Descendants of Robert Sr CRUIKSHANK

train to Talladega early the next morning (Hugh had already obtained the marriage license) and were married at
the home of Hugh's sister, Lalia and her husband Roy Hethcox. When the minister asked "who giveth this woman
to be Hugh's wife" Memaw said the room grew very quiet. Then, Uncle Roy, as he was called, spoke up and said
"I do." The minister asked what relation he was to the bride and simply responded "I am married to her (Miriam)
husbands sister". The minister must have like the answer as he continued the ceremony.
Miriam and Hugh had 5 children in the next five years. Memaw stated that she did have help with the laundry and
cooking. She said Hugh continued to carry the mail (until he retired in ___) and that he told her that "He made the
living"; meaning she was to stay home and care for the home and children. When he told her that she stated back
"Yes, but I make the life".
They had an active social life in the church. She was also attended meeting of the Home Demonstration Club
where they shared their receipes and household tips.
Prior to cars, when she needed to go into Talladega she would go down to the post office in Renfroe to catch the
train. The train did not usually stop there (they only slowed down to throw the mail bag from the train) but when
she needed to travel into town, the postmaster, Mr. A. M. (Cobb) Fulmer would wave the train down. When they
spotted him they would acknowledge with the train whistle and stop. She said the train always ran back to
Renfroe in the afternoons. She remembered that the train stopped in Talladega just off the square by the Trinity
Methodist Church.
More About MIRIAM DARK:
Occupation: 1923, Teacher 641
Marriage Notes for WINFORD SIMS and MIRIAM DARK:
From a discussion with Miriam Dark Sims; April, 2002, with Lisa Allen Baggett:
Miriam met her future husband in 1923 when she arrived at the home where she was to board. Miriam had arrived
by train with her friend, from Alexander City, Alabama. Miriam was a teacher and was going to teach children in
a school located in Renfroe, Talladega County, Alabama. Mr. Marion H. Sims and Mr. Henry Porter Sims picked
Miriam up at the train station and took her to their family home (home of Albert G. Sims) which at this time was a
boarding home. As they were approaching the home she noticed a man watching her from the porch of the home
as they approached. This young man, Hugh Sims, was a rural mail carrier boarding at the same home (it was the
home of his Grandfathers son from his first marriage). At this time, Hugh carried his mail with a horse and buggy.
Miriam (MeMaw to me) when asked what she did when she saw this man watching her. She told me I most likely
said something like "What are you doing watching me?"
Their first official date came the day(September 30, 1923) when they went to the old Methodist Church in
Renfroe. Six short months later they were married at the home of Hugh's sister, Lalia Sims Hethcox. A Dr.
Thomas conducted the ceremony and Willard (?) Brown, aunt of the bride, witnessed the ceremony.
Memaw told me that Hugh told his father when he saw Miriam that he knew he would marry her because he loved
her name and that the Lord told him that was the girl he would married. Hugh also told his father, Herbert, the
same thing. Memaw said she was nervous on her wedding date as she had only known Hugh for 6 months, was
only 21 years old. She said she remembered thinking "What am I getting myself into?" But she must have known
it was meant to be as they were married over 50 years.
When Miriam was asked on her 98th birthday how it felt to be 98, she told Elizabeth Sims Wheeler: " I was
blessed to marry the man I loved, to live in the same house all these years, and to know that my husband is
waiting in Heaven for me".
During the time of Miriam and Hugh's marriage, Memaw told me that the man made all the decisions. Hugh, on
his own, purchased the home on Renfroe Road, Talladega, where they lived and raised their children, spent
Hugh's retirement, and where she lives today at 99 (4/2002). She also said that Hugh furnished the place by going
to "town" to his sisters house, Lalia Sims Hethcox, and taking their cast off furniture.
(Pasted from Ged-Com of Lisa Baggett 10-19-2002)
More About WINFORD SIMS and MIRIAM DARK:
Marriage: 22 Mar 1924, Talladega County, AL 641
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