Sims, Jacob (1850-1931)

SIMS

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 1/21/2009 at 14:11:01

Jacob Sims
Nov 30, 1850 - Jan 20, 1931

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.53, Council Bluffs)
Jacob Sims, attorney, Council Bluffs, was born November 30, 1850, at Dodgeville, Iowa Co., Wis. He served a full apprenticeship at the wagon and carriage making trade, and after learning the trade attended Lawrence University, Appleton, Wis., graduating there in the class of 1874, and taking first honors of his class in full classical course. After graduating, he filled the position of Principal of High School at Oconto, Wis., for one year, and then engaged in newspaper business as editor of the "Statesman" of Milwaukee, Wis. After leaving that paper, he became editor and proprietor of the "Citizen" of Minneapolis, Minn. He came to Council Bluffs in March, 1878; read law with B. F. Montgomery; admitted to the bar in January, 1879; commenced practice forthwith here, and has continued in practice ever since; was attorney for Pottawattamie County during the years 1880-81. Both his parents were born in England; his father has been a Methodist minister for over twenty-five years. Mr. Sims is editor-in-chief of the "Daily Monitor", a Republican organ recently founded in Council Bluffs.

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.262)
JACOB SIMS, attorney at law, of the firm of SIMS & SAUNDERS, is one of the representative members of the bar of Council Bluffs. The present firm was formed September 1, 1890, but Mr. SIMS has been a member of the bar of Pottawattamie County since January 1, 1879. His partner is Mr. C. G. SAUNDERS.
Mr. SIMS is a native of Wisconsin, having been born in Dodgeville, that state, November 30, 1850. His father, Rev. James SIMS, a well-known pioneer Methodist clergyman of that state, within whose borders he has preached for forty years, was until September 1890 the minister in charge at Prairie du Chien, but is now a resident of Council Bluffs, having retired from active work in the ministry. He is a native of Cornwall, England, but came to America when a young man. Mr. SIMS’ mother is also a native of England. He is the oldest of eight surviving children and is also the only son. Two brothers died in early life.
Mr. SIMS entered Lawrence University at Appleton, his native State, at the age of eighteen years. After spending one year in the preparatory department of this institution, he entered upon the regular classical college course, graduating in 1874. He then entered upon the profession of teaching, and was for a year principal of the Oconto High School. Deciding to enter the newspaper field, he went to Milwaukee, and was for some time on the editorial staff of a paper in that city. Then going to Minneapolis, he was engaged in the newspaper business for two and a half years; he then came to Council Bluffs and entered the law office of B.F. MONTGOMERY, Esq., a well-known lawyer of that city and was admitted January 4, 1879. He was for nearly four years associated with Hon. J.W. STONE, under the firm name of STONE & SIMS. Mr. STONE is the present Attorney General for the State of Iowa. The firm of SIMS & SAUNDERS is one of the prominent law firms of Council Bluffs.
Mr. SIMS is a finely educated gentleman, and was ever an earnest student. He took first honors of his class at college, being honored with the valedictory. He ever manifests the same earnest industry in his professional calling that characterized his career at college. On January 11, 1887, Mr. SIMS was united in marriage with Miss Anna H. SQUIRE, who before her marriage was a successful teacher a number of years. Mrs. SIMS is a daughter of the late Daniel SQUIRE, of Ottumwa, Iowa, who died in February 1890. He was formerly of Rockford, Illinois, where his body lies buried. Mrs. SIMS was born and educated in Rockford. Her mother is still a resident of Ottumwa. Mr. And Mrs. SIMS have three children, a son and two daughters – James Daniel, Mariana, and Katharine.

(from Biographies and Portraits of Progressive Men of Iowa…, by Gue & Shambaugh, 1899, vol.2, p.411)
Jacob Sims, of Council Bluffs, lawyer, writer and educator, was born at Dodgeville, Iowa County, Wisconsin, November 30, 1850. He entered Lawrence University at Appleton, Wisconsin, at the age of eighteen, spent one year in the preparatory department and then took the full four years’ classical course, graduating with the highest honors of his class in 1874. During his junior year at this institution he won the president’s prize for excellence in English composition. For one year following graduation he was principal of the public schools at Oconto, Wisconsin. During the summer and fall of 1875 he was on the editorial staff of a Milwaukee newspaper, then went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he edited and published “The Citizen” until the spring of 1878. The Citizen was a weekly family paper of general circulation throughout the state. In April 1878, he began the study of law in the office of Montgomery & Scott at Council Bluffs, and in January 1879, was admitted to the bar, since which time he has been in the general practice. He was a member of the firm of Stone & Sims from November 1886 to the summer of 1890, the firm being composed of Hon. John Y. Stone and himself, at which time he formed a partnership with C. G. Saunders, which continued until the fall of 1892, when Mr. Saunders was succeeded by W. E. Bainbridge, the firm continuing under the name of Sims & Bainbridge. Mr. Sims has a most excellent standing in the profession, gained by honorable methods before the bar, courteous and fair treatment of his brother lawyers, diligence in his studies and faithful attention to his business. He is strong and clear in argument before court or jury and has no superior as a trial lawyer in Western Iowa. He affiliates with the Republican Party, and, though an enthusiastic worker, has never held political office. Because of his experience and well-known fitness he was elected to a place on the school board of Council Bluffs in March 1897. He is a Mason and member of the Iowa State Bar Association; member of the Broadway Methodist Episcopal Church and superintendent of the Sunday School of that denomination in his home city. On January 11, 1887, Mr. Sims was united in marriage with Miss Anna H. Squire, who prior thereto was a successful teacher for a number of years in the Council Bluffs high School. Mrs. Sims is a daughter of the late Daniel Squire of Ottumwa, Iowa, who died in February 1890. Mrs. Sims was born and educated in Rockford, Illinois. Her mother is still a resident of Ottumwa. Mr. and Mrs. Sims have five children: James Daniel, Mariana, Katharine, Marjorie and John Alan Sims.
James Sims, the father of this subject, is a native of England, coming to this country in 1845. For thirty-six years he was a member of the Wisconsin and West Wisconsin Methodist Conferences. He came to Council Bluffs in 1890 to be near some of his children, and is still engaged in the ministry. His wife before marriage was Ann Harris. She also a native of England, but came to this country in 1847. She is still living. Her eldest brother, John Harris, made quite a name for himself as a writer in England, winning at one time the Shakespeare prize offered by Queen Victoria. Mr. and Mrs. Sims celebrated their golden wedding at Council Bluffs, June 24, 1897.