Francis W. Simmons

FRANCIS WILLIAM SIMMONS.

Francis William Simmons is president of the American Mining Tool Company, manufacturers of miners' tools and supplies. Well earned success is his, success that has come through energy wisely directed. He was active in promoting one of the important productive industries of the city, one that features largely in manufacturing circles and thus adds to the material prosperity of Ottumwa and her people. Mr. Simmons was born in Ohio, January 11, 1854, a son of Rev. John T. Simmons, whose birth occurred in Wilmington, Delaware, January 11, 1829. The paternal grandparents were John and Margaret (Talley) Simmons. John Simmons, grandfather of Francis W. Simmons, spent his entire life in his native state of Delaware, and during the Revolutionary war our subject's great-grandfather served in Harry Lee's Light Horse Brigade. The widow of John Simmons later removed to Vinton county, Ohio, where she continued to make her home until called to her final rest.

Their only child was the Rev. John T. Simmons, who was reared in Ohio and largely acquired his education in Morgan county. He was deeply interested in the vital questions that engaged public attention prior to the Civil war, became a stanch supporter of the abolition cause and made many speeches in its behalf. In 1855 ' removed to Jefferson county, Iowa, and purchased an improved farm, upon which he established his home. The following year he became identihed with the Methodist conference, and in a life devoted to the ministry he accomplished much good work for the cause of Christianity, his influence being a potent force in moral development in the different communities in which he lived. Until 1858 he filled a pastorate at Glasgow and then went to Iowa county, where he had charge of a large circuit, consisting of sixteen appointments, making his home at that time in Richmond. In 1862, heartily in sympathy with the Union cause, he joined the Twenty-eighth Regiment of Iowa Infantry as chaplain and was mustered into service at Iowa City. In October of the same vear the regiment proceeded to Davenport and on a transport went to Helena, Arkansas, where, on the 20th of November, 1862, the Twenty-eighth Iowa was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division, military district of East Arkansas. On the nth of December the Rev. Simmons was transferred to the Second Brigade, First Division, and on December 17th to the Second Brigade, Second Division. On the iith of April, 1863, he was assigned to the Twelfth Division, Thirteenth Army Corps and with that command participated in the Vicksburg campaign and the battles of Fort Gibson and Champion Hills. He was later in the siege of Vicksburg and after its surrender went to Jackson. He was later again at Vicksburg and then at Natchez and at Carrollton. At the last named place he was transferred to the Third Division and on the 26th of February the troops were ordered to report at New Orleans. They passed through the Red River campaign and at length reached New Orleans, where they embarked under sealed orders. They went to Fortress Monroe and thence to Alexandria, Virginia, and Washington, D. C, this being the first Iowa regiment in the capital. Proceeding to the Shenando;' valley, they were assigned to the Fourth Brigade, Third Division, Nineteenth Army Corps, marched through Charleston, West Virginia, on the 8th of September and participated in the battles of Perryville and Winchester.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY i"45 well improved farm of eighty acres in Center township, Wapello county. He was pastor of the Mount Pleasant Methodist church in 1878-79 and agent for the Iowa Wesleyan University in 1880- 81. He was also presiding elder of the Newton district for four or five years, and in 1866 he devoted a year to the establishment and building of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home of Iowa.

Rev. Simmons was married in 1852 in Ohio to Martha Arganbright, who died in Center township in 1892, when sixty years of age, her birth having occurred in Ohio, February 29, 1832. Mr. Simmons survived for fourteen years and passed away in 1906. They were a most highly esteemed and worthy couple and had an extensive circle of warm and devoted friends in Wapello county. In their family were six children: Lydia, now the deceased wife of E. G. Chapman of Duluth, Minnesota; Francis William; George B., living in Ottumwa; John W.. a resident of Florida; Kitty, the widow of G. G. Springer and the mother of two children; and Edmundson, of Nebraska.

Francis William Simmons attended the common schools of this state. According to the itinerant custom of the Methodist ministry, the family removed from place to place, so that his studies were pursued in different cities. He was a student in the high school at Mount Pleasant and also the Iowa Wesleyan University there and afterward entered the State University at Iowa City. He next taught school for seven months and then entered the hardware business in Ottumwa. He first worked for two years for the firm of George Haw & Company and at the end of that time purchased the interest of Mr. Henry in the business, entering the firm in 1878. He was continuously connected with the business for thirty-one years, during which time it was a prosperous and growing concern. He has a contagious enthusiasm which is felt by all who are associated with him, and his enterprise and energy were factors in the growth of the house. After thirty-one years' connection therewith he retired, and in 1906 he, together with his brother George, organized and secured the charter for the American Mining Tool Company, of which he is president, with George B. Simmons as vice president. This is a growing concern, engaged in the manufacture of miners' tools, miners' clothing and other supplies. Among their well known products are the Little Giant drill, the Scott Patent pick and Uncle Sam overalls. Their plant is large, well lighted and splendidly equipped with the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work, and the enterprise is one of the important productive industries of the city, furnishing employment to from sixty to seventy-five people. In addition to his activity in that direction Mr. Simmons is known in financial circles and through his further investment in other industrial concerns. He is now one of the directors of the First National Bank and of the Union Trust & Savings Bank.

On the i6th of January, 1890, Mr. Simmons was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth B. Bonnifield, a daughter of W. B. Bonnifield and a native of Ottumwa. Their children are four in number: Kenneth G., living in Chicago; John B., a student in Yale College, who entered the freshman class at the age of seventeen years; Francis William, attending high school; and Martha, also in school.

The family attend the First Methodist church, and Mr. Simmons holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic fraternity. He is also a member of the Country Club and the Wapello Club. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party. He has frequently represented the party in state and national conventions. He was a delegate to the national convention in 1892, which nominated Benjamin Harrison; was delegate at large to the convention in 190S, which nominated William Howard Taft; and was alternate at large to the Chicago convention in 1904. He recognizes the duties and obligations as well as the privileges of citizenship and is an.vious and willing to cooperate in all movements for the general good of city, county, state and nation. He keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought, is well informed on the leading questions and issues of the day, political and otherwise, and in business affairs is abreast of the tendency of the times.

As printed in History of Wapello County, Iowa (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.