No, my parents didnt find me beneath a cabbage leaf. I wasnt dropped off by the stork. In fact, I have proof that I was born a white male, November 15, 1919, in Midland, Michigan. My parents were Esther P. and Roy E. Simms.
For the trivia buff, 1919 was a good year. The war to end all wars was now history. Woodrow Wilson was our president. The 18th Amendment had been ratified. Cincinnati beat the White Sox in the infamous Black Sox World Series. Dial phones were introduced. The U.S. population: 104,514,000. A three-bedroom house: $4,000. The average income: $1,158. A new Ford: $525.
The first mistake in my life was on my birth certificate when the doctor recorded my name as Louis Glenn Simms. It should have been Lowrie.
The name Lowrie Glenn Simms carries with it a strong, rich and ancient heritage. On my fathers side, with other Pilgrim Fathers, my ancestors sailed the stormy Atlantic Ocean on the ship Mayflower and helped to found the first democratic government in the world in America. We can also humbly boast that we are able to trace our ancestors back to the first king of England, King Egbert (800-836). Not to be outdone, my mothers side of the family carries with it strong and tough, yet gentle and devout ancestors. Coming from Scotland, our brave highland Cameron Clan fought rugged losing battles against the armies of England for freedom. Did I say tough? It has been told that one of our clansmen fought a fellow clansman to bitter death by actually biting out his Adams apple. My mothers side of the family also produced some notable godly Christian pioneers. U.S. Senator Walter Lowrie established the first prayer meeting in the Senate. His son, a missionary to China, was martyred for the sake of Christ by Chinese sea pirates. Mothers grandfather was a missionary to the Indians and founded the city of Petoskey, Michigan. My heritage is rich indeed.
Now back to Lowrie Glenn Simms, his generation and his birth. I never knew I had mistakenly been named Louis on my birth certificate until I had to have a copy of it when going in the military 21 years later. On the same birth certificate, I was recorded as weighing 9 pounds, 6 ounces. Mother accused the doctor having his thumb on the scales as at that time, doctors prided themselves in delivering large babies.
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