Person Page 1,919

Catherine Wilks was born about 1860 in ArkansasG.^4,5 She appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Ozark, Franklin Co., ArkansasG, in the household of her parents, Minor Wilks and Mary.¹¹
     Catherine married first a Mr. Lewis, about 1878.^6,7
     Catherine and Mr. Lewis were divorced before 1880.⁷
     Catherine appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Clark Twp., Logan Co., ArkansasG, in the household of Davis R. Mims, widower of her older sister. Her son Rufus by her prior marriage was listed as living with them.¹²
     Catherine married second Davis R. Mims, son of Davis Russer Mims and Elizabeth Van Swearingen Cresap, and widower of her older sister Olevine, on 1 May 1881 in Logan Co., ArkansasG, with Charles E. Wasson, justice of the peace, officiating.^8,9
     Catherine died between 1888 and 1900.¹⁰

Rufus David Mims was born on 1 Mar 1879 in Logan Co., ArkansasG.^4,5,6 His name was recorded in 1880 as Louis Wilks, though it appears Louis was a enumerator's misinterpretation of Rufus The surname Wilks is his mother's maiden name, apparently re-adopted after her divorce from the boy's father.²
     Rufus appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Clark Twp., Logan Co., ArkansasG, in the household of Davis R. Mims, with his mother, Catherine Wilks.¹⁰
     It appears that Rufus was adopted by his step-father, Davis R. Mims, after he married the boy's mother. Whether it was done formally or not is unknown but in any case Rufus use the Mims surname the rest of his life and claimed Davis as his father in later life.
     Rufus appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Galley Rock Twp., Yell Co., Arkansas, G in the household of Davis R. Mims, his step-father.¹¹
     Rufus married Susan Dempsey on 30 Aug 1913 in Pulaski Co., ArkansasG, with J. H. Reynolds, justice of the peace, officiating.^7,8
     Rufus registered for the draft for World War I on 12 Sep 1918, while living at Keo, Pulaski Co., ArkansasG, reporting he was employed in farming by E. M. Favre.¹
     Rufus and Susan appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Maumelle Twp., Pulaski Co., Arkansas G, enumerated 16 Apr 1930, reporting that they owned a home valued at $1,000 and owned a radio. Their daughter Irene and her sons by her prior marriages, John and Arthur, were listed as living with them.¹²
     He was a farm laborer in 1900, and then became a farmer. In 1940 he reported his occupation as farming, but he was unemployed and seeking work. He reported he had worked 38 weeks the prior year, earning $300.^11,13,14
     Rufus and Susan appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Maumelle Twp., Pulaski Co., Arkansas G, enumerated 5 Apr 1940, reporting they owned a home valued at $60. Their widowed daughter Irene was listed as living with them, as was her three-year-old daughter Patricia.¹⁵
     Rufus registered for the draft for World War II on 27 Apr 1942, while living at Sweet Home, Pulaski Co., ArkansasG, reporting he was not employed.¹⁶
     Rufus died on 13 Aug 1945 in Sweet Home, Pulaski Co., ArkansasG, at age 66.⁹ He was buried on 14 Aug 1945 in Pine Grove Cemetery, Sweet Home, Pulaski Co., ArkansasG.⁹

