Robert Rufus Syms was born in Kentucky, the son of William and Delilah Sims, who had migrated there from South Carolina around 1805. The family later removed to Illinois, settling near Springfield, then a wilderness, in the early 1820s.
When he was about 18, he and his brother Thomas set up a wood yard in Rock Island County. They sold their wood to the steamboats on the Mississippi River, which served the mines in Galena IL, carrying coal to St. Louis. The brothers were the first permanent settlers in Port Byron. Their younger brother George also worked with them, and the wood yard later became a brick yard, serving the building needs for miles around.
Both Robert and Thomas served in the Rock River Rangers under Captain Benjamin F. Pike during the Black Hawk War of 1831-1832.
After the Black Hawk War, Robert and Thomas continued the business, while brother George left Rock Island, married, and raised a family in nearby Knox County. Thomas eventually married, raised a family in Rock Island County, then removed to Missouri.
It appears that Robert never married. While the 1850 census shows an "Elizabeth, wife" in his household, this Elizabeth is almost certainly his spinster sister.
In his elder years, he can be found living with family until they migrated further west, then with good friends and neighbors.
NOTE: The name "Simms" appears with at least six different spellings in pre-Civil War records. Robert's name almost always appears as "Syms", while his parents are usually shown as "Sims". Most of his siblings and their descendants are listed as "Simms".
When he was about 18, he and his brother Thomas set up a wood yard in Rock Island County. They sold their wood to the steamboats on the Mississippi River, which served the mines in Galena IL, carrying coal to St. Louis. The brothers were the first permanent settlers in Port Byron. Their younger brother George also worked with them, and the wood yard later became a brick yard, serving the building needs for miles around.
Both Robert and Thomas served in the Rock River Rangers under Captain Benjamin F. Pike during the Black Hawk War of 1831-1832.
After the Black Hawk War, Robert and Thomas continued the business, while brother George left Rock Island, married, and raised a family in nearby Knox County. Thomas eventually married, raised a family in Rock Island County, then removed to Missouri.
It appears that Robert never married. While the 1850 census shows an "Elizabeth, wife" in his household, this Elizabeth is almost certainly his spinster sister.
In his elder years, he can be found living with family until they migrated further west, then with good friends and neighbors.
NOTE: The name "Simms" appears with at least six different spellings in pre-Civil War records. Robert's name almost always appears as "Syms", while his parents are usually shown as "Sims". Most of his siblings and their descendants are listed as "Simms".
Robert Rufus Syms was born in Kentucky, the son of William and Delilah Sims, who had migrated there from South Carolina around 1805. The family later removed to Illinois, settling near Springfield, then a wilderness, in the early 1820s.
When he was about 18, he and his brother Thomas set up a wood yard in Rock Island County. They sold their wood to the steamboats on the Mississippi River, which served the mines in Galena IL, carrying coal to St. Louis. The brothers were the first permanent settlers in Port Byron. Their younger brother George also worked with them, and the wood yard later became a brick yard, serving the building needs for miles around.
Both Robert and Thomas served in the Rock River Rangers under Captain Benjamin F. Pike during the Black Hawk War of 1831-1832.
After the Black Hawk War, Robert and Thomas continued the business, while brother George left Rock Island, married, and raised a family in nearby Knox County. Thomas eventually married, raised a family in Rock Island County, then removed to Missouri.
It appears that Robert never married. While the 1850 census shows an "Elizabeth, wife" in his household, this Elizabeth is almost certainly his spinster sister.
In his elder years, he can be found living with family until they migrated further west, then with good friends and neighbors.
NOTE: The name "Simms" appears with at least six different spellings in pre-Civil War records. Robert's name almost always appears as "Syms", while his parents are usually shown as "Sims". Most of his siblings and their descendants are listed as "Simms".
When he was about 18, he and his brother Thomas set up a wood yard in Rock Island County. They sold their wood to the steamboats on the Mississippi River, which served the mines in Galena IL, carrying coal to St. Louis. The brothers were the first permanent settlers in Port Byron. Their younger brother George also worked with them, and the wood yard later became a brick yard, serving the building needs for miles around.
Both Robert and Thomas served in the Rock River Rangers under Captain Benjamin F. Pike during the Black Hawk War of 1831-1832.
After the Black Hawk War, Robert and Thomas continued the business, while brother George left Rock Island, married, and raised a family in nearby Knox County. Thomas eventually married, raised a family in Rock Island County, then removed to Missouri.
It appears that Robert never married. While the 1850 census shows an "Elizabeth, wife" in his household, this Elizabeth is almost certainly his spinster sister.
In his elder years, he can be found living with family until they migrated further west, then with good friends and neighbors.
NOTE: The name "Simms" appears with at least six different spellings in pre-Civil War records. Robert's name almost always appears as "Syms", while his parents are usually shown as "Sims". Most of his siblings and their descendants are listed as "Simms".
Family Members
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
