When Rufus Sims was born on 8 August 1865, in Alabama, United States, his father, Alfred J. Sims, was 37 and his mother, Jane Wilkins, was 35. He had at least 5 sons and 2 daughters with Mittie E Nickelson. He lived in Athens, Claiborne, Louisiana, United States for about 15 years and Ward Five, Claiborne, Louisiana, United States in 1940. He died on 10 June 1955, in Louisiana, United States, at the age of 89, and was buried in Athens, Claiborne, Louisiana, United States.