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Some of the information on the Sims family is taken from the book, "The Pariss Sims Family & Related Families 1765-1965" by Almon J. Sims. While this is a wonderful book and an invaluable resource, I take it with a grain of salt because the information on my grandmother in that book is not entirely accurate (he put that she died in 1955 instead of the correct 1958, and that her daughter was Ann when, in fact, she's Ida Ann).

To jump straight to photographs, click here: pics

Click on image to enlarge. Once enlarged, to zoom, move cursor to right of image, back onto image, and click again. Check Lyda Sue's photo album c WWI for more possible photos (none identified).

Leslie, Lyda, Paul	man might be Paul Sims	His parents, looks like same day (from his sister Lyda's scrap book)
His nephew says might be Paul

Recollection by his nephew:

Aunt Susie worked in a florist's shop and seemed not to fit the pattern for what married women did in those days (the 1930s). She had a sharp tongue and very, very neat house. She also had a dog, which was an anomaly in those days. I was a somewhat irritable and unpleasant dog that barked at me. Their son Paul Virgil was nice to me, but he was too old to be considered anything but an adult, practically useless for entertainment. He built beautiful balsa wood and paper model airplanes, planes that really flew, but were too delicate to play with.

1900 census, Crockett County TN, Civil District 9.

"James" Sims, age 38,  born Jun 1861 in TN (doesn't list where his parents were born), married 10 years, occupation: physician

Wife Effie A., age 28, born Jan. 1872 in TN of a father born in Indiana and a mother born in TN, married 10 years

Son Robt L, age 9, born January 1892

Son Paul, age 7, born Dec. 1893

According to information about his brother, Paul, Leslie and their father founded a newspaper in Kentucky within three years of 1909.

May, 8, 1913 issue of the Tri-County News (edited by his brother Leslie, full info and citation under Leslie Sims): "Paul Sims of the Henry Progress visited his parents, Dr. and Mrs. J.P. Sims last week."

June 26, 1913, Tri-County News: "Paul Sims of Henry, Tenn. is here visiting his parents and taking a little vacation. He is manager of the composing room of the Henry Progress." (Mention is made of him visiting his parents again Sept. 11, 1913.)

Sept. 25, 1913, Tri-County News: "Paul Sims of Henry has been at the bedside of his sister, Miss Lida Sue has been been quite sick." (9-18 issue said, "Miss Lida Sue Sims has been quite sick for several days.") The October 2 issue reports that he "returned to Henry Sunday."

His visits continue at the rate of about once a month, but the reference from Dec. 18, 1913 refers to him as "Paul Sims of Maury City," and the Christmas issue refers to "Paul Sims of the Crockett County Republican at Maury City" visiting in Henry, TN.

1917 draft registration for Paul Miller Sims of Henry TN, born 12-2-1893 in Crockett Mills. Occupation: printer for Rush and Burkhaller of McKenzie TN. Blue eyes, dark brown hair, tall and slender. Reason for exemption: support of wife and child.

1929 baby book of his nephew, LC Hardison shows gifts of "sox" from Paul Virgil Sims and a baby book from "Uncle Paul and Aunt Sue Sims."

From "The Pariss Sims Family and Related Families 1765-1965" by Almon J. Sims (1965), p. 111: "Paul Sims, Leslie's younger brother, was editor of the States Graphic, Brownsville, Tenn,, until his death in1962. Paul had one son, Paul Virgil, an engineer in Brownsville. In my work at the University of Tennessee I was closely associated with Paul for many years. He was an able leader and a power in the State Press Association, as expressed in the following resolution, issued by the Haywood County Court and printed in the Congressional Record at the request of Cong. Robert E. Everett:

    "Whereas, the unexpected news of the untimely death of Paul Sims came as a distinct shock to the people throughout Haywood County and to his host of friends throughout the entire state...for more than 40 years he had been associated with the States Graphic of Brownsville, having begun his connection there as a printer and over a period of years came to be elevated to vice-president and editor of the paper which enjoys an enviable reputation for its reporting the news and its splendid and thought provoking editorials...was a past president of the Tennessee Press Association and the Brownsville Rotary Club,; past secretary of the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce; a former member of the Board of Aldermen and Mayor of Brownsville; an Elder in the Church of Christ and teacher of Men's Bible Class; member of the Masonic Lodge; listed in the 1961 edition of 'Who's Who in Tennesssee,' and a member of Council of Boy Scouts, all of which activities bespeak of his interest and efforts in the promotion of the religious and political life of his town and country... Whereas, in the death of Paul Sims not only Brownsville, Haywood County and the State of Tennessee, but the Nation as a whole has lost one of its great benefactors and his influence will be felt and appreciated in years to come; now, therefore, be it resolved by the County Court of Haywood County in regular session that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the said Court..."

Paul Sims died in January 1962 in Alamo, TN. He was editor of the Brownsville States Graphic.

"The editorials in the Brownsville States-Graphic from 1960 though June 1962 were generally written by Paul Miller Sims, whose death was reported on July 6, 1962. He was born in Crockett Mills, the son of Dr. John and Effie Amos Sims, but had lived in Brownsville since 1917. He was married to Miss Susie Lee Grabel in 1914. He was a member of the Church of Christ and had been an elder of the church for 36 years." (quoted from footnotes for a paper posted on the internet at this address https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/dspace/bitstream/1887/9756/19/Notes.pdf )