|
a.
|
Note: Lisa A. Baggett notes from discussions with Herbert Sims, Mary Lea Sims and Miriam Dark Sims, Annie Laura Sims Porter, Claudia Welch and Jane Harvell during April, 2002. Also reviewing letters retained by Claudia.
Claudia never married however, had numerous suitors based on the letters that still remain in the family to date.
From personal letter retained by Claudia, during the spring of 1884, her admirer was Fred. A. Franks.
Fred, whose real name was Fredrick A. Franks, was born 6/13/1861 and died 8/9/1891 and the age of 30.
From Historic Tales of Talladega, page 194:
RENFROE Although a number of cultured pioneer families settled in the community in pioneer days, the town Renfroe was not founded until 1884, when D. W. Rogers & Co., erected large saw and planing mills there. The original post office was located several miles west of the present site (original site was near the railroad crossing on Renfroe Tower Road. It was then moved to the current Concord Church location on Renfroe Road. Today, 2002, the original post office safe is located in front of the church). A post office was operated a Renfroe, until 1956. The town was incorporated 2/22/1887, with about 1,000 inhabitants, most of whom had some connection with the lumber Milles. The census of 1880 was 400; 1890-202; 1900-180 and 191--85.
F. A. and W. M. Franks (F. A. is Claudia's admirer whose real name was Fredrick A. Franks; his brother was W. M. Franks born 10/7/1866 died 12/12/1940) were associated with D. W. Rogers & Bo., but in 1889 embarked in the lumber business for themselves nearer Stemley. The Huron Lumber Co., also located in Renfroe.
The Rogers and Franks industries were the direct reasons for the building of the short railroad line through Renfroe. From the time the railroad was open to the public, Renfroe became a rendezvous for pioneers. There was a lake of clear water, with artistic bridges from bank to bank of islets which dotted the lake.
The mills ceased operations in a few years; the lake was drained an "An Act to repeal an Act to incorporate the Town of Renfroe,in Talladega Co., AL: was approved December 8, 1900. Therefore, as a manufacturing town officially died on that date.
Fred also was also Treasurer for the Talladega & Coosa Valley RR company and therefore a very prominent individual in Renfroe. A sample of his letters to Claudia:
April 26, 1884
Dear Miss Claudia Sims:
Kind friend I regret very much to have disappointed you last eve but I was called away from the mill and did not get back until late in the eve. I hope this explanation is satisfactory and you will excuse me and I would be pleased to call Sunday afternoon, if agreeable.
Your Friend,
Fred A. Franks
May 24, 1884
Miss Claudia Sims:
Kind Friend yours of the 20th to hand and contents noted. I send a letter and a small package that came by express thinking you would want it also.
Am glad to hear you are having a gay time in Talladega - and, not get off to attend the festival if I had I know I would have had a gay time.
I send your stamps to you. I know you think I have acted shabbily about them.
Your Friend,
Fred A. Franks
Not Dated: Assume July 2, 1884
Miss Claudia Sims at Home:
Dear Friend, we are expecting to have a picnic here tomorrow July 3rd and would be glad to have you and your sisters with us. I think there will be a crowd from Talladega out and and we want to have a gay time.
Your Friend,
Fred A. Franks
Exactly what happened between Fred and Claudia after that summer is not known. There are 2 other letters dated the summer of 1884 from Julia (I believe it is Julia Cruikshank a daughter of either Marcus or Cyrus Cruikshank. This would Lizzie's niece and Claudia's first cousin.) Julie was living in the plantation Sunny Side in Alpine Alabama. Several quotes from her letters are:
May 12, 1884
You accused me of cheating you out of Mr. Franks. Not so, so many of the girls are "casting sheep eyes" at him that I have about come of the conclusion that it is useless to waste my ammunition on such high game. I know I could never catch him, with you to run against me.
June 20, 1884
"Now what has become of Mr. F? I have not seen him in a long long time. He and Mr. B came down to the party the night before they had it."
One thing is known that Fredrick is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, Talladega, AL, next to Sallie N. F. Rogers Franks; Born 4/26/1865 Died 11/6/1941. Also next to them is: F. Richmond Franks Born 2/14/1887 Died: 4/16/1913. Note that Sallie was a Rogers and one can readily assume she was the daughter of D. W. Rogers, of whom the Franks were in business with. So, it is presumed that Fred that the "bosses daughter" won and married Fred. They had one son, Richmond before his death in 1891. Fred's cause of death is not known. Also buried at Oak Hill is Fred's brother W. M. (1866-1941) and W. M.'s wife Mittie (1871-1931).
