Clara Shimmin

Clara Shimmin was an immigrant from Mexico. She was born in 1860 in Mexico, and was wed at age 15 to a man with the surname Clark whose given name is not known. Sometime after marrying, the Clarks moved to Leadville. By 1900, Clara was living alone–still married, but listed as head of her household and hosting lodgers. One such lodger, named James Shimmin, she married at some point. It is not known what became of Mr. Clark, exactly. James was an Englishman who had immigrated from England in the mid 1880s. 1906 records show he was working as a miner Western Mining Company. As of 1908, Clara had carved out a place for herself as the owner of a confectionary shop, and in 1909 worked at a notions store selling needles and other sewing materials. She died of unknown causes in October 1911, aged 51. It is not known if she had any children, surviving or otherwise.