Served for the Confederacy as a Private in Hunter's Regiment, which served as cavalry until dismounted, Aug. 31, 1862. Subsequently the Eighth Infantry Regiment, changed to Eleventh Infantry Regiment. Thomas was discharged as a member of Company C, 11th Missouri Infantry Confederate States Army at the end of the Civil War. The unit served in Parson's and S. P. Burns' Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department, and fought in Arkansas and Louisiana. Commanded by Col. Simon P. Burns, Lt. Col. Thomas H. Murray and Maj. James Phillips. This unit was first organized by Col. DeWitt C. Hunter as the 8th Missouri Infantry but later reorganized and redesignated to prevent its confusion with Mitchell's 8th Missouri Infantry (commanded by Col. Charles S. Mitchell). Burns'/Hunter's original regiment (designated as the 8th Missouri Infantry) saw action at the Battle of Helena and during Shelby's Missouri/Arkansas raid of Sept/Oct. 1863. As designated the 11th Missouri Infantry, this regiment engaged the Federals during the Red River Campaign, Battles of Pleasant Hill, and Jenkins' Ferry among others.
The following and photos courtesy of cousin Charles E. Sterling, grandson of Thomas' daughter Malinda Maude Ragains (Sims):
Thomas Jefferson Sims was born in Tennessee on April 1, 1840. Grandma’s mother, Martha Custus McWilliams, was born in Keytesville, Missouri on November 4, 1846. They were married in Keytesville on December 5, 1861. Thomas Jefferson Sims’ father, William Wilson Sims died in 1848 when Thomas was only eight years old. His mother, Margaret “Peggy” K. Bone Sims and his older brothers, Robert
and William, raised Thomas. Robert was 24 and William 20 when their father died.
In the summer of 1860, only months before the beginning of the Civil War, the Sims were living in Sugar Creek, Barry County, Missouri. Thomas, a tall gangly twentyyearold
bachelor, had comfortable lodging at his brother Robert Sims’ hotel. He enjoyed a steady income as a blacksmith at his other brother, William Leonard Sims’ blacksmith shop. His mother, now 60,was also living at the Sims hotel.
These were exciting times for young Thomas. The issue of slavery was tearing the country apart. By years end, the nation had elected Abraham Lincoln by the narrowest of margins. Lincoln’s election was very unpopular in southern Missouri. Even though his Yankee supporters billed him as a Union Preservationist, most Southerners viewed him as a puppet of the abolitionist and prepared for the dissolution of the Republic. Even though Missouri was one of three Border States that didn’t seceded from the Union, many Missourians were sympathetic with the Southern cause. Proud of his Southern heritage, Thomas Jefferson Sims joined the Sugar Creek Township Fugitive Slave Patrol. Later he joined
Hunter’s Battalion, attached to the Missouri Infantry, of the Confederate Army.
Martha Custus McWilliams, Thomas’ future wife, was still a little girl. She was seven years younger than Thomas and lived on the nearby McWilliams plantation. She enjoyed a privileged life. At thirteen, she had few concerns beyond dolls, needlework and learning how to become a proper young lady.
In the years following the Civil War, the Sims moved to Fulton, Missouri where Thomas served as City Constable. From there, they migrated to Fannin County, Texas, where Thomas tried his hand at farming. Next, he moved his family to Justice, Hunt County, Texas, where he worked the Star Route as a Mail Carrier. In 1902, the Sims settled in Elk City, Oklahoma where Thomas sold insurance for a living. Thomas is remembered as one of the founding fathers of Elk City. The tall, well-dressed pioneer loved riding around town in his fringed buggy drawn by his favorite horse, “Prince.” In his later years, Thomas kept his head shaved. He liked the convenience of being able to comb his hair with a washcloth. Thomas died on November 14, 1915 and was buried in Fairlawn Cemetery in Elk City. Martha, with failing eyesight, lived on for another eight years. Martha died on December 16, 1923 and was buried next to her husband.
For more on his family, go to this wonderful link!:
http://www.okiesterling.com/cesbookch31.pdf
The following and photos courtesy of cousin Charles E. Sterling, grandson of Thomas' daughter Malinda Maude Ragains (Sims):
Thomas Jefferson Sims was born in Tennessee on April 1, 1840. Grandma’s mother, Martha Custus McWilliams, was born in Keytesville, Missouri on November 4, 1846. They were married in Keytesville on December 5, 1861. Thomas Jefferson Sims’ father, William Wilson Sims died in 1848 when Thomas was only eight years old. His mother, Margaret “Peggy” K. Bone Sims and his older brothers, Robert
and William, raised Thomas. Robert was 24 and William 20 when their father died.
