Robert Marcellus Mims1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 15974, (1845 - 1920)
FatherDavis Russer Mims4,1 (abt 1810 - )
MotherElizabeth Van Swearingen Cresap5 (1817 - bef 1850)

Key Events:

Birth: 27 Jan 1845, Eddyville, Kentucky6,7,8
Death: 29 Jun 1920, Atlanta, Cass Co., Texas1,9
Burial: 29 Jun 1920, O'Farrell Cemetery, O'Farrell, Texas1,10
ChartsDescendants of Linah and Rebeccah (Davis) Mims
AncestryThe Linah Mims - Rebecca Davis Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Robert Marcellus Mims was born on 27 Jan 1845 in Eddyville, Kentucky.6,7,8
     His mother died before 1850, when Robert was about 5 years old.11,12,13 He appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of District No. 1, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, in the household of Lawson Cash and Mariah Beck, whose relationship, if any, to him is unknown. His brother Davis was also listed in the household.14
     He moved to St. James, Arkansas, with his father before 1860.15 He appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Franklin Twp., Independence Co., Arkansas, in the household of his father.16
     Robert suffered from paralysis and was "most blind" from age four, and never married. The condition must have been partial, as he was reported as a farmer along with his older brothers in 1860, no doubt working on his father's farm. No occupation was reported for him in 1870, but he was reported to be a laborer in a garden in 1910. At his death he was reported to have no occupation and to be a confirmed invalid. His obituary reported that his brother Linah "looked after him and waited on him most of his life," but that seems questionable since he did not appear in any records with his brother until 1910.17,18,19,20,21
     Robert appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Ozark, Franklin Co., Arkansas, enumerated 1 Aug 1870, in the household of Gustavus Shepard, a farmer, and his family, with a housekeeper and farm hand. No occupation is shown for him, and he had no known relationship with that family, so why he was there is unclear.22
     Robert has not been found in the 1880 nor in the 1900 census. Robert moved to Texas, where his brother Linah was living, by 1910, and perhaps much earlier. He appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Cass Co., Texas, enumerated 18 Apr 1910.23
     Robert and his brother Linah appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Atlanta, Cass Co., Texas, enumerated 6 Jan 1920.24
     Robert died on 29 Jun 1920 in Atlanta, Cass Co., Texas, at age 75, at his home.1,9 He was buried on 29 Jun 1920 in O'Farrell Cemetery, O'Farrell, Texas.1,10
     
Research Note, 16 Nov 2014:

I have placed Byron, John, Linah, Robert and Davis as sons of Davis Mims and Elizabeth Van Swearingen despite some conflicting evidence. They appear in the 1860 census with Davis. Apparently after Elizabeth had died the three older boys were with Sarah Jane (Mims) Tyler, Davis's sister, and her husband in 1850. The two younger were with Lawson Cash and Mariah Beck, relationship not yet identified. Robert's death certificate, for which Linah was the informant, shows Davis as his father and his mother as Lizzie Chisterfer. There is no evidence of anyone by that surname in Caldwell Co. at the time, so I conclude that is simply in error. Linah's death certificate, for which his son Robert was informant, claims Linah's father was John Mims, and his mother's surname was Cobb. Jan Davis, a descendant of John, reports a family tradition that the boys were the sons of John H. Mims and Caroline Hanson Cresap. That is clearly not correct, as their eight children are documented by two reliable sources, which do not include any of these four boys.25,26,27,28,29,30

Citations

  1. [S5089] Robert Marsellas Mims, Standard Certificate of Death.
  2. [S1822] Lawson Cash household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows name as Marcellus Mims.
  3. [S980] Davis R. Mims household, 1860 U.S. Census, Independence Co., Arkansas, shows name as Robert M. Mims.
  4. [S980] Davis R. Mims household, 1860 U.S. Census, Independence Co., Arkansas, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  5. [S225] I assume Elizabeth is the mother of Robert, since it appears that Davis was his father, and she is the only known wife of Davis.
  6. [S5089] Robert Marsellas Mims, Standard Certificate of Death, shows date, town, and state.
  7. [S1822] Lawson Cash household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows age 4 and state.
  8. [S980] Davis R. Mims household, 1860 U.S. Census, Independence Co., Arkansas, shows age 15 and state.
  9. [S7548] Robert Mims obituary, The Citizens Journal, shows died Tuesday, at his home, in the city.
  10. [S7548] Robert Mims obituary, The Citizens Journal, shows buried Tuesday and cemetery.
  11. [S569] M. M. Tyler household, 1850 U.S. Census, Trigg Co., Kentucky, shows Bryon, John, and Linah in the household.
  12. [S1971] Caldwell Co. Order Book, G:358, shows her husband appointed constable 19 Mar 18949; and G:387, shows him resigned as constable 20 Aug 1849.
  13. [S1822] Lawson Cash household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows Robert and Davis in the household.
  14. [S1822] Lawson Cash household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.
  15. [S7498] Hardison, "Re: Mims - LaFerry Family in your Ancestry tree," e-mail to author, 1 Jul 2017, shows location they lived, citing interview with man now age 105 whose family lived next to them. In email same subject 2 Jul 2017 explains present name of community.
  16. [S980] Davis R. Mims household, 1860 U.S. Census, Independence Co., Arkansas.
  17. [S980] Davis R. Mims household, 1860 U.S. Census, Independence Co., Arkansas, shows occupation as farmer.
  18. [S5100] Shepard Gustavus household, 1870 U.S. Census, Franklin Co., Arkansas, no entry for occupation.
  19. [S1207] Robert M. Mimms household, 1910 U.S. Census, Cass Co., Texas, shows occupation as laborer, industry as garden.
  20. [S5089] Robert Marsellas Mims, Standard Certificate of Death, shows paralysis from childhood, no occupation, and invalid.
  21. [S7548] Robert Mims obituary, The Citizens Journal, shows invalid and blindness, and cared for by Linah.
  22. [S5100] Shepard Gustavus household, 1870 U.S. Census, Franklin Co., Arkansas.
  23. [S1207] Robert M. Mimms household, 1910 U.S. Census, Cass Co., Texas.
  24. [S1206] Lina Mims household, 1920 U.S. Census, Cass Co., Texas.
  25. [S980] Davis R. Mims household, 1860 U.S. Census, Independence Co., Arkansas, shows Davis with Bryon, John, Linah, Robert, and Davis Jr., apparently living as father and sons.
  26. [S5089] Robert Marsellas Mims, Standard Certificate of Death, shows father as Davis Russer Mims, mother as Lizzie Chisterfer.
  27. [S2073] Linah Mims, Standard Certificate of Death, shows father as John Mims, and mother's maiden namea as ----- Cobb.
  28. [S5082] Davis, in "Robert MIMS b. 1763 KY," listserve message 29 Jun 2003.
  29. [S2003] John Mims Family Bible.
  30. [S736] Cresap and Cresap, History of the Cresaps.