Robert Linah Mims was born on 17 Oct 1883 in Logan Co., ArkansasG.^4,5,6
     His mother died between 1888 and 1900, when Robert was a child.¹⁴ He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Galley Rock Twp., Yell Co., Arkansas, G in the household of his father, Davis R. Mims.¹⁵
     Robert married first Bessie Webb, daughter of Whittington Berry Webb and Eulalia W. Stockton, on 14 Aug 1907 in Yell Co., ArkansasG, with Rev. W. H. Cloninger officiating.^7,8
     Robert and Bessie appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Galley Rock Twp., Yell Co., Arkansas G, enumerated 30 Apr 1910, reporting they were renting their farm. Their daughter Mildred was listed as living with them.¹⁶
     His wife died on 1 Aug 1917.¹⁷
     Robert registered for the draft for World War I on 12 Sep 1918, while living at England, Lonoke Co., ArkansasG, reporting he was employed as a farmer.¹
     Robert married second Dollie Lee, daughter of William Ruff Lee, on 27 Mar 1919 in Lonoke Co., ArkansasG, with Rev. R. R. Moore officiating.^9,10
     Robert and Dollie appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Boliver Twp., Jefferson Co., Arkansas, on Plum Bayou England Rd. G, enumerated 22 Jan 1920, reporting they were renting their farm. Her father was listed as living with them, identified as a lodger and shown as a farm laborer on a cotton farm, likely Robert's.¹⁸
     Robert and Dollie appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Indian Bayou Twp., Lonoke Co., Arkansas G, enumerated 23 Apr 1930, reporting they were renting their farm but did own a radio. Their three children were listed as living with them, as was her father.¹⁹
     Robert and Dollie appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Railroad Twp., Chicot Co., Arkansas, on Webb-James Landing Rd. G, enumerated 13 Apr 1940, reporting they were renting their home for $4 per month, and had lived in the same house in 1935. Their seven children, including John, Rufus, and Huey were listed as living with them.²⁰
     Robert registered for the draft for World War II on 27 Apr 1942, while living at Lake Village, Chicot Co., ArkansasG, reporting he was self-employed.²¹
     He was a farmer, on a cotton farm in 1920.^16,22,19,20
     Dollie died on 23 Feb 1977.^23,24
     Robert died on 2 Mar 1980 at age 96.^11,12 He was buried in Mulberry Cemetery, England, Lonoke Co., ArkansasG.¹³

Irene Mims was born in May 1888 in ArkansasG.^4,5,6
     Her mother died between 1888 and 1900, when Irene was an infant.¹¹ She appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Galley Rock Twp., Yell Co., Arkansas, G in the household of her father, Davis R. Mims.¹
     Irene married Ben F. Wirt, son of George L. Wirt and Anna Elizabeth, on 15 Jun 1905 in Yell Co., ArkansasG, with Rev. G. W. Hunnicutt officiating.^2,7,8
     Irene and Ben appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Dardanelle, Yell Co., Arkansas, G in the household of George L. Wirt and Anna Elizabeth, his parents. Their children, Selwyn, Anna, and George were listed as living with them.¹²
     Irene and Ben appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Dardanelle, Yell Co., Arkansas, at 303 Third St. G, enumerated 10 Jan 1920, reporting that they owned their home, free of mortgage. Their children Anna, George, and Kittie were listed as living with them, as was his mother.¹³
     Irene and Ben moved to Pope Co. before 1930. They appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Russellville, Pope Co., Arkansas, at 112 East 5th St. G, enumerated 12 Apr 1930, reporting they were renting their home, apparently part of a two-family building, for $25 per month. Their children George and Kittie were listed as living with them, as was his mother.¹⁴
     Irene and Ben returned to Yell Co. between 1935 and 1940. They appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Ola, Yell Co., Arkansas, on Fourch St. G, enumerated 10 Apr 1940, reporting they were renting their home, for $15 per month and had lived in Pope Co. in 1935. His mother was listed as living with them.¹⁵
     Irene died on 9 Jun 1958 in Little Rock, ArkansasG, at age 70.^9,6 She was buried in Brearley Cemetery, Dardanelle, Yell Co., ArkansasG, next to her husband.¹⁰

