Another Nims Crib Mystery

Nims Descendant Contribution: Scott Maxwell (Ebenezer)

Editor Intro

Nims Family who attended the 2024 Deerfield Reunion may remember the Nims cradle displayed at the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield, MA. Ray Radigan, the Assistant Dir. and Curator of the Deerfield Hall Museum, included it on the tour of the Museum. Ebenezer descendant, Scott Maxwell, reached out about the Nims-Maxwell branch of the family’s own crib. He agreed to write about their Nims treasures and his own current family history research.

Nims-Maxwell Family Crib - Photo Credit: Scott Maxwell

Scott Maxwell’s Nims Crib Family Story

For many years my mother, Patsy Bender Nims Maxwell, had an old wooden crib she used as home décor. I didn’t think much about it growing up but when my parents made a downsizing move in their later years, Mom asked me if I would be interested in the crib. I love history and knew I should probably take it and eventually learn about it. At that time, she said only that it was very old and had been in the Nims family for longer than anyone could remember. But there was a string attached. She said I could give away anything I ever got from her, but I had to promise the crib was the one thing I would never let leave the family. I agreed, realizing this must be a significant family treasure. Sadly, we never had any further conversation about it before she passed away years later.

Scott’s Research

There is no mention of the crib in any family records I’ve reviewed and sadly neither of my Nims cousins knows anything of its history.

The only notable marking is a 7 1 7 stamped on the bottom. My own research showed it might date to the 18th century. Ray Radigan, the Assistant Dir. and Curator of the Deerfield Hall Museum: Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield, MA, estimated it was from the late 18th century to early 19th. Whatever its true history, the crib will remain with me and be passed on to one of our daughters to keep the treasure and the memory alive.

Scott’s Nims Family

My Mom grew up on the Nims Farm in Colebrook Township, Ohio which is in Ashtabula County in the Northeast corner of the state. Quite a few Nims moved from New York State to the area in the 19th century, including Charles Nims and Sarah Ann Bailey, my great-great grandparents. Karl S. Nims and Pearl Z. Bender Nims, my grandparents, established the Nims farm in 1928 and it is still run today by my cousin Kenneth Nims. 

My current research project is the complete ownership history of the farm property and the house which I believe dates to at least 1874 and documenting some of the treasured contents.

Nims Farm 2017 - Photo Credit: Scott Maxwell

My other Nims treasure is a 1800’s gingerbread clock that belonged to Grandpa Karl S. Nims. I had never seen it at his house until one of the two high school summers I worked on the farm for a few weeks in the late 1970’s. I had to get something out of the attic for him and this clock was sitting on a box. When I asked him about it, he told me to bring it down. Grandpa Karl told me it was with him at Ohio State University as his alarm clock. 

Karl Nims Clock - Photo Credit: Scott Maxwell

Karl S. Nims and Pearl Z. Bender Nims

It was somewhat rare in the early 1900’s that both farm parents would have been college educated but such was the case with Grandpa Karl and Grandma Pearl. Karl graduated from Ohio State Ag school in 1912, and Grandma graduated from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio in 1918.

Grandma Pearl was a math teacher. She grew up in the tiny town of Tiro, Ohio and after graduating, amazingly had taught for a short time in the same school district in South Euclid, Ohio where I went to school some 50 years later. Grandma, at the time, boarded with then district Superintendent Dr. Corb. During my own high school years, I competed in Track and Field on the athletic field named for Dr. Corb. Until I had researched Grandma Pearl's early history I had no idea our paths were tied like that!

Grandpa Karl gave me the gingerbread clock and I have always treasured it. It doesn’t have as long a history  like the crib, but it is a reminder of the rare college education of both my grandparents.