Surnames: Sims, Moerke, Engelhard,  L'Homme, Mangin, Mengin, Mangan, Wicker, Young, Grittens, Day

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) Thursday, 16 May 1901

Sims, Joseph Sr. (Aug 1830 - 1901)

From the River Falls Normal items, in the Milwaukee Sentinel, Monday, we learn of the death of Jos. Sims, Sr., in Arkansas. The date of the death or other particulars were not given. Mr. Sims was the father of J. F. Sims, of River Falls, J. T. Sims, of Mosinee, Mrs. A. W. Moerke, of Stevens Point, and Paul Sims of Chicago. He resided here at different times, and there are many friends and acquaintances here, who will regret to learn of his death.

----Source: A Standard History of Portage County, Wisconsin, Volume 2, pg. 618 - 619

John Francis Sims, the son of Joseph and Mary Mangin Sims, was born in Buffalo, New York, April 21, 1862. His father was a sailor both on the high seas and the Great Lakes. It is evident to all that President Sims has brought the seaman's untiring energy and endurance to his work as an educator. At this point it would be omitting a vital factor in Mr. Sims' life to pass over the influence of his mother upon Her patience, her charity, her resourcefulness furnished ideals which have through the years found exemplification in the son.

President Sims laid the groundwork of his higher education in the public schools of Buffalo, New York, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin, graduating from the high school of the latter city in 1881. During the last two years of his high school course he taught in neighboring country schools, and continued in that work until 1883. He then accepted the principalship of the Colby, Wisconsin, High School, which he filled until 1891. In that year he was chosen superintendent of schools in Onalaska, and held the position for five years. From 1896 to 1906 he held the chair of Geography, History and School Management at the River Falls Normal School, and during the last four years of his incumbency was the Institute Conductor of the school. The success of his work in that capacity led to his call to the presidency of the State Normal School at Stevens Point in Augus, 1906. During the years of his service as its chief executive that institution has gathered headway as never before. As an indication of the scope and nature of his outside connections it may be stated that he has served as president of the Northwestern Wisconsin Teachers' Association. He is an active member of the National Council of Education and Wisconsin director of the National Educational Association. President Sims is now serving on a committee of the National Council which has been appointed to investigate and report on the status of the rural schools of the United States and other countries, with a view of improving conditions there found. The National Council of Education is an organization with a membership limited to 120, and it is therefore an honor to be identified with it. Aside from his duties in connection with the Normal School and the educational organizations with which he is associated, President Sims has written as a chapter in the forthcoming volume to be published by the Wisconsin Teacher's Association, "The History of the Wisconsin State Normal Schools," has largely and regularly contributed to the Wisconsin Journal of Education and similar publications, and has lectured widely on topics connected with school work as well as those of world interest.

Surely Portage County may laud statewide and nationwide this scholar, patriot, orator, and man of affairs.

1880 Federal Census, Manitowoc, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States, pg. 155

Joseph Sims, married American male
occupation : Sailor
father's birthplace : New York, United States
mother's birthplace : New York, United States

Household Members
self Joseph Sims M 50 (1830) New York, United States
wife Mary Sims F 50 Ireland, both parents b. Ireland
son John Sims M 18 (1862) New York, United States
son Paul Sims M 13 (1867) New York, United States
son Joseph Sims M 9 (1871) New York, United States
daughter Marianne Sims F 4 (1876) Wisconsin, United States

1900 Federal Census, ED 113 Stevens Point city Ward 3, Portage, Wisconsin, United States, pg. 10, family 158

Adolph W Moerke, white, married, male
father's birthplace: Germany
mother's birthplace: Germany
years married: 2
estimated marriage year: 1898

Household Members
head Adolph W Moerke M 25 (Oct 1875) Wisconsin
wife Marz Moerke F 24 (Jul 1876) Wisconsin, no children

Wisconsin Birth Records

Mary Sims
gender: Female
birth date: 28 Jul 1876
birthplace: Manitowoc, Manitowoc Co., Wisconsin
race: White
father's name: Joseph Sims
father's birthplace: Buffalo, N. Y.
mother's name: Mary Mengin
mother's birthplace: Ireland

Georine Adolph Moerke
gender: Female
birth date: 26 Mar 1902
birthplace: Mosinee, Marathon Co.
race: White
father's name: Adolph William Moerke
father's birthplace: Wrightstown, Wis.
mother's name: Mary Sims
mother's birthplace: Manitowoc, Wis.

Wisconsin Marriage Records

Samuel Anthony Day
bride's name: Ida M. Sims
marriage date: 14 Jun 1898
marriage place: St. Croix, Wisconsin
groom's father's name: Byron C. Day
groom's mother's name: Elizabeth
bride's father's name: Joseph Sims
bride's mother's name: Gittens

John Francis Sims
groom's birthplace: Buffalo, N.Y.
bride's name: Georgine Engelhard
bride's birthplace: Brooklyn, N.Y.
marriage date: 15 Oct 1887
marriage place: West Bend, Washington, Wisconsin
groom's father's name: Joseph Sims
groom's mother's name: Mary Mangin
bride's father's name: George M. Engelhard
bride's mother's name: Sophia L'Homme
groom's race: White
bride's race: White

Joseph T. Sims
groom's birthplace: Buffalo, N. Y.
bride's name: Mildred E. Wicker
bride's birthplace: Colby, Wis.
marriage date: 14 Aug 1897
marriage place: Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
groom's father's name: Joseph Sims
groom's mother's name: Mary Mangin
bride's father's name: William Wicker
bride's mother's name: Emeline Young
groom's race: White
bride's race: White

Wisconsin Death Records

Adolph W. Moerke
gender: Male
burial place: Auburndale, Wisconsin
death date: 16 Jun 1901
death place: Blue River, Wisconsin
age: 26
birth date: 17 Oct 1874
birthplace: Wrightstown, Wisconsin
occupation: Lumber Inspector
race: White
marital status: Married
spouse's name: Mamie Moerke
father's name: August Moerke
father's birthplace: Shoerwerder, Germany
mother's name: Mary Moerke
mother's birthplace: Sandon, Germany