James Searle Sims with friends in the early 1920s  Barclay, Kansas

James S. Sims and daughter Patricia in Colorado, early 1940s

The Journal-Free Press, Osage City, Kansas July 13, 1955 page 10C3

Mrs. Mary Catherine Cummins Sims, the eldest daughter of Christina and Albert Cummins, was born on January 10, 1871 near Homer, Ohio and departed this life on Thursday morning, July 7, 1955 at the age of 84 years, 5 months and 28 days.

At an early age she moved to Kansas with her parents and settled on a farm 4 1/2 miles west of Strawn.  She received her education in a rural school near that town high school at Burlington, and a year at the Emporia State Teachers College.  She taught in Coffey County for three years.

On April 14, 1897 (should be 1898), she was united in marriage with James a, Sims, and to this union were born four boys and two girls, all of whom are still living.  Ten years of their married life was spent in Emporia and then they moved to Barclay, in March 1912.  She made her home there for 39 years, even after the death of her husband on January 23, 1939.

In September, 1950, she moved to Osage city where her home was always a welcome haven for her children and grandchildren.  She enjoyed going to church as long as her health permitted.  She was a devoted mother, a good neighbor and will be sadly missed by all who were near and dear to her.

She is survived by her children: Louis J. Sims, Portland, Ore.; James S. Sims, Blackfoot, Idaho; Albert F. Sims Osage City; George C. Sims, Herington; Mrs. Ruth F. Colstrom, and Mrs. Helen M. Tucker, Osage City.  A sister, Mrs. Ruth Hamman, Long Beach, Calif.; four brothers, C. A. Cummins, Vancouver, Wash.; F. C. Cummins, Everson, Wash.; Joseph Cummins, Hutchinson and A. E. Cummins, Hutchinson and A. E. Cummins, Lebo; also 26 grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Services were held from the McElfresh Mortuary Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock, the Rev. Arthur B. Coole, pastor of the Methodist church conducting the services.  Mr. Ellis Swarts sang, "In the Garden" and "Beautiful Garden of Prayer," with Mrs. R. P. Latimer at the piano.

The casket bearers were Jim Runyan, Chester Lewis, Harry Bryan, Alton Oser, Duane and Owen Griffith.

Relatives and friends attending the funeral from out of town were Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Cummins, Lebo; Mr. James S. Sims, Blackfoot, Idaho; Mr. George Sims, Herington; Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Hamman, Hartford; Mr. and Mrs. Max Craig and family, Miller; Mrs. Rees Jernigan, of Topeka.

The Journal-Free Press, Osage City, Kansas February 1, 1939, p. 4C3.  

LAST RITES HELD FOR JAMES A. SIMS

James A. Sims was born near Stanberry, Mo., December 3, 1863, and departed this life at his home near Barclay, January 23, 1939, at the age of 75 years, 1 month and 20 days.

He was the eldest son of J. A and Serilda Sims.  When a young man he came to Hutchinson, Kan., in 1885, and spent the remainder of his life in Kansas, with the exception of a few years which he spent in Nebraska.

He was united in marriage to Mary C. Cummins on April 14, 1898, near Strawn, Kans.  Mr. Sims farmed south of Hartford, later moving to Emporia where he engaged in the carpenter trade until 1912 when he moved to Barclay where he resided until his death.

To this union were born four sons and two daughters: Louis J. of Portland, Ore., James S., of Weiser, Idaho, Mrs. Chris Colstrom of Osage City, Mrs. Kenneth Tucker of Barclay, and Albert F. and George C., of the home.

He is survived by his wife and children and six grandchildren three sisters, Mrs. Ellen Black of Salem, Ore., Mrs. Alice Searle of Los Angeles, Calif., and Mrs. Laura Craig, of Hartford, Kans.; three brothers, John of Brule, Nebr., David of Wall, South Dakota, and Irvin of Colorado Springs, besides a host of other relatives and friends.

Daily Republican - Burlington Kansas, March 28, 1927 p. 4C1

Obituary of A. Cummins

Albert Cummins, eldest son of Moses and Elizabeth Cummins, was born near Homer, Licking County, Ohio, August 20, 1842, and here he grew to young manhood.  At the age of 19 years he answered the call to his country, enlisting in the 96th Ohio Veteran (should be Volunteer) Infantry July 1, 1862.  He served three years, being mustered out August 4th, 1865.  He was married February 19, 1868, to Christiana Dumbauld and to this union were born eleven children: W. S. of Tonkawa, Okla., Mary C. Sims, Barclay, Kans., James, of the home address; D. F. of Yuciopa, Calif., Joseph of Hutchinson, Kans., A. E. of Lebo, Kan., Fred C. and Arthur, of Bellingham, Wa., and Mrs. W. V. Hamman, of Hartford.  His wife preceded him in death March 8, 1917.  One daughter died in infancy.  They moved to Kansas in the year 1879, locating southwest of Strawn, where they resided for 48 years.  The past ten years of his life was spent with his son James at the old home.

On March 13 he was stricken with apoplexy, passing peacefully and quietly away at 2:35 a.m. Wednesday morning, March 16, 1927, at the age of 84 years, 6 months and 17 days.  He was of a quiet, reserved disposition, a great reader, passing many lonely hours with his papers and books.  On account of being hard of hearing he very seldom appeared in public.  He was always honorable and upright in all his dealings and an esteemed citizen.  He was the oldest of four children and the last surviving member of his family.  Mr. Cummins was a member of Hartford Masonic Lodge No. 193 of Hartford, Kans. for 60 years, joining august 14, 1867.  Besides his ten children he is survived by 35 grandchildren and 4 great (grand) children.