Ben F. Wirt was born on 23 Jan 1873 in AlabamaG.^4,5,6 It appears that his full name was Benjamin Franklin Wirt. However as an adult his name appears on records only as Ben or Ben F., and the latter was carved on his tombstone.^11,3
     Ben served in the Spanish-American War, in Company L, 2nd Regiment, Arkansas Volunteer Infantry. He served as 5th sergeant in the Company, which was also known as Frazier Rifles. He enlisted 13 May 1898.^12,13 With the declaration of war on Spain the Department of War requested that the Governor of Arkansas provide two regiments of National Guard troops, approximately 2,000 soldiers. The state had only two functional companies, so 20 companies of volunteers were organized from across the state. The 2nd Regiment was mustered into federal service 25 May 1898, at a makeshift training camp at College Ave. and 17th St., in Little Rock. G The camp was named Camp Dodge in honor of the family that donated the land for it.¹⁴
      The Regiment arrived at Camp George H. Thomas, Chickamauga, GeorgiaG, by the end of the month for basic training before its expected assignment to Cuba. The camp had just been established in part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, the country's first National Military Park. Conditions were primitive, described by one student of the camp as follows: Tents were "in short supply, and the men crowded 7 to 9 men in a tent measured 7 by 9 feet. The tents had no floors, there were no cots or beds, and the men had a single blanket each. There were no regular cooks or mess halls. Cooking was done over open fires and the soldiers had to find and cook their own meals. They then had to wash their own dishes, often without water, which was quite scarce at that time. Due to lack of sanitation, disease was rampant."^15,16
      The war in Cuba ended before the regiment was ready for combat. But during the four months the Regiment was at Camp George H. Thomas16 men were lost to disease.¹⁴ In Sep 1898 the Regiment was reassigned to Camp Shipp, Anniston, AlabamaG, where living conditions were somewhat better. However some members were involved in a race riot there, and were jailed by local officials for intoxication.¹⁴
     Ben was discharged with the rest of the unit 24 Feb 1899, in Anniston, AlabamaG. By that time the Regiment has lost one officer and 27 infantrymen to disease.^17,18
     Ben married Irene Mims, daughter of Davis R. Mims and Catherine Wilks, on 15 Jun 1905 in Yell Co., ArkansasG, with Rev. G. W. Hunnicutt officiating.^1,7,8
     He and Irene appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Dardanelle, Yell Co., Arkansas, G in the household of his parents, George L. Wirt and Anna Elizabeth. Their children, Selwyn, Anna, and George were listed as living with them.¹⁹
     Ben registered for the draft for World War I on 12 Sep 1918, while living at Dardanelle, ArkansasG, reporting he was employed as a credit man with Kaufman Merchandise Co. in Dardanelle.¹¹
     Ben and Irene appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Dardanelle, Yell Co., Arkansas, at 303 Third St. G, enumerated 10 Jan 1920, reporting that they owned their home, free of mortgage. Their children Anna, George, and Kittie were listed as living with them, as was his mother.²
     Ben was elected mayor of Dardanelle by the city council in May 1920 to fill the term Mayor George F. Upton who had resigned.²⁰ His term was short-lived however. He and all the alderman resigned in Oct 1920 because "of the financial embarrassment of the treasury" which was said to be absolutely empty. The situation seems to have been caused by the operation of the waterworks and power plant which had been sold four years before incurring a large loss. The expense of filling cave-ins around the sewer mains contributed to the problem.²¹
     Ben applied for a pension based on his service in the Spanish-American War on 28 Feb 1923. His pension was subsequently granted.¹²
     Ben and Irene moved to Pope Co. before 1930. They appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Russellville, Pope Co., Arkansas, at 112 East 5th St. G, enumerated 12 Apr 1930, reporting they were renting their home, apparently part of a two-family building, for $25 per month. Their children George and Kittie were listed as living with them, as was his mother.²²
     Ben and Irene returned to Yell Co. between 1935 and 1940. They appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Ola, Yell Co., Arkansas, on Fourch St. G, enumerated 10 Apr 1940, reporting they were renting their home, for $15 per month and had lived in Pope Co. in 1935. His mother was listed as living with them.²³
     He was a farmer in 1910, but by 1920 was a life insurance salesman.^24,25,26 He was a helper in a funeral home by 1940. That year he reported he had worked 20 hours the last week of March, and had worked 52 weeks the prior year, earning $800.²³
     Ben died in 1961 at age ~88.⁹ He was buried in Brearley Cemetery, Dardanelle, Yell Co., ArkansasG, next to his wife.¹⁰