In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1914) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Biographical review of Lee County, Iowa; (1905), Story of Lee County, Iowa; (1914)
IRA STEPHEN SIMS.
Ira Stephen Sims, now living retired fmm active business life on his farm of 120 acres on section 7, Jackson township. Lee county, Iowa, is a man who owes, his success entirely to his personal and unassisted effort — who, from his early years has depended upon his own energy, enterprise and judgment for the increase of his fortunes. He is, therefore, deserving of being called a self-made man, and few if any have borne that high title with greater propriety or boni ir than he, while at the same time his modesty leads him to ascribe a large share of the credit to our American institutions and spirit of equality, which enable every man of ability to do as lie has done, and achieve for himself an important and highly respected position in the community in \\hich he lives.
He was born June 14, 1836, in Wayne county, New York, and at the early age of sixteen years, after obtaining a good education in the public schools of the Empire state, he set out to begin his career in the world, having in view as the field i)f his labors the great undeveloped country known as the West. He located in Illinois, where he became a trusted agent for a contractor engaged in the construction of the Illinois Central Railroad between Centralia and \ andalia. His employer, Mr. Brigham, was so favorably impressed with his ability and soundness of judgment that in 1850 he persuaded him to come to Lee county, where he owned a farm, and here Mr. Sims was connected with the work and management of the farm for a period of six or eight years, at the expiration of which he went to Keokuk. Later he was entrusted with the su- ])erintendency of the Hines farm in Jackson township, in which capacit_\- he met with his usual success. While thus engaged, he also became superintendent of the freight lighter business in the Des Moines rapids of the Mississippi river, during the fall of the years when the water was low until the present canal being at that time unl)uilt. and it being necessary\- to transfer freight from packet to packet in boats of light draught which plied between Keokuk and Montrose. In 1870 he purchased his present farm of 120 acres of fertile land, on which he has since continuously resided, and by constant, energetic and determined effort has transformed the tract from a wilderness covered with original forest to one of the most thoroughly ailtivated and productive farms in Lee county. Here he has conducted general faniiiiis;' on an extensive scale, and has given attention to stock-raising, especially in line horses, of which he has sold a number at very unusual i)prices. In the purely agricultural branch of his work he has been very successful, both in a ]iecuniar_\- way and in furthering the upbuilding and development of this section of Iowa, for which he deserves much credit.
On June 14. ik50, Mr. Sims was united in marriage at Keokuk to Miss Eliza Thompson, who was born in Birmingham, England, in 1840, came to America in 1848 with her parents and settled in Bond county, Illinois, where she lived for five years Ijefore removing to Iowa. The father, who was in his native countna hardware merchant, but was engaged as a bookkeeper during his entire residence in this country, was a man of much ability, and was generally respected for his talents and his character. The family after a time removed to Des Moines, where the deaths of both parents occurred. Mrs. Sims has borne an active share in the management of the farm, has made her home the center of a much prized hospitality, and by many is her name spoken in tones of esteem and affection. To Mr. and Mrs. Sims have been torn five sons and two daughters, as follows: George, now a resident of Montana: Clara, who is engaged in dressmaking at Colorado Springs: Ira Laml)ert, employed in the powder works at Mooar; James, who is a farmer and resides near Mooar: Samuel, who is also employed in the powder works; Lucy Elise, wife of George C. Bold, and resides near Mooar: and Fred, who died at the age of five years. They have also adopted one son, Leo.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
As printed in Biographical review of Lee County, Iowa; (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
IRA STEPHENS SIMS.
The name of Ira Stephens Sims is closely associated with the history of Jackson township and Lee county, where for many years he made his home and was widely and favorably known as an enterprising farmer and a man upright and honorable in all his dealings. He was born in Wayne county, New York, June 14, 1836, and there resided until fourteen years of age, acquiring a public-school education during that period. He came of a family in whom the spirit of patriotism was strong. All were stanch advocates of the Union cause during the Civil war and two of his brothers and a brotherin-law were soldiers on the field of battle. The family was established in America by two brothers, William and Andrew Sims, who emigrated to the new world from Scotland and fought upon opposite sides in the war of the Revolution, one remaining local to King George and the other espousing the cause of the colonies and serving under General Washington. The former later went to Canada.
When sixteen years of age Ira S. Sims started for the west to try his fortune in that section of the country. He settled first in Illinois, where he became a trusted agent for a contractor who was engaged in the construction of the Illinois Central Railroad between Centralia and St. Louis. His employer, Mr. Brigham, induced him to come to Lee county, where he owned a verv large farm, which Mr. Sims managed for six or eight years. He afterward went to Keokuk and subsequently was superintendent of the Hines farm, in Jackson township. He also became superintendent of the freight lighters business at Des Moines rapids on the Mississippi river. Thus the years went on, years in which activity and energy counted for success. In 1870 he purchased the farm in Jackson township upon which his remaining days were passed. He developed and improved the land and thereon engaged in the raising of fine horses, meeting with good success in that undertaking. He was an energetic agriculturist, and the methods which he employed in tilling the soil
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY 40i brought to him a measure of success which he well merited and which enabled him to leave his family in comfortable financial circumstances.
It was on the lath of June, 1859, that Mr. Sims was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Thompson, who was born in Birmingham, England, and in 1848 came to the United States with her parents, settling in Bond county, Illinois, where she lived for five years before removing to Iowa. Her father in his native country was a hardware merchant but after coming to the new world engaged in bookkeeping. After living in Illinois for some time the father removed with his family to Des Moines, where both he and his wife passed away. Mrs. Sims always proved of great assistance to her husband. She was indeed a helpmate as well as a companion to him on life's journey, and he greatly valued her advice and counsel. To Mr. and Mrs. Sims were born the following children: George, now living in Minot, Montana; Clara, a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Ira Lambert, of Burke, South Dakota; Samuel, of Keokuk; Lucy Elis, the wife of George C. Bold of this county; James, of Seattle, Washington; and Fred, who died at the age of five years.
Mr. Sims was a member of the Baptist church. Words of commendation were spoken of him on all sides, for he was a reliable business man, a progressive citizen, a faithful friend and a good neighbor. He took an active interest in county afYairs and was instrumental in getting Jackson township separated from the city. To his family he was most devoted, spending all of his leisure hours at home, and he was never away from home but once in all of his married life. For twenty-two years of his life he was a patient sufferer, having had a stroke of paralysis. He was a most temperate man in all that he did and never used into.xicants in any form. He displayed many sterling traits of character, and his many friends and neighbors spoke of him in terms of high regard and since his death have cherished his memory.
As printed in Story of Lee County, Iowa; (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1905. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.