The funeral was held in the Strawn Methodist church Friday afternoon.  The Masons had charge of the burial services at the grave.  The pall bearers was Messrs Geo. Rummel, A. R. Klitzing, RR. Baysinger, S. C. Stewart, Ed Kuhlman and C. D. Fitch.

The children from out of town who came for the funeral were W. S. Cummins, of Tonkawa, Okla., Mrs. Chas. H. Sears, of Seattle, Wa; Mrs. Mary C. Sims, of Barclay, and one granddaughter and family, Mr. and Mrs Doss White and baby, of Partridge, Kans.

Burlington Republican, Burlington, Kansas, February 13, 1917 P4C2

No Obituary Published.  We assembled the following information was from documents that will be listed in the Sources page when it is completed.

James A Sims, 71, was born on May 24, 1842 in Clay County Missouri, one of 16 children of William and Frances Sims.  On January 26, 1862 he married Serilda May Spencer and they had 11 children.  James enlisted in the 1st Missouri State Militia Volunteer Calvary, Company M. Enlisted July 12, 1863 at Lexington, Missouri, Mustered in August 22, 1863 Lexington, Missouri and was honorably discharged July 12, 1865 at Benton Barracks, Missouri as a Corporal.  After the war James and his family were farmers in Oxford Missouri until they moved to Freemont Co. Iowa in 1865 and then on to Nebraska in 1869 and eventually to Kansas in 1895.  He ended his days on a farm near Minneapolis, Kansas.  His wife, Serilda proceeded him in death on October 9, 1911.  James died on May 24, 1913 and he and his wife are buried together in Highland Cemetery, Minneapolis, Ottawa County, Kansas.

Minneapolis Messenger, Minneapolis, Kansas, October 19, 1911, page 3C2.

Obituary.

Miss Serilda Spencer was born in Park county, Indiana, May 12, 1840.  She moved with her parents to Worth county, Missouri, in 1859.  She united with the Christian church in 1860, and lived an earnest and devoted Christian life until the time of her death.

She was married to J. A. Sims Jan. 26, 1862, in Worth county, Missouri, and to this union were born thirteen children.

Her departure from this life took place Oct. 9, 1911, in Ottawa county, Kansas, at the age of 71 years.  She leaves beside her husband, four sons, four daughters, twenty-four grandchildren, and a host of friends to mourn her loss.

Funeral services were conducted at the home by Rev. H. J. Lorenz and the remains were laid to rest in Highland cemetery.

James' maternal great grandfather, David W. Dumbauld, probably in the 1880s.

From The Dumbauld Family in America, page 247

Obituary of David W. Dumbauld

David W. Dumbauld, whose death is noted else where, was born in Fayette County, Pa.  November 18, 1818 and was therefore a little past 70 at the time of his death.  He moved to Ohio when a boy and resided there until he came to Kansas in 1880.  When a young man he united with the German Reformed Church and afterwards became a member of the Presbyterian Church.  Since coming to Kansas, his membership has been with the Presbyterian Church of Hartford.  All his children, two sons and three daughters survive him.  He was buried on Saturday last at Hartford by the side of his wife who died about four years ago.

James' maternal great grandmother, Delilah Poundstone Dumbauld, probably in the 1880s.

James' paternal great grandfather, William Sims, probably in the 1880s.

William Sims, 85, died at Peace Creek, Hayes twp, Reno Co Kansas on August 24, 1892.  He was the son of William and Mary Sims of Liberty Township, Parke County, Indiana and a life time farmer and stock raiser.  He married Frances Cahoon on May 04, 1834 in Vermillion County, Indiana.  The Sims family moved to Missouri in 1854 then on to Miami County, Kansas in about 1870.  They sold their Rice County farm in 1885.  William and Frances had 16 children and over 55 grandchildren.  William was buried at the Peace Creek Cemetery next to his wife of 56 years.

James' paternal great grandmother, Frances Cahoon (Calhoon) Sims, 

Frances Cahoon, 73, died at Peace Creek, Hayes twp, Reno Co Kansas on January 11, 1890.  The daughter of James Cahoon, she married William Sims on May 04, 1834 in Vermillion County, Indiana.   William and Frances had 16 children and over 55 grandchildren.  A resident of Kansas for the past 20 years she is buried at the Peace Creek Cemetery in Reno County.

Reverend Philip Edelen James' paternal 8th great grandfather, date unknown

Records of Cambridge University

Edlin or Edelin, Philip

Admitted as pensioner at Emmanuel College, Cambridge University on June 28, 1614.  Born at Pinner, college, Cambridge University on June 28, 1614.  Born at Pinner, county Middlesex, England; Scholar; Bachelor of Arts 1617-18: Master of Arts 1621: Bachelor of Divinity (Sacred Theology) 1628: Incorporated at Oxford University in 1617.  Rector or North Cray, Kent, in 1628; Alverstoke, Hampshire in 1631; of St. John Zachary, London, 1635-37; of Bushey, Hertfordshire, 1642-3; of St Mickael, Basseshaw, London, 1657.  Died 22 March 1656-7.  Will Probated in Canterbury Court.  Father of Christopher Edelen, who entered Trinity College Cambridge University in 1648.