SOURCE: "History of Champaign County, Illinois with Illustrations," 1878

SURNAMES: LINDLEY, MERCER, SIM

WILLIAM SIM was born in Baltimore county, Md., November 2d, 1825. His father, Joseph W. SIM, was a native of Frederick county, Md. He was of Scotch descent, and by trade a saddler. His wife, Keturah MERCER, was of French extraction.

In 1830 he removed with his family, and settled in Knox county, Ohio, where he engaged in farming, which occupation he followed until his death, which occurred in July, 1866, at the advanced age of seventy years. Three years later his aged companion bid adieu to the scenes of mortal life, and departed to join her husband in the land afar off.

In 1854 Mr. Sim came to Illinois, and settled upon a piece of land two miles east of Urbana. They had eleven children, six of whom are living. The other five, after having reached the years of maturity, and in the full strength and vigor of life, were gathered to their fathers.

Wm. Sim, the son, remained under the parental roof until he reached his twentieth year, cultivating the paternal acres during the summer months, and attending school during the winter. Thus while acquiring habits of industry, and by an active out-door life laying the foundation of a healthy, robust constitution, he did not neglect the higher faculties of the mind.

He spent several years in the Martinsburg and Fredericktown Academies; and for two years pursued a regular course of study at the Ohio Wesleyan University, so widely and favorably known. On the last day of March, 1853, he arrived in Urbana, and on the following Monday, in April, commenced teaching school in a building that occupied the site of the present M. E. church edifice, south-east corner of Race and Green streets, and which was also used as a court-house.

In August, 1853, he returned to Ohio, and married Miss Lucinda LINDLEY, of Fredericktown, daughter of Mahlon LINDLEY, and sister of Dr. LINDLEY, of Urbana. Six children bless and cement this union, an unbroken family circle, and all, except C. L., who is engaged in the drug business at Topeka, Kansas, domiciled beneath the parental roof, and being brought up to habits of business and industry, and qualified to act well their part when launched upon the busy sea of life.

In 1853 Mr. Sim was appointed by the Illinois Conference of the M. E. Church to the Homer Mission, in which field of labor he remained six months, when he returned to Urbana, and in a measure abandoned the idea of devoting his life to the ministry. The four years following he devoted exclusively to teaching, for which both by nature and education he was eminently qualified. In 18558 he went into the drug and book business with Drs. Hunt and Lindley, which partnership at the end of two years was dissolved.

In 1861, in connection with John S. Farson, he again embarked in the drug business, and at the end of four years bought out Mr. Farson, becoming sole proprietor, and in which business he is engaged at the present time.

Mr. Sim is a Republican. He cast his first vote for Zachary Taylor. Has been school treasurer of Urbana township for twenty-two years. He and his estimable lady have been, since early youth, members of the M. E. Church.

Would space permit, we should like to enter more fully into the history of one of Urbana's most worthy and active business men. Domestic and retiring in his habits, he does not seek notoriety, but quietly pursues through life the even tenor of his way, exerting, nevertheless, a wholesome and salutary influence upon the community in which he lives, and by whom, also, he is highly respected for his integrity of character and gentlemanly and courteous deportment.