Georgia:  Coweta County:  Biography of CAPT. JOHN D. SIMMS

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CAPT. JOHN D. SIMMS, one of the pioneers of Coweta county, was born in 
December, 1830. His parents, John and Comfort M. (Grace) Simms, were natives 
of North Carolina. His father was born in 1780, coming in 1788 to Hancock 
county with his parents, Robert and Sarah (Dickinson) Simms, both natives of 
North Carolina. The mother of John D. Simms was a daughter of Joshua Grace. 
The family came to Coweta county in 1828, settling in the midst of the forest 
and clearing up a farm, suffering meanwhile the many trials and hardships 
common to the lot of pioneers. His education was obtained under many 
disadvantages in the old log schoolhouse. On reaching manhood he showed 
himself worthy of the esteem in which he has constantly been held. He had 
been elected justice of the peace and his commission had just been received 
at the outbreak of the war, and at the same time he received a commission 
from Gov. Brown as captain of the militia, which would have kept him out of 
the service. But this did not suit his ardent temperament, and in 1862 he 
enlisted in Company F, Sixteenth Georgia battalion of cavalry. He himself 
organized his company and went out as its captain, serving in this position 
throughout the war. His first service was thirty days under Gen. John A. 
Morgan in Kentucky, and after this under Gen. Early, through Virginia to 
Washington City, in which service he performed a great deal of detached duty. 
After the war Capt. Simms returned to Coweta county and engaged in farming, 
which he has carried on ever since. In 1877 he was elected to the 
legislature, it being the first legislature convened after the constitutional 
convention, and served three years. He has served also as county 
commissioner four years. His wife, a native of Heard county, Ga., was Miss 
Louisa Hanson, daughter of Thomas K. and Gracie (Mosely) Hanson. Her father 
was the son of Thomas and Sarah (Boswell) Hanson, and was born in Morgan 
county, Ga., in 1799. The marriage of Captain and Mrs. Simms was solemnized 
in 1848, and the union has been blessed with three children: Ellen A., wife 
of Asbury H. Arnold; Fannie L., wife of H. M. Arnold, and John H. Capt. 