Another note saved simply says "Compliments of Albert Montgomery to Miss Claudia Sims" so assume package accompanied noted.
September 1883 a Mr. Burgess Olegetree wrote:
Miss Sims: I would be pleased to call and see you home this evening at 3 o'clock. Very respectfully, Burgess Ogletree
The Ogletree's were also a very prominent family in the county; originating from Virgina also.
From other letters that Claudia retained, she was a very popular lady in her early 20's. She received chatty and affectionate letters from friends and relatives. It appears that she had quite a sense of adventure and humor in those early days.
One can only assume that she took a more serious stand in her late 20's and early 30's as she was the oldest child and the responsibility of maintaining the farm and income fell on her shoulders in her fathers later years. Reminder, Henry, her father, was 57 when she was born. Henry was bedridden the last 6 years of his life and died when Claudia was 38. So from her early 30's I assume she was firmly in charge of a very large plantation with many responsibilities; including planting, shipping and selling cotton; a primary income producer for the family.
At the time of Henry's illness and death, I do not know what the exact size of the plantation was at this time, but at one point, it was over 1000 acres.
In Claudia's later years, she was known as a "nice and very intelligent" lady. I was told that she rode the plantation wearing guns, so I assume she was also a very strong and assured individual. Many others have stated and therefore confirmed for me that Claudia did indeed run the plantation while riding a white horse and wearing guns. She intended to get a fair day's work from everyone involved in the plantation.
During this time however, neither she nor Aunt Eunice had means to travel into town for provisions, etc. So every Saturday a Mr. Searcy took them into town. It has been told to me that Mr. Searcy asked for compensation for this effort and that "Miss" Claudia gave him a penny. She must have managed her money as strictly and tightly as she did the plantation.
Claudia and Eunice continued to live in the family home until it burned in circa 1936. I asked Memaw about the home and she said it "showed the social status" of the family as the home was dignified, formally and expensively furnished. The fire that burned the home is believed to have started in the house directly behind the main house which in those days was the kitchen. Eunice and Claudia were home at the time and with help managed to remove many personal items (the archives we have today) and furniture. Memaw said that from her back yard she could see the smoke and told her husband, Hugh, (nephew of Claudia/Eunice) that the main house was on fire. They quickly got to the scene and Memaw said that was one of only a few times in which she approached Claudia and hugged her.
Claudia and Eunice rebuilt the home but not the same design. Memaw said the new home, on the old site, was more "modern" in its look. While the home was being rebuilt, they lived in a house that was located in one of their fields.
Claudia died at the age of 79 and 6 months and is buried next to her sisters Eunice and Mildred and next to her mother, Lizzie.
Claudia's estate, filed in Talladega County, AL, 4th April 1941, was valued at $3,500. Living heirs included: J. T. Sims (brother, over 21, Alpine), Eunice C. Sims and Mrs. Mildred S. Mcdonald (sister, over 21, Alpine/Renfroe), children of deceased sister Mrs. Jannette Sims Cook, Mrs. M. J. Cole (niece, Heflin), Mrs. Elizabeth Capps (niece, Alpine), Malcolm Cook (nephew, Talladega) all over 21, children of deceased brother, Herbert L. Sims, Hugh Sims (nephew, Renfroe), Mrs. Lalia Hethcox (Neice, Talladega), heirs of half-brother of Dr. A. G. Sims, Henry Porter Sims (nephew, Renfroe), Ruth L. Sims (niece, Renfroe), Dr. A. G. Sims, Jr (nephew, Edgewater, AL), Claude Sims (nephew, Centre, AL), Dr. J. A. Sims (nephew, Fairfield, AL), Margaret Sims (niece, Renfroe), M. S. Adams , the only child of Louise Sims Adams, deceased who was the daughter of A. G. Sims, children of Katherine Sims Wikle, deceased daughter of Dr. A. G. Sims, R. M. Wikle, Jr..,(Camp Blanding, FL), Frances Wikle Scarbrough, Atlanta, Maragret Wikle, minor over 14 residing at Renfroe with her aunt, R. L. Sims, and the children of a deceased half-brother James H. Sims, who reside out West.
Lisa Allen Baggett March 2003
|
