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THOMAS A. SIMS, a horticulturist, resides on section 33, Gardner Township. His farm comprises fifty acres of arable land and he devotes hid energies to general farming, stock raising and fruit growing. Seven acres are planted in fruits of all kinds adapted to this climate and the product of tree and vine he takes to market in Springfield, from which his home is situated eight miles distant.

Mr. Sims is a native of Virginia. He was born in Culpeper County, now Rappahannock County, October 3, 1835, and is the oldest in a family of twelve children whose parents were James G. and Lucy A. (Shackleford) Sims. His grandfather, Oliver Cromwell Sims, was also born in Culpeper county and served in the War of 1812. Emigrating Westward, he located in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1836, and devoted himself to farming for twenty-one years. In 1857, he came to this county and spent the remainder of his days in Gardner Township, his death occurring in 1872, at the very advanced age of ninety-seven years. He was a prominent citizen and his courteous and gentlemanly demeanor, combined with a genial nature, won him many friends.

James G. Sims followed farming in his native State until 1837, when he too became a resident of Muskingum County, Ohio. At the breaking out of the late war, although his age would have exempted him from military service, he was prompted by patriotic impulses to enlist and became a member of the Seventy-eighth Ohio Infantry. He served until the close of the war and after his return removed to this county, locating in Curran Township where he is still living at the age of eighty years. In Virginia he married Miss Shackleford, daughter of Zachariah Shackleford, a wealthy planter of the Old Dominion. A book which he purchased in 1825 - The Life of David Brainard - is now in possession of our subject. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Sims are Thomas, whose name heads this sketch; William who died in the West; George J. and John R. who are living in Curran Township; Savilla who became Mrs. Sterling and died in Gardner Township; Mrs. Nancy Searcy, of Gardner Township; Mrs. Lucy A. Ives, of Curran Township; Charles H. who died in Ohio; and Austin, of Curran Township.

When a babe of a year Thomas A. Sims was taken by his grandparents to Ohio, where in the usual manner of farmer lads his boyhood days were passed. His education was acquired in a log schoolhouse such as were common at that day, with its slab seats, puncheon floor and greased paper windows. In the spring of 1856, the family started for Illinois and near Bloomington Mr. Sims was employed at breaking prairie with ox-teams during one season. Before leaving Ohio, he had learned the cooper's trade and also the trade of a potter, which occupation he followed in the Buckeye State for five years. He became quite an expert in that line and could turn anything in the shape of crockery. The autumn of 1856 witnessed his arrival in this county and during the two succeeding winters he was employed in a cooper's shop while in the summer he worked as a farm hand.

On the 14th of August, 1862, Mr. Sims enrolled his name among the boys in blue of Company I, One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Infantry. The regiment was mustered in at Camp Butler, sent southward to Memphis and shortly afterwards went to Milliken's Bend. Joining the Thirteenth Army Corps, the troops were then under fire at Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge and participated in the long but victorious siege of Vicksburg. Mr. Sims enlisted as a private but was soon made corporal and after the capture of the city was promoted to the rank of sergeant. With his company he also took part in the Jackson campaign. After a thirty days furlough he rejoined his regiment at New Orleans, the regiment doing the duty in the South from October, 1863, until the following March. It then engaged in the Banks expedition and at the battle of Sabine Cross Roads on the 8th of April, Mr. Sims was taken prisoner and sent to Camp Ford near Tyler, Tex. He was forced to march all the way and on reaching that place was confined in a stockade for thirteen months and fourteen days. He was paroled by an order received by telegraph from Washington after the close of the war, and went to Shreveport, whence he made his way to St. Louis and on to Springfield, where he was honorably discharged June 27, 1865, after three years of active service, during which he was ever found at his post of duty, faithfully defending the old flag.

After his return, Mr. Sims operated a rented farm for about twelve years when he purchased fifty acres in Gardner Township, his present home. Through the efforts of the owner a great transformation has taken place, the land now being divided into rich and fertile fields, while a good dwelling and barns greatly enhance the value of the property. For a helpmate on life's journey, Mr. Sims chose Miss Mary E. Robson, their union being celebrated in Springfield, September 10, 1857. The lady was born in Curran Township, and is a daughter of David P. and Lucy Robson. Her father was one of the earliest settlers of this section of the State, coming to the county from Kentucky in 1819. He was a son of Edward Robson who was born in Loudoun County, Va., but in his youth removed to Nelson County, Ky., where he learned and followed the hatter's trade. He married Jane Hanley of Virginia and they removed to Polk County, whence they came to Sangamon County. Their last days were spent on the Seth Wickham farm in Gardner Township. Their son David, father of Mrs. Sims, was born in Caldwell County, Ky., March 6, 1816, and at the age of five years was brought to Illinois. In 1836, he married Lucy Sims and upon a farm in Curran Township they began their domestic life. He was a faithful member of the Methodist church, an active worker in the Master's vineyard and died in 1876.

Mrs. Sims was the second in a family of ten children and her birth occurred September 25, 1840, in Curran Township. The children born to our subject and his wife are James P., now a teacher of Riverton, who was educated in Valparaiso, Ind., Lucy A., wife of F. Lamberson of Chicago; Mary E., wife of H. W. Jameson of Gardner; Jennie A., at home; George J. who is engaged in the grocery business at Chicago; Martha T., Marion T., Eunice, Almeda and Charles H. They also lost one child, Albert, who died at the age of two years. In political sentiment, Mr. Sims is a stanch Republican, having supported that party since its organization. He is a School Director, which position he has filled for twenty years and from 1877 until 1879, inclusive, he served as Collector. He is a charter member of Hope Lodge, No. 3055, F.M.B.A., in which he holds the office of President. An honest up-right life has won him the confidence and good will of the community and he is numbered among the representative citizens of Gardner Township.