I hope the day will never come that my grandsons will be ashamed to own that I was a Confederate Soldier.
-Pvt. A. Y. Handy, 32nd Texas Cavalry, C.S.A.
Welcome to my proudest page yet. It is dedicated to my ancestors who served honorable as Confederate soldiers and who now live in my heart and to the rest of my beloved family who have never forgotten their Confederate past and pride. They raised a hard working family in a land that was built on pride. That pride fills the Tims name today. I welcome you all to share with me some of the history of my heritage of honor. For all their deeds and trials, we owe them our memory and respect. We owe them the honor that they have made glorious.
My family history in America dates back to before the Revolutionary war. They arrived in South Carolina from England and in 1820 they moved to Alabama. After the Civil War the Tims family moved to Texas where the family remains today.
I AM A DECEDENT OF SEVEN CONFEDERATE VETERANS
James K Polk Tims is my great great grandfather.
He was one of eleven children. His parents were John and Jane Creag Knight Tims. He was born in 1845 in Choctaw County, Alabama. In 1863 he joined the Confederate army with his brother, John B Tims born in 1847. They joined their two brothers who were already serving in the Confederate Army. Their names were William Jackson Tims born in 1841 and Oliver Houston (Hues) Tims born in 1838(yes indeed this was a Confederate family). They crossed the state line and joined the newly reorganized 37th Mississippi. The brothers were mustered into the same company as their siblings, Company D (The Enterprise Tigers). The unit was of Cantley's Brigade, Wathall's Division, Stewart's corps Army of Tennessee.
The three boys survived the battles of Chattanooga, the battles around Atlanta, Franklin, Tennessee, and a number of other skirmishes during the late war. On the second day of the battle of Nashville, all three brothers were captured during the sweeping assault of the Union army under General Thomas. James and his brothers were taken to Camp Douglas in Chicago. William Jackson Tims died of disease one month before the war's end. He is buried at Oak Wood's Cemetery in Chicago. After James' and his two sibling's release in the late spring of 1865, James moved with his new wife, Frances Emaline Mooney moved to liberty Hill, Texas near Augusta, TX.
There he built a school house in Liberty Hill so the children of the area would not have to hike too far through wolf and panther country to get to school. James died in 1899 of a heart attack when he drank a large glass of ice water after working hours in the hot Texas farmland. He left behind eight children. James was buried in Bobbitt Cemetery near Augusta, Texas. John B Tims passed away in 1906 in Mississippi and Oliver Houston Tims died in 1917 in Clarke County Mississippi. 
James' son, James Tims and James' wife Frances Tims 
James' Tims enlistment paper
battles of Franklin and Nashville
Nathaniel Coleman (Dock) Tims
I do not know much about my two relatives who fought with the 14th Mississippi Company D (The Quitman Guards). Nathaniel Colmen Tims, known as Doc was born in 1846 of Alford Tims and Vashti Tims. He and his brother both joined the same regiment and company in 1862. William fell ill and went on sick leave in 1864 and later returned to his regiment.
Just before the end of the war, while serving in the skeleton remains of the Army of Tennessee against Sherman, Nathaniel was wounded at Greensboro.
After the war William moved to Alabama and Nathaniel moved to Liberty Hill with James K Polk Tims and his wife. What is interesting is that after James died in 1899, Nathaniel married James' widow, Emaline Mooney Tims.
The proof that James and Nathaniel and William were related to each other remains in several documents that they signed for each other. However, I am not sure exactly what the relation was. I know one certain way that William and Doc is related to me and that is through Doc's marriage with my great great grandmother.
The last Confederate Ancestor I know of is my great great uncle. His name is John Calvin Knight, married to James K Polk Tims' sister, Matilda Tims. He was born in 1842 and died in 1935 in Texas. 
My nephew and niece, Timothy and Lorena Leach. Great great great grandson and granddaughter of Confederate veteran at James Tims' grave.
It was so special to have my brother in law, Sgt. Leslie Leach of the U.S. army to be with us that day we honored our Confederate heritage. When this picture was taken, he had just gotten back from his first deployment in Iraq. After a year back in the states, Leslie is now back in Iraq. He is in my every prayer. 
My Aunt Jimmie Lou in this photo is directly responsible for ALL the information I have found out about my heritage. No person does more honor to the Tims name than she. 
great grandson of James K Polk Tims, my Daddy, James Tims. He has taken me to hundreds of civil war sites across the country from Glorieta Pass New Mexico to Sabine Pass in Texas, to Fort Sumter and as far north as the town of St. Albans famous for its Confederate raid. My Dad is true to his family's name and spends his time helping others in need. He lives in Jeff Davis County, Texas. 
Jude and Jake Ham
I don't know much about Mom's side of the family except that they came from Italy in the last century. However, she is the one responsible in getting me interested in the War for Southern Independence when I was young. It has created an amazing bond between us. My step dad Jake's ancestors were officers in the Union army including the 13th Maine. However he has served as president and treasurer of the 15th Alabama. What a bad influence Mom and I are on him! 
My sister and brother, Rebecca Leach and Jed Tims. They are both my best friends. Rebecca is raising her family in North Carolina and currently her husband is serving his third deployment in Iraq. She is also my closest friend. My brother Jed is not a history buff like the rest of us but he has defended his heritage and last name in a braw or two! He lives in Lewiston.
These three are the newest generation of the Tims family blood-line. Five year old Lorena, Eight year old Timothy, and almost two year old Josiah Leach. These three special children in my life are my sister, Rebecca's and her husband, Leslie's flock. Having participated in reenactments and ceremonies already, no time is wasted in educating them of our proud heritage. Aren't they just the most precious little rebels you've ever seen?
The photos seen here are from my latest visit with them at the Confederate plot of a cemetery north of downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina.
MIDI TUNE is the Southron version of the very popular Northern war song, Tramp, Tramp, Tramp. It later became the tune of Jesus Loves the Little Children as well. This song written during the Southern States' War for Independence though the true author is unknown.
I dedicate this timeless melody, such a wonderful version of the song to Privates James K Polk Tims and John Tims who were kept from home and hope within the deadly stockade of Camp Douglas. Though the truth is omitted by the hysteria of Andersonville, I am here to tell you the truth that more Southerns died in Northern prisons than yankees in Southern prisons even in spite of the fact that there were fewer Southerns in Northern prisons. Even in spite of the fact that throughout the war the North enjoyed all the food, comfort, and material. Nothing was ever spared for the Southern prisoners and oh so many of them died of disease, exposure, murder by yankee guards, and starvation. Every Northern offical and officer who knew anything of this crime should have been shot or hung.
This is esp dedicated to my great great uncle, Jackson Tims, who was murdered by the U.S. Goverment at Camp Douglas.
I thank the 2nd South Carolina String Band for bringing this melody to life in their amazing 2006 album, Dulcem Melodies.
