Gilbert M. Simmons

GILBERT M. SIMMONS (deceased) and Gilbert M. Simmons Library. The lamented son of Hon. Z. G. Simmons, who passed quietly away in his native city of Kenosha, on the afternoon of the 15th of January, 1890. was a thoroughly educated gentleman, an active and broad-minded business man, intensely devoted to the public welfare of Kenosha, and in his death the city lost one of its most popular and sincerely mourned residents. It was universally recognized that a warm, pure, strong character had been taken from the community, and the grief was the more widespread and deep in that the deceased was only in his thirty-eighth year, having scarcely readied the prime of his best endeavors.

Gilbert M. Simmons was born in Kenosha, Wis., July 2, 1852, the son of Hon. Zalmon G. and Emma E. Simmons. In 1875 he graduated from the Northwestern University, Evanston, and in the following year formed a mercantile partnership at Kenosha with Charles C. Brown, under the firm name of Simmons & Brown. At college he was an athlete, a member of the boat crew, a good student, and popular with both students and professors. He carried his energetic and attractive qualities into business life, and as he was thorough, honest and a natural executive, he was soon conceded to be the most popular of Kenosha's citizens, and one in whom the public had unqualified confidence. In 1 888 he became cashier of the First National Bank, and at the time of his death was also a director in several local corporations.

On March 30, 1877, Mr. Simmons was united in marriage, at Evanston, Ill., to Miss Juliet Clarkson, and to this union were born three children, Elizabeth, Clarkson and Margaret. Of the children, Elizabeth only survives,' Clarkson having died at the age of eight years, and Margaret at twenty months. The widow resides at Kenosha. In politics the deceased was a stalwart Republican, and, as in all other fields into which he entered, an active and influential worker.

The library erected to his memory by his devoted father stands in Central Park, Kenosha, and is an imposing and beautiful tribute of paternal affection. Its style is pure, simple and Grecian classic, the building being of stone, with a stately dome and colonnaded entrance, and was completed in July,. 1900, at a cost of $200,000 — the building and decorations on the grounds. Its dimensions on the ground are 175x72 feet. The interior is of marble. Besides bearing the expense of the erection of the building Mr. Simmons contributed $20,000 for the purchase of books, the library containing about 17,000 volumes with a considerable sum still unexpended.

This memorial to a beloved son and munificent donation to Kenosha stands in the center of the beautiful grounds, comprising four acres, located in the heart of. the city and formerly known as the Village Commons. They are bounded on the west by Chicago street, north by Park Place, east by Park avenue, and south by Deming street. The artistic and imposing Soldiers Monument presented by Mr. Simmons to the Civil war patriots of Kenosha county is also on the library site, facing Park Place.

Gilbert M. Simmons Library is the splendid culmination of a movement in favor of a public institution of this character which had been in progress for several years. To condense from the first annual report of the president, William W. Strong, in 1895 a number of citizens, feeling that a public library was not only a desirable institution for the city of Kenosha, but was indeed a necessity, for the further advancement of the mental and moral welfare of the community, held a meeting in the parlor of the "Hotel Grant," in the evening of November 14. At an adjourned meeting held Jan. 6. 1896, the committee previously appointed to perfect an organization reported a plan by which the proposed library should be supported by a system of annual dues, the payment of which constituted membership in the Kenosha Library Association. Messrs. Zalmon G. Simmons, George Yule, James Cavanagh, William W. Strong, George W. Johnston, Joseph Bendt, John O'Donnell, E. C. Thiers and Emory L. Grant were chosen directors, and later Mr. Simmons was elected president. Mr. Yule, vice-president, Mr. Johnson, secretary, and Mr. Bendt, treasurer. Mr. Simmons found it impossible to accept and Mr. Strong was elected president in his place. In December, 1898, Mr. Johnston removed from the city and Mr. Thiers was chosen secretary. A room for the library was secured from Mr. Simmons, and many citizens contributed books, as well as the Unitarian Society, which presented its collection of 800 volumes. Not a few also made liberal donations in money, among others Messrs. George Yule and Edward Bain, who each gave $1,500. Soon after the organization Mrs. Clara P. Barnes was selected as librarian, and she still holds that position.

To quote from the report of President Strong:

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"Whereas: There has appeared in the public press a proposition made by Honorable Z. G. Simmons, in which he offers to erect in the Central Park of this city, a library building and to place the park in condition to make a beautiful setting for the building; to install in the building a carefully selected library of 25,000 volumes; and when the same is completed, to present it to the city of Kenosha on condition that it is to be called "Gilbert M. Simmons Library;" therefore, be it

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"A\'so/Tcd, That the Board of Directors hereby requests the Common Council of the City of Kenosha to accept without hesitation this munificent offer.

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"On March ig. 1900. Mayor James Gorman, in a message to the Common Council of the City of Kenosha, named the following as members of the Board of Directors of Gilbert M. Simmons Library, viz.: Zalmon G. Simmons, George Yule, James Cavanagh, William W. Strong, Joseph Behdt, John O'Donnell, Charles C. Brown, Edward C. Thiers, Emory L. Grant and Prof. Elvin C. Wiswall. Shortly after a meeting was held at the office of Mr. Simmons and by ballot officers were chosen as follows: William W. Strong, president; George Yule, vice-president; Edward C. Thiers, secretary; and Joseph Bendt, treasurer.

"About July ist, 1900, Mr. Simmons announced that the library was ready to receive the books of the old association (numbering nearly 5,000) and the books and other property were taken to the magnificent building and placed on the shelves. On July 19th the first book was taken out, and since that time until now the book lovers of Kenosha have constantly availed themselves of the opportunity to feast their minds upon the productions of the world's greatest thinkers."

As printed in Commemorative biographical record of prominent and representative men of Racine and Kenosha counties, Wisconsin, containing biographical sketches of business and professional men and of many of the ea (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.