Sparta in White County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Eli Sims (Simms)

February 1, 1776 - September 14, 1862

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 16, 2020

1. Eli Sims (Simms) Marker

Inscription. This White County farmer, educator, road commissioner, and county trustee established the first cotton gin in White County. He served also as chairman of the White County Quarterly Court. Born in Larne, Ireland, he settled in White County in 1810 and built this house in 1824 thought to be the first brick house in the county. He married Rachel Townsend in 1807, and they reared 12 children. Sims is buried in the old Zion Cemetery.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2D 26.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Government & Politics • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 1, 1776.

Location. 35° 57.35′ N, 85° 34.216′ W. Marker is in Sparta, Tennessee, in White County. It is at the intersection of Old Smithville Highway North and Old Kentucky Road (Tennessee Highway 136), on the right when traveling west on Old Smithville Highway North. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5671 Old Smithville

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Highway North, Sparta TN 38583, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau

and in the Highland Rim.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: WW II Tennessee Maneuvers (approx. 3.8 miles away); Bragg Invades Kentucky (approx. 5½ miles away); POW*MIA Monument (approx. 6.3 miles away); Joseph Kerr Monument (approx. 6.3 miles away); The Double Eagle Memorial (approx. 6.3 miles away); The War Around Sparta (approx. 6.3 miles away); White County (approx. 6.3 miles away); White County Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sparta.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 16, 2020

2. Eli Sims (Simms) Marker

Kentucky Road marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 16, 2020

3. Kentucky Road marker

This marker, erected by the Rock House Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, commemorates the Old Kentucky Road near the Simms house.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 15, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,191 times since then and 72 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 18, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on June 14, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.