned.
His death occurred at 9:30 o'clock Monday night at his home on South Jackson street, and was unexpected. He had been in feeble health for years, yet his familiar figure was to be seen upon the streets every day. A week ago he contracted a cold, which on Saturday developed into pneumonia. Late on Monday he began growing worse and the end came at 9:30, he being in full possession of all his faculties. His end was peaceful and serene-the warm heart ceased to beat and his soul returned to its Maker. The death of Capt. Sims removes another pioneer citizen. He had the respect of all who knew him. He was of a quite, unassuming disposition, though a perfect gentleman of the old school and a true friend. In his home he was tender and true, devoted to his wife and children. Friends have watched his life as it slowly ebbed away, and as he neared the other shore with a tottering step, many have been the expressions of sorrow. He will be mourned as a good citizen; an upright man; a loving husband and father. The tenderest sympathy of all will go out to relatives left to mourn.
Capt. J. N. Sims was born at Connersville, Fayette county, January 5, 1817. His parents were of Scotch lineage. J. N. Sims remained under the parental roof until he reached his majority aiding in farm work. He gained a common school education and for ten years taught school. He spent one year in Asbury University. While teaching school he applied himself to the study of law and was licensed to practice in November, 1843. In April of 1848 he opened up an office in this city. In politics he a whig until 1854, when he became a republican. He was a delegate to the national convention in 1860 and supported Abraham Lincoln. In September 1863, he enlisted in Company I, 100th Ind. Vols. The company was known as the "Clinton County Excelsiors," of which he was captain. In August, 1863, he was honorably discharged on account of failing health. He returned here, took up the practice of law and continued it until his death. He never yielded to the solicitation of friends to accept public office.
On November 14, 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret A. Allen, sister of Capt. D. F. Allen. Three children were born to them, Elizabeth, deceased; Fred A., ex-mayor of this city, and Grace. Cicero Sims of this city, and Lewis Sims of Forest, are brothers of the deceased, and Mrs. Martha Sims of Lebanon, is a sister.
Capt. Sims lived an active life and his fund of information was inexhaustible. One of the things to which he often referred and was proud of was the fact that he supported Abraham Lincoln for the presidency.
At a meeting of the members of the Clinton County Bar Association, held at 3 o'clock, the following members were chosen to act as pall bearers: Judge J. V. Kent, Judge T. H. Palmer, J. C. Farber, Chas. Guenther, J. T. Hockman and Joseph Claybaugh. A committee was also selected to draft appropriate resolutions concerning the death of Mr. Sims, and this will be reported at the March session of the circuit court.
This committee is composed of Jos. Claybaugh, Joseph Combs and Judge Palmer.
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FUNERAL OF CAPTAIN SIMS.
__________________
Remains Laid to Rest in the I. O. O. F. Cemetery
This afternoon.
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The funeral services over the remains of the venerable Capt. J. N. Sims were held at the residence of the deceased Wednesday. The attendance was large and the honors paid to the memory of the deceased were simple and impressive. The Clinton county bar, of which Capt. Sims was the oldest member, was present in a body, and there was a large representation of the G. A. R. to pay their last respects to their dead comrade in arms. The Rev. Mr. Xanders read the beautiful funeral services of the Episcopal church and Mr. E. H. Staley delivered an eloquent eulogium on the character of the deceased. A quartette of male and female voices rendered two hymns sweetly. The internment was at the I. O. O. F. cemetery and the rites of the G. A. R. were preformed at the grave. The pall bearers were Judge T. H. Palmer, Joseph P. Gray, Chas. Guenther, O. E. Brumbaugh, Joseph Claybaugh and J. T. Hockman, of the bar association, and a squad of veterans bearing arms acted as an escort to the hearse.
The floral offerings were numerous and beautiful. Besides those from individual friends, there were offerings from the bar, the G. A. R., the First National Bank, the Knights of Pythias and the Commercial Club.
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At the meeting Tuesday of the Clinton County Bar it was noticed that but few present had practiced here for the past twenty years. Judge Kent, Judge Palmer, D. S. Holman and Jos. Claybaugh completes the list. Most of those who twenty years ago graced the bar of this court have been called to their reward. The list includes some of the brightest minds that ever grappled with a legal question in the state, and the influence of their lives is still felt, Capt. Sims, was among the last to be called, but, though he sleeps in his narrow home, the goodly influence of his life and his unblemished character will live on, to serve as a model for younger members of the bar, who cherish the friendship of the older members still living and revere the memory of the dead.
(THE FRANKFORT CRESCENT, FRIDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 1899, PAGE 1, COLUMN 1 & 2, FRANKFORT, INDIANA)



DEATH'S CALL.
____________
James Noble Sims Passes
Away After a Brief Illness
From Pneumonia.
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PATRIOT AND A SAGE.
__________
Brief Biographical Sketch of the Well
Known Lawyer's Career—
Funeral Arrangements.
_____________

James Noble Sims died at his home, corner of Walnut and Jackson streets, at 9:30 o'clock Monday night, after but a very brief illness. The end came like the falling shadow of the night and so gently was the curtain lowered upon the last scene of that long and busy life that watchers at the bedside saw no sign nor heard no sound. So close to the World unknown had his feet carried him that it was but a smile, a wave of the hand, a step from one life to the next. During the past week Capt. Sims had been somewhat indisposed and on Saturday his illness took a sudden turn for the worse and the cold from which he suffered, advanced to pneumonia. Although he was regarded as very ill, his condition was not viewed with alarm. Hardly a half hour before his death the physician stated that he would live through the night. A minute before his death the nurse spoke to him asking him to take a stimulant and he said he desired it. He swallowed with difficulty; the nurse took his pulse, turned to the anxious watchers to whisper that it was very, very low, almost gone, and when she turned her glance back to his face she saw that in that instant's time death had come. He had retained his faculties in full to the very borders of this life.
The funeral was a very simple one, according with his unostentatious life. At one o'clock Wednesday afternoon the last rites of love and respect were performed. The service occurred at the family residence. Rev. W. H. Xanders read the Episcopal burial service and E. H. Staley delivered a brief address. The music was by a quartett from the choir of the First Methodist church. The interment and final services were in charge of Stone River Post, G.A.R. The burial was at the Odd Fellows cemetery.

BIOGRAPHY.

J. N. Sims, citizen, soldier, lawyer, with an acquaintance extending through out Indiana, was born at Connersville, Fayette county, Indiana, on January 5th, 1817. He came of Scotch lineage, his grandfather as an American pioneer serving under General Washington in the Revolution and the traits of the Revolutionist were exhibited every day in his life by the man whom we all knew for his rugged honesty and relentless energy. When Noble Sims was seventeen years of age he moved with his widowed father to this county and in the wilderness about the little settlement of Middlefork a rough cabin was erected which became their home. The son remained to aid with his toil the family of which he formed a part and it was not until he had reached his majority that he left the parental roof.
By unremitting endeavor he acquired a fair common school education which, with the addition of a year at Asbury University, completed the foundation upon which in after years he built a bright professional career. For several years he taught school and in 1843 realized his ambition by being licensed to practice law and five years later he opened an office in this city and from that time Frankfort continued his home. He was the Nestor of the Clinton County Bar; the Patriarch who held all the history of the courts in his mind, whose cases calling for the decisions of the higher courts ran through the early and late Indiana Court Reports. His knowledge of his profession was a continuous source of wonderment and surprise to his brother attorneys. His venerable face, his vigorous speech will be sadly missed in future court room scenes.
In polities he was active but never asked preferment. He was a Whig until 1854, when he became and continued to be a Republican. In 1860 he was a delegate to the National convention and supported Abraham Lincoln for president.
When the alarm of war rang out and the cry of cessation filled the air he remembered his Revolutionary Grandfather, he remembered his father's record in the war of 1812, and on the 16th day of September, 1862, he formed the "Clinton County Excelsiors," Company I of the One Hundredth Indiana. Failing health caused his discharge from service near Vicksburg in August, 1863.
In religious belief he inclined toward the Universalist faith. On Monday afternoon in a talk with his beloved wife, when he seemed to realize that the end was near, he expressed his belief in God and said he was not afraid to die. A prayer service was conducted at his bedside by Rev. Xanders a short time before the dissolution. He expressed contentment. Of God he agreed with Tennyson in saying:

"Thou wilt not leave us in the dust:
Thou madest man, he knows not why,
He thinks he was not made to die;
And Thou hast made him: Thou art just."

On the 14th of November, 1865, the deceased was wedded to Margaret A. Allen, who with their son, Fred A., ex-mayor of this city, and their daughter, Grace, survive him, one daughter, Elizabeth, having died in infancy.

BAR MEETING.

At 3 o'clock p.m. Tuesday the attorneys and county officials met in the judge's office, with Judge Kent as chairman and Deputy clerk Wm. E. Clark as secretary. The following were chosen to act as pall bearers, Judge Kent, Judge Palmer, Jos. Claybaugh, J. C. Farber, J. T. Hockman and C. G. Guenther. The attorneys and county officials meet at the court house at 12:30, Wednesday and attended the funeral services in a body. The court house remained closed from 12 o'clock until after the funeral.
The committee to select and procure a floral tribute was W. A. Staley, J. H. Ricketts and H. C. Sheridan.
On Monday, March 6th, at 2 o'clock p. m. a memorial service will be held to which the family and friends will be invited and the committee on resolution of condolence, Jos. Claybaugh, T. H. Palmer, Sr. and Jos. Combs will report at that time.
(THE FRANKFORT BANNER, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1899, PAGE 1,
FRANKFORT, INDIANA)



SIMS MEMORIAL SERVICES.
____________
Members of the Bar Join in Eugilistic Praise
of Their Dead Brother.
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The members of the Clinton county bar and other citizens held a memorial service Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock in memory of Capt. James N. Sims. Many ladies were present, Judge Kent presided. Judge Palmer spoke of the deceased in a most feeling manner and paid a glowing tribute to his worth and character. Jos. Claybaugh followed, and in an eloquent speech told of his early struggles in life, his thorough knowledge of the law, his aggressiveness as a lawyer, his fidelity to his clients. Mr. Claybaugh's address was as eloquent as was ever heard in the court house, and was given close attention. Attorney Guenther spoke of Capt. Sims and, though only knowing him about twelve years, held him in high esteem and his tribute was a beautiful one. O. E. Brumbaugh, J. C. Farber, J. T. Hockman, W. R. Moore, M. A. Morrison and D. P. Braner also spoke in memory of the dead jurit. With all he was a friend who impressed himself upon these younger members of the bar, and each paid a glowing tribute to his memory. Others followed, all paying high tribute to his memory, and their words showed the love, respect and veneration in which Capt. Sims was held by the bar.
The committee appointed for that purpose submitted the following resolution:
WE, your committee on condolence on the death of James N. Sims, appointed at a meeting of the bar respectfully submit the following resolutions:
Capt. James N. Sims was born at Connersville, Ind., Jan. 5, 1817. In April, 1836, he came to Clinton county and settled near Middlefork, where he attended school and worked on the farm of his father, and also engaged in teaching school, and until he was twenty-two years of age. At that time he had acquired some means and attended Asbury University for one year, and that completed his school education. After leaving college he engaged in school teaching for several years, and during the time he was engaged in teaching he devoted his spare moments to the improvement of his scholarship and the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in November, 1843, but did not engage in regular practice until several years later. On the 1st day of April, 1848, he opened a law office in Frankfort and continued the practice of law until hi death.
During the civil war he raised a company in this county, of which he was elected captain, and he served as such until the 11th day of August, 1863, at which time, in consequence of failing health, he was honorably discharged. On the 14th day of November, 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret A. Allen, of this town, who survives him.
Capt. Sims was a man of clear mind, thoroughly read in the law; unquestioned integrity and unflagging industry; was a good lawyer; was extremely loyal to his clients, laborious and untiring in his clients cause; was honest with the court and very courteous to all those who were associated with him in a cause; domestic in his tastes and habits; a good father; a kind husband and an affable and genial gentleman.
Resolved, That in the death of Capt. James N. Sims this community has lost a valued citizen, the bar an honest, faithful member, and his family a devoted husband and father; be it further
Resolved, That these resolutions be spread on the records of the Clinton circuit court; that they be published in all the city papers, and a certified copy of the same be sent to the family of the deceased.
Joseph Claybaugh,
T. H. Palmer,
Joseph Combs,
Committee.
(THE FRANKFORT CRESCENT, FRIDAY, 10 MARCH 1899, PAGE 7, COLUMN 4 & 5, FRANKFORT, INDIANA)


**************************************************************

CIVIL WAR VETERAN

Co. I 100TH INDIANA INFANTRY

ENROLLED: 29 AUGUST 1862 FRANKFORT, CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA

RANK: CAPTAIN

DATE OF COMMISSION: 12 SEPTEMBER 1862

MUSTERED IN: 17 SEPTEMBER 1862

AGE: 45

RESIGNED: 20 AUGUST 1863

DISCHARGE DATE: 20 AUGUST 1863 VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI, DUE TO DISABILITY

RANK: CAPTAIN