Rufus K. Mims

Narrative:

     Rufus K. Mims was born in 1821 in Christian Co., Kentucky.^4,5,6
     He was named an heir in the will of his grandmother Jane Clendenin dated 10 Jul 1824, to receive a child of a young slave given to his brother Davis.¹⁴
     His mother died between 1828 and Jun 1830, when Rufus was about 8 years old.^15,16,17,18 He was probably the male age 5 to 10 listed in the household of his father, Linah Mims, in the 1830 Federal Census of Christian Co., Kentucky.¹⁹
     Rufus apparently moved to Caldwell Co., were his older brother, John, was living. He had moved there before 1830, and had prospered there. It seems likely that he and all his surviving siblings moved to brother John's household not long after 1830, perhaps after he married in the fall of 1831.^19,20
     He appears on the tax rolls in Caldwell Co. in 1844 through 1848, reporting owning a horse valued at $50 in most of those years, but no other taxable property (later rolls have not been examined.)²¹
     Rufus married Geraldine L. Jacob, daughter of Arnold Jacob and Cynthia Sprigg, on 20 Dec 1847 in Caldwell Co., Kentucky.^7,8,9

Taking on Guardianship of Nephews and Nieces --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     The Caldwell Co. Court appointed Rufus guardian for the four minor children of Augustus F. Jacob, his new wife's older brother. He posted a $3,000 bond.²² It seems Rufus took on a challenging task. According to the preamble of a bill enacted the preceding 25 Feb 1848 by the Kentucky General Assembly, his brother-in-law "died somewhat embarrassed, leaving a tract of land in Caldwell county...containing, by deed, 190 acres...and some slaves, among them a negro man named Peter, of bad temper, subject to intoxication and running away, so that he was not more than half his time in the employment of his owner." The act authorized the children's guardian to petition to sell the land and Peter and directed the court to approve that request.²³
     Rufus and Geraldine appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of District No. 1, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, enumerated 14 Sep 1850, reporting real estate of $3100, and four slaves, a 40-year-old female and an 11-year-old male, and females aged 9 and 5. Their daughter Luella was listed as living with them, as was Mary Harris, age 19.^2,24
     Apparently Rufus was not diligent about filing the required accounting of his wards' assets. He was one of a long list of guardians presented at the 19 Apr 1852 meeting of the Caldwell Co. County Court who had not filed inventories of their wards' estates. They were ordered to do so before the next term. He apparently did, as his case was dismissed at the next meeting.²⁵
     Rufus was again called to task on matter when the County Court issued him a summons on 21 Feb 1853 for failure to file a settlement of the estate, ordering him to do so by the next meeting. But the process was returned unexecuted at the next three meeting of the Court. Finally, at the 18 Jul 1853 meeting the matter was apparently resolved as the case was dismissed with costs to be paid by the plaintiff, his brother-in-law Everard P. Jacob.²⁶
     Rufus and Geraldine appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky, enumerated 23 Jul 1860, with her reporting real estate valued at $3000, personal estate valued at $2500, and two slaves, a male age 21 and a female age 20, in one slave house. Their children Luella and Lilian were listed as living with them.^27,28
     Rufus was listed as a merchant in 1850 and as a merchant's clerk in 1860.^29,30
     His wife died on 18 Jun 1862.^31,32

Moving on After Death of His Wife --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Rufus has not been found in the 1870 census. His daughters were in Paducah in the household of Arthur J. Patterson and his mother Elvira E. Jacob, who was his late wife's elder sister. Rufus may have already gone to Arkansas where his brother Davis was living. He too has not been found in the 1870 census.³³
     Rufus died in Feb 1880 probably in Logan Co., Arkansas, of pneumonia.^10,6,11 He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky, with his wife.^12,13
     Rufus appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Roseville Twp., Logan Co., Arkansas, enumerated 8 Jun 1880, in the household of Jake and Millie Holzman and their family. His entry was then crossed out, having apparently been entered in error since he had died the previous February.³⁴