Rev. Charles N. Sims
 

Charles N. Sims was born in Union county, Indiana, May 18, 1835. His father and mother were of the Methodist Episcopal faith. They were simple farming people, of the sturdiness and strength of character that fitted them for pioneer life in making a home in the new country. From his earliest days Charles N. Sims was accustomed to toil, and it was in the strenuous farm work, at the plow, in the harvest field and in working out timber, clearing up new acres for cultivation, that he acquired the rugged plainness of manner and action that characterized him through life.

During his boyhood his home was the stopping place for all the itinerant Methodist preachers who passed that way, and among these was the eloquent pioneer in Methodism, the Rev. John P. Durbin, who took special notice of young Sims and encouraged him in his aspirations to become a minister. Young Sims was a studious and thoughtful boy, and required no spur to his ambition.

When seventeen years old he began to teach school, giving his nights and leisure time to study to prepare himself to enter Indiana Asbury University (now DePauw), from which he was graduated in 1859. Two years previously, as a student, he had entered the Methodist ministry as a probationer in the North Indiana Conference.

Before the end of his senior year in college he was appointed principal of Thorntown Academy, a leading Indiana Methodist preparatory school, 1857-59, married August 12, 1858 to Miss Eliza A. Foster, of Tippecanoe county, Indiana. In 1860 he became president of the Valparaiso (Indiana) Male and Female College. In 1862 he was called to the Pearl-street church in Richmond, Indiana, following which charge he took one in Wabash, going from there to Evansville, where Trinity church, a pretentious structure, was erected under his pastorate.

His next charge was the most important he had held up to that time. This was the Meridian street M. E. church, at the southwest corner of Meridian and New York streets, a site now occupied by the Central Telephone building. It was during his first pastorate there that that church was erected. He subsequently served the church a second time. From that charge, to the regret of a congregation that had become greatly endeared to him and recognized in him not only a man of the most beautiful Christian character, but a pulpit orator of great power, he was called to the Brooklyn (N. Y.) Madison avenue church He then served successively at St. Paul's, Newark, New Jersey; at the Brooklyn and Summerfield churches, Brooklyn.

He was preaching at the last named church when he went to Syracuse, November 17, 1880, the board of trustees of Syracuse University having unanimously elected him successor to Chancellor E. O. Haven, who had resigned to become bishop.

At commencement, 1881, the new chancellor was installed. He found the university in a financial crisis. The entire institution was comprised within one hall of languages on the campus. He took hold with determination. The board of trustees was increased so that the university might have representation in a great many directions, and particularly did the new chancellor interest New York men.

Before going to Syracuse, and after his election, he obtained a large sum of money in gifts to the institution. It was through him that the late John Crouse gave an endowment for the erection of what is now one of the finest college buildings the country -- the John Crouse Memorial College for Women, now used as a college of fine arts. A fine astronomical observatory was put up by E. F. Holden, and the famous German Von Ranke library was housed.

When the trustees said they would not undertake to build a gymnasium, the chancellor obtained permission, and raised the cash by personal solicitation, and though his own subscription was already liberal, he filled out the cost from his pocket.

In 1859, Ohio Wesleyan conferred upon him the degree of A. M., and DePauw, made him a D. D. in 1870 and an LL. D. in 1882. Though the greater part of his time was spent in travel in the interest of his college, he also held the chair of English literature. In 1884 was commissioner to Onondaga Indians and 1888 he was delegate to the General Conference.

He had retired from Syracuse University and was living on his farm at Liberty, this state, when the management of the Methodist Hospital tendered him the position of field secretary. He was loath to accept this position, as he felt that the burden of years had come upon him and he desired to spend his closing years on his farm. But the call so appealed to him, to his spirit of philanthropy that he accepted and entered upon his arduous work with his old-time enthusiasm and he put forth all his energies in the obtaining of funds to carry forward to success this great hospital.

The Western Christian Advocate, commenting on the selection of Dr. Sims as general secretary of the Methodist Hospital, speaking of his ability as a "money-raiser," said:

"He was called to the chancellorship of Syracuse University November 17, 1880, as the successor of Dr. E. O. Haven, who had been elected to the episcopate. He found the university financially incumbered[sic], and during his administration of thirteen years he reduced its indebtedness from $172,700 to $68,600. He increased its assets $1,200,000, added new departments, broadened and strengthened old ones and gave the institution university scope and character."

Doctor Sims was pastor of the Meridian street M. E. church in Indianapolis, in 1867 and 1868 and for eight months in 1869 and 1870, and was then transferred to the Baltimore Conference. His second pastorate in this church was from 1893 to 1898.

He succeeded the Rev. Dr. William R. Halstead as field secretary of the Methodist hospital and retired on account of the weight of years and failing health, much to the regret of the trustees of that institution. He was succeeded temporarily by Doctor Merico, a layman of South Bend, who was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. W. D. Parr, of Kokomo.

During his last illness, knowing, but not fearing, that death was near, Dr. Sims said: "It is just as good as it can be. I am surrounded by loving friends and remembrances. I have had a long and happy life, crowned by more or less of success, so it is not a matter of regret or for mourning that, having done my work, I am closing it up."

Dr. Sims was survived by his widow and three daughters -- Mrs. Stella Hemenway, of Zionsville, wife of a retired minister; Mrs. Lida Mills, of Fairfield, this state, also wife of a retired minister, and Mrs. Mary Parker, of Syracuse, New York, whose husband is dean of the medical department of Syracuse University.

Chancellor Day, of Syracuse University, pays the following beautiful tribute to Dr. Charles N. Sims, who died in Liberty, Indiana, on March 27, 1908: "He was one of the most intellectual and tireless workers I have ever known. His mind reached out for great enterprises. He is dead ten years before his time because he had no mercy for himself. When he became chancellor of this university the institution was in serious straits because of the hard times. He made no division of day and night, but worked endlessly, interesting men in the institution. The buildings that represent his work are the Crouse College, the Von Ranke library, the Holden observatory, and the present gymnasium. He also completed the construction of the Hall of Languages. Beside building up the university in this manner he added several hundred thousand dollars to the endowment.

Submitted by: Amy K. Davis
Source: "History of Boone County, Indiana," by Hon. L. M. Crist, 1914