Ancestors

Rev. Americus Arastus Sims

Americus Arastus Sims, called Ned, was born on 8 April 1855 in Butler County, Alabama. His memorial names his parents as Arthur Coleson Sims (1807-1881) and Sarah Caroline Austin (1822-1880), who are buried at Shackleville in Butler County. His brother James Columbus Sims died in 1887 at 35 and lies in the same ground.

He was a minister. His gravestone and his wife's both call him "Rev. A. A. Sims". His stone also carries the square and compass, the emblem of the Freemasons, the fraternal order whose local lodges met in most Southern towns of his day.

He married Josephine, born on 25 June 1861. Their children included a daughter, Etta, born in December 1886, and sons Bishop Marvin, born on 14 July 1888 at Georgiana, Orson, born about 1892, and Devon, born about 1894. Ned is almost certainly Etta's father: in 1900 she was living with his widow Josephine and his son Marvin, and Josephine had been his wife since before Etta was born. A photograph captioned "Rev. A. A. Sims and family" shows Ned, bearded, in a dark suit and bow tie, with Josephine and four small children around them.

The Rev. A. A. Sims died on 3 September 1895, aged 40. Josephine was left a widow at 34 with four children, the eldest eight years old. He is buried in Shackleville Cemetery, Butler County, under a tall marble stone carved with the Masonic emblem and the words "Rev. A. A. Sims / Born April 8, 1855 / Died Sept. 3, 1895". Josephine lies near him.

If Rev. Americus Arastus Sims is in your family, start your own tree.

Cite: Heirology, "Rev. Americus Arastus Sims (1855-1895)", https://heirology.com/ancestors/rev-americus-arastus-sims-1855-1895-b54e3b.