Early Days of Greenbush: James Simmons

EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH

JAMES SIMMONS.

James Simmons was born in Warren county, Kentucky, August 10, 1809. He was a son of William and Esther (Stice) Simmons, who were married in 1798. He was born in 1775, and died in 1865. She was born in South Carolina, in 1779, and died in 1855.

To them the following-named children were born:Peter, Martin, Betsey, James, Charles, Sarah, Lucinda, John, Roley, Susan, Herbert, Nancy, and William.

James Simmons in his young days moved with his parents from Warren county, Kentucky, to Howard county, Missouri. Here they resided one year, then moved to Boone county, Missouri, where they resided about eight years; they then moved to Illinois and located in Morgan county, near Jacksonville. They afterwards moved to Warren county, Illinois, and located in the northeast part of Greenbush township. William Simmons, father of James Simmons, was engaged about one year hauling mineral ore at Galena, Illinois. He finally moved to Iowa, where he died in 1865.

James Simmons, the subject of this sketch, was married December 18, 1839, to Melinda Jennings. She was a daughter of Aaron and Sarah Jennings, and was born in Indiana, January 27, 1821; died June 19, 1897.

To James Simmons and wife the following-named children were born:

Elizabeth Eunice, born February 28, 1842; married Thomas Stockton, November 20, 1857.

Sarah E., born May 28, 1844; married William Young, September 4, 1862.

Samantha Jane, born August- 15, 1846; married John Patterson, November 19, 1863.

Nancy M., born December 12, 1848; married William H. Davis. She died June 9, 1900. He died August 16, 1893.

William E., born November 30, 1851; died May 12, 1884.

Eliza E., born February 20, 1855; married Noah Davis.

Thomas J., born June 8, 1857; married Amy A. South, October 11, 1883. She died February 6, 1894, at the age of 29 years. His second marriage was to Victoria Miller, February 14, 1895.

Ida m., born August 22, 1860; married George Davis.

James Edmond, born August 1, 1863; married Cornelia Stice, July 8. 1885. She was born September 10, 1864, and was a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Semelroth) Stice.

James Simmons resided in Greenbush township for many years. He was a successful farmer and stock raiser. In polities he was a democrat. He died at his old home place, on section, two in Greenbush township, September 25, 1900.