Rufus David Mims1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 19182, (1879 - 1945)
Adoptive fatherDavis R. Mims5 (May 1848 - )
MotherCatherine Wilks4 (abt 1860 - btn 1888 - 1900)

Key Events:

Birth: 1 Mar 1879, Logan Co., Arkansas6,7,8
Marriage: 30 Aug 1913, Pulaski Co., Arkansas, Susan Dempsey (7 Nov 1880 - 15 Sep 1970)9,10
Death: 13 Aug 1945, Sweet Home, Pulaski Co., Arkansas11
Burial: 14 Aug 1945, Pine Grove Cemetery, Sweet Home, Pulaski Co., Arkansas11

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Rufus David Mims was born on 1 Mar 1879 in Logan Co., Arkansas.6,7,8 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., Arkansas, in the household of Davis R. Mims, with his mother, Catherine Wilks.12
     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, in the household of Davis R. Mims, his step-father.13
     Rufus married Susan Dempsey on 30 Aug 1913 in Pulaski Co., Arkansas, with J. H. Reynolds, justice of the peace, officiating.9,10
     Rufus registered for the draft for World War I on 12 Sep 1918, while living at Keo, Pulaski Co., Arkansas, 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, 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.14
     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 $300.13,15,16
     Rufus and Susan appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Maumelle Twp., Pulaski Co., Arkansas, 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.17
     Rufus registered for the draft for World War II on 27 Apr 1942, while living at Sweet Home, Pulaski Co., Arkansas, reporting he was not employed.18
     Rufus died on 13 Aug 1945 in Sweet Home, Pulaski Co., Arkansas, at age 66.11 He was buried on 14 Aug 1945 in Pine Grove Cemetery, Sweet Home, Pulaski Co., Arkansas.11
     
Research Note, 19 Nov 2014:
It appears that Rufus was the child recorded in the 1880 census as Louis Wilks, apparently the child of Catherine's first marriage. But he is shown in 1900 as Davis' son, and used the Mims surname throughout the rest of his life. His death certificate, for which it appears his daughter was the informant, shows David Mims as his father and his mother as "D K" - presumably for "don't know."19,20,11

Children:
     Child with Susan Dempsey:

  • Irene Mims14,17,21 (20 Dec 1915 - 1 May 2003)

Citations

  1. [S7560] Rufus David Mims, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.
  2. [S5086] David Mims household, 1880 U.S. Census, Logan Co., Arkansas, shows name as Louis Wilks.
  3. [S5092] Dave Mimms household, 1900 U.S. Census, Yell Co., Arkansas, shows name as Rufus Mimms.
  4. [S5086] David Mims household, 1880 U.S. Census, Logan Co., Arkansas, relationship omitted, they appear listed as if mother and child.
  5. [S5092] Dave Mimms household, 1900 U.S. Census, Yell Co., Arkansas, shows the boy as his son.
  6. [S5095] Rufus David Mims, Selective Service Registration Card, World War II, Fourth Registration, shows date, county, as Logan, and state.
  7. [S5086] David Mims household, 1880 U.S. Census, Logan Co., Arkansas, shows age 1 and state.
  8. [S5115] Rufus D. Rufus D. Mims, Certificate of Death, shows date, town, as Dardanelle [in Yell Co.], and state.
  9. [S7559] Marriages Records, Pulaski Co., Arkansas, 56:276, Rufus Mims and Susie Smith, 1913, shows date, county, and officiant.
  10. [S7561] Ruphuf Mims household, 1930 U.S. Census, Pulaski Co., Arkansas, shows married, with his first marriage at age 36 and hers at 20.
  11. [S5115] Rufus D. Rufus D. Mims, Certificate of Death.
  12. [S5086] David Mims household, 1880 U.S. Census, Logan Co., Arkansas.
  13. [S5092] Dave Mimms household, 1900 U.S. Census, Yell Co., Arkansas.
  14. [S7561] Ruphuf Mims household, 1930 U.S. Census, Pulaski Co., Arkansas.
  15. [S7561] Ruphuf Mims household, 1930 U.S. Census, Pulaski Co., Arkansas, shows occupation as farmer, industry as farm, and working on his own account.
  16. [S7562] Rufus Mims household, 1940 U.S. Census, Pulaski Co., Arkansas, shows occupation as farming.
  17. [S7562] Rufus Mims household, 1940 U.S. Census, Pulaski Co., Arkansas.
  18. [S5095] Rufus David Mims, Selective Service Registration Card, World War II, Fourth Registration.
  19. [S5086] David Mims household, 1880 U.S. Census, Logan Co., Arkansas, shows the boy apparently as son of Catherine, as Louis Wilks.
  20. [S5092] Dave Mimms household, 1900 U.S. Census, Yell Co., Arkansas, shows the boy as Rufus Mimms as son of Davis.
  21. [S1500] "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," Ancestry.com, record for Irene Mims McGlothlan, Soc. Sec. No. 429-28-6699, shows father as Rufe Mims.