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F. M. SIMMONS, the efficient Supervisor of
Ellington Township, and a prominent and representative farmer residing
on section 6, is a native of this State. He was born in Morgan County,
August 30, 1832. His father, Enos Simmons, was a native of Kentucky, and
in a very early day emigrated t Morgan County, where he resided ten
years. He was one of its first settlers. In 1833, he came to Adams
County and purchased eighty acres of land on section 6, Ellington
Township, only partially improved. The small log cabin was his home for
some years. He cleared and planted one hundred an sixty acres of land,
and in course of time had a fine farm. He married Alice Scott, a native
of Kentucky, who died in 1850, and after her death he was again married.
By the first union, he had eleven children, but only two are now living,
and only one of the four children born of the second marriage is living.
The father died in 1863, at the age of seventy-two years. In early life,
he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but joined the
Methodist Protestant Church on its organization, and was one of its
prominent and faithful workers. From a financial standpoint, his life
was very successful.
The subject of this sketch was the fifth
child in his father's family. Since a babe of a year, he has resided in
this county, has witnessed almost its entire growth, and has been
identified with its upbuilding and improvement. The subscription schools
furnished him his educational privileges. He remained at home until
twenty-four years of age, and then purchased a sawmill in Ellington
Township, in 1856, about two miles west of his father's home. Two years
later, he purchased an interest in a threshing-machine, which he
operated for two years. In 1860, he bought a small farm on section 6,
Ellington Township, and has since devoted his energies to agriculture
pursuits. In 1863, he purchased the old homestead, and has since resided
thereon. He now owns a fine farm of one hundred and eighty acres of
land, pleasantly located about seven and a half miles from Quincy. The
highly cultivated land yields to him a golden tribute, and the neat
appearance of the place indicates his careful supervision. He is also
interested in other lands.
On the 5th of May, 1861, Mr.
Simmons wedded Mary A. Campbell, one of the fair daughters of this
county. Her parents, Claybourn and Rachael Campbell, were natives of
Kentucky, and became early settlers of Adams County. Six Children were
born of their union: William and Rufus, deceased; Mary E.; John T., who
is married and resides on a farm on section 6, Ellington Township;
Charles C., who is married and follows farming on section 7; Mattie E.
Both Mr. And Mrs. Simmons are members of
the Methodist Protestant Church, in which he has served as Steward. He
has also been a delegate to its conferences several times, and is one of
its faithful and leading workers, doing all in his power to promote its
growth. His life is in harmony with his profession, and his honorably
upright career is well worthy of emulation. In politics, he is a
stalwart Republican, and has frequently served as a delegate to the
county conventions. For fifteen years, he held the office of School
Director, and is now serving his third term as Supervisor, discharging
his duties with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his
constituents. For almost sixty years, he has made his home in this
county, and few men are more widely of favorably known in the community
than F. M. Simmons, the honored pioneer.
[Source: Portrait and Biographical
Record of Adams County, Illinois containing Biographical Sketches of
Prominent and Representative Citizens, Chicago: Chapman Bros. 1892,Page
131]
Enos Simmons married Nellie Cole on June
26, 1851 by Thomas Hull MG
[source: Marriages of Adams County, Illinois, 1825-1860]
Francis M. Simmons married Mary A.
Campbell on May 5, 1861 by A. E. Bowles JP
[source: Marriages of Adams County, Illinois, 1861-1875]
Martha E. Simmons married Benjamin F.
Leake on Nov. 18, 1893 cert# 8722
[source: Marriages of Adams County, Illinois, 1891-1899,
Vol IV]
New Providence Cemetery East Center
Section, Lot 23
Charles C. 1867-1943
Mary E. 1868-1945
[source: Cemeteries of Adams County, Vol III]
F. M. and Mary
Ann's Obituaries |