In the summer of 1860, only months before the beginning of the Civil War, the Sims were living in Sugar Creek, Barry County, Missouri. Thomas, a tall gangly twentyyearold
bachelor, had comfortable lodging at his brother Robert Sims’ hotel. He enjoyed a steady income as a blacksmith at his other brother, William Leonard Sims’ blacksmith shop. His mother, now 60,was also living at the Sims hotel.
These were exciting times for young Thomas. The issue of slavery was tearing the country apart. By years end, the nation had elected Abraham Lincoln by the narrowest of margins. Lincoln’s election was very unpopular in southern Missouri. Even though his Yankee supporters billed him as a Union Preservationist, most Southerners viewed him as a puppet of the abolitionist and prepared for the dissolution of the Republic. Even though Missouri was one of three Border States that didn’t seceded from the Union, many Missourians were sympathetic with the Southern cause. Proud of his Southern heritage, Thomas Jefferson Sims joined the Sugar Creek Township Fugitive Slave Patrol. Later he joined
Hunter’s Battalion, attached to the Missouri Infantry, of the Confederate Army.
Martha Custus McWilliams, Thomas’ future wife, was still a little girl. She was seven years younger than Thomas and lived on the nearby McWilliams plantation. She enjoyed a privileged life. At thirteen, she had few concerns beyond dolls, needlework and learning how to become a proper young lady.
In the years following the Civil War, the Sims moved to Fulton, Missouri where Thomas served as City Constable. From there, they migrated to Fannin County, Texas, where Thomas tried his hand at farming. Next, he moved his family to Justice, Hunt County, Texas, where he worked the Star Route as a Mail Carrier. In 1902, the Sims settled in Elk City, Oklahoma where Thomas sold insurance for a living. Thomas is remembered as one of the founding fathers of Elk City. The tall, well-dressed pioneer loved riding around town in his fringed buggy drawn by his favorite horse, “Prince.” In his later years, Thomas kept his head shaved. He liked the convenience of being able to comb his hair with a washcloth. Thomas died on November 14, 1915 and was buried in Fairlawn Cemetery in Elk City. Martha, with failing eyesight, lived on for another eight years. Martha died on December 16, 1923 and was buried next to her husband.
For more on his family, go to this wonderful link!:
http://www.okiesterling.com/cesbookch31.pdf
Served for the Confederacy as a Private in Hunter's Regiment, which served as cavalry until dismounted, Aug. 31, 1862. Subsequently the Eighth Infantry Regiment, changed to Eleventh Infantry Regiment. Thomas was discharged as a member of Company C, 11th Missouri Infantry Confederate States Army at the end of the Civil War. The unit served in Parson's and S. P. Burns' Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department, and fought in Arkansas and Louisiana. Commanded by Col. Simon P. Burns, Lt. Col. Thomas H. Murray and Maj. James Phillips. This unit was first organized by Col. DeWitt C. Hunter as the 8th Missouri Infantry but later reorganized and redesignated to prevent its confusion with Mitchell's 8th Missouri Infantry (commanded by Col. Charles S. Mitchell). Burns'/Hunter's original regiment (designated as the 8th Missouri Infantry) saw action at the Battle of Helena and during Shelby's Missouri/Arkansas raid of Sept/Oct. 1863. As designated the 11th Missouri Infantry, this regiment engaged the Federals during the Red River Campaign, Battles of Pleasant Hill, and Jenkins' Ferry among others.
The following and photos courtesy of cousin Charles E. Sterling, grandson of Thomas' daughter Malinda Maude Ragains (Sims):
Thomas Jefferson Sims was born in Tennessee on April 1, 1840. Grandma’s mother, Martha Custus McWilliams, was born in Keytesville, Missouri on November 4, 1846. They were married in Keytesville on December 5, 1861. Thomas Jefferson Sims’ father, William Wilson Sims died in 1848 when Thomas was only eight years old. His mother, Margaret “Peggy” K. Bone Sims and his older brothers, Robert
and William, raised Thomas. Robert was 24 and William 20 when their father died.
In the summer of 1860, only months before the beginning of the Civil War, the Sims were living in Sugar Creek, Barry County, Missouri. Thomas, a tall gangly twentyyearold
bachelor, had comfortable lodging at his brother Robert Sims’ hotel. He enjoyed a steady income as a blacksmith at his other brother, William Leonard Sims’ blacksmith shop. His mother, now 60,was also living at the Sims hotel.
