The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1902-05-26
An OLD LANDMARK REMOVED
Fitting Tribute 10 = Pioneer
Citizen.

The funeral services of Mr.. Mich
olas P. Sims, who departed this life
Saturday afternoon, were held yes
terday afternoon at two O'Clock at
the residence of Judge O. K. Dun
lap in West End. The last sad
rites were conducted by Rev. c. r.
Wright, pastor of the Methodist
church, assisted by Rev. A. Davis,
who has been an intimated friend OF
Mr.. Sims for fifty years. Rev.
Davis paid fitting tribute to the
life and character of the deceased
A large crowd attended the funeral
] exercises at the home and then fol-
| lowed the remains to the Bethel
cemetery where they were laid to
rest at five O'Clock.
Nature seems to regard not the
| law of Moses, which says, remove
not the landmark" One by one the
old landmarks Of Ellis county are
being removed from the walks of
men and it is but fitting that some
| words should be written in their
memory.
When Mr.. Nicholas Sims laid
| down the burdens of life and passed
into the great beyond Ellis county
| lost one of her nOblest and truest
citizens. The writer of this did not
know Mr.. Sims personally but his
| friends tell us that he was one OF
the most unselfish men they ever
| knew. Self was never first with
him. except when there was work TO
do or a sacrifice to make. He was
| a modest and transformations man
and never sought credit for the work
he did nor asked praise for the sac
rifice after it was made. There are
many people in this city and Ellis
county who can bear personal testi-
mony to the truthfulness OF this
statement, not from what they have
heard, but from what they know in
dividually. The measure Of an
others needs and the limit of his
ability were the only things he con
sidered. He loved his fellownan
and helped him all he could. He
loved his God and served him faith
fully and we'll, even though he did
it so quietly that it attracted little
attention among men. Many
dropping spirit has he cheered and
many a faint heart has he strength
ened along life's way. How well he
succeeded, only those who have been
closest associated with him know
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Ten years ago the following bio
graphical sketch of Mr.. Sims ap
peared in "a History of Ellis
County"
Nicholas p. Sims, one of the CON
spicuous figures in the early settle
ment of Ellis county, is a native OF
Virginia, born near Richmond in
1906. He Is the third of family OF
eight, and is son of John Sims,
who removed from Virginia to Ten
nessee in 1907. The first member Of
the family to emigrate to America
was probably Brewster Sims, who
came from Germany and settled in
Virginia. William Sims, grand
father Of Nicholas P, was colonel
In the Revolutionary war, but his
fathers only military distinction
consisted in his being a captain OF a
: militia company, Nicholas +. mad
very limited opportunities for Sc
curing an education, his being the
day of log school houses, puncheon
: benches and poor teachers. How
2 ever, he improved every moment,
] and at the age OF Il years began
teaching school, which business
had not then been elevated 70 the
. dignities of profession; he fol-
2 flowed his calling for three years,
and then engaged in agricultural
pursuits on very limited scale.
In the fall of 1888 he removed to
Mississippi and located near oxford
9 where he Guilty ated the soil for IL
wears. At the end of that period he
removed to Texas and settled in Ell
! lis county. He purchased a tract
! of land on Chambers creek, and
g lived there until his failing strength
forbade his continuing active labor.
All of his farming operations have
: proved profitable, and he has at diff
ferent times owned large tracts OF
Hand in this county; he has however
/. disposed of all but 300 acres.
/ He has been Mason for "a
. years, having joined the order al
Mount Pleasant, Tenn. He was
; one of the seven who procured 8
charter for the Masonic Lodge al
oxford, Miss, and was one Of the
/, same number to procure charter
: for the same organization at Waxa'
hachie. He was not soldier in the
late war, but in common with al
Z, southerners lost heavily by the con
: fiict.
@ Az the ape nf ~ wears Mr.. Sims