These were exciting times for young Thomas. The issue of slavery was tearing the country apart. By years end, the nation had elected Abraham Lincoln by the narrowest of margins. Lincoln’s election was very unpopular in southern Missouri. Even though his Yankee supporters billed him as a Union Preservationist, most Southerners viewed him as a puppet of the abolitionist and prepared for the dissolution of the Republic. Even though Missouri was one of three Border States that didn’t seceded from the Union, many Missourians were sympathetic with the Southern cause. Proud of his Southern heritage, Thomas Jefferson Sims joined the Sugar Creek Township Fugitive Slave Patrol. Later he joined
Hunter’s Battalion, attached to the Missouri Infantry, of the Confederate Army.
Martha Custus McWilliams, Thomas’ future wife, was still a little girl. She was seven years younger than Thomas and lived on the nearby McWilliams plantation. She enjoyed a privileged life. At thirteen, she had few concerns beyond dolls, needlework and learning how to become a proper young lady.
In the years following the Civil War, the Sims moved to Fulton, Missouri where Thomas served as City Constable. From there, they migrated to Fannin County, Texas, where Thomas tried his hand at farming. Next, he moved his family to Justice, Hunt County, Texas, where he worked the Star Route as a Mail Carrier. In 1902, the Sims settled in Elk City, Oklahoma where Thomas sold insurance for a living. Thomas is remembered as one of the founding fathers of Elk City. The tall, well-dressed pioneer loved riding around town in his fringed buggy drawn by his favorite horse, “Prince.” In his later years, Thomas kept his head shaved. He liked the convenience of being able to comb his hair with a washcloth. Thomas died on November 14, 1915 and was buried in Fairlawn Cemetery in Elk City. Martha, with failing eyesight, lived on for another eight years. Martha died on December 16, 1923 and was buried next to her husband.
For more on his family, go to this wonderful link!:
http://www.okiesterling.com/cesbookch31.pdf
The following and photos courtesy of cousin Charles E. Sterling, grandson of Thomas' daughter Malinda Maude Ragains (Sims):
Thomas Jefferson Sims was born in Tennessee on April 1, 1840. Grandma’s mother, Martha Custus McWilliams, was born in Keytesville, Missouri on November 4, 1846. They were married in Keytesville on December 5, 1861. Thomas Jefferson Sims’ father, William Wilson Sims died in 1848 when Thomas was only eight years old. His mother, Margaret “Peggy” K. Bone Sims and his older brothers, Robert
and William, raised Thomas. Robert was 24 and William 20 when their father died.
In the summer of 1860, only months before the beginning of the Civil War, the Sims were living in Sugar Creek, Barry County, Missouri. Thomas, a tall gangly twentyyearold
bachelor, had comfortable lodging at his brother Robert Sims’ hotel. He enjoyed a steady income as a blacksmith at his other brother, William Leonard Sims’ blacksmith shop. His mother, now 60,was also living at the Sims hotel.
These were exciting times for young Thomas. The issue of slavery was tearing the country apart. By years end, the nation had elected Abraham Lincoln by the narrowest of margins. Lincoln’s election was very unpopular in southern Missouri. Even though his Yankee supporters billed him as a Union Preservationist, most Southerners viewed him as a puppet of the abolitionist and prepared for the dissolution of the Republic. Even though Missouri was one of three Border States that didn’t seceded from the Union, many Missourians were sympathetic with the Southern cause. Proud of his Southern heritage, Thomas Jefferson Sims joined the Sugar Creek Township Fugitive Slave Patrol. Later he joined
Hunter’s Battalion, attached to the Missouri Infantry, of the Confederate Army.
Martha Custus McWilliams, Thomas’ future wife, was still a little girl. She was seven years younger than Thomas and lived on the nearby McWilliams plantation. She enjoyed a privileged life. At thirteen, she had few concerns beyond dolls, needlework and learning how to become a proper young lady.
In the years following the Civil War, the Sims moved to Fulton, Missouri where Thomas served as City Constable. From there, they migrated to Fannin County, Texas, where Thomas tried his hand at farming. Next, he moved his family to Justice, Hunt County, Texas, where he worked the Star Route as a Mail Carrier. In 1902, the Sims settled in Elk City, Oklahoma where Thomas sold insurance for a living. Thomas is remembered as one of the founding fathers of Elk City. The tall, well-dressed pioneer loved riding around town in his fringed buggy drawn by his favorite horse, “Prince.” In his later years, Thomas kept his head shaved. He liked the convenience of being able to comb his hair with a washcloth. Thomas died on November 14, 1915 and was buried in Fairlawn Cemetery in Elk City. Martha, with failing eyesight, lived on for another eight years. Martha died on December 16, 1923 and was buried next to her husband.
For more on his family, go to this wonderful link!:
http://www.okiesterling.com/cesbookch31.pdf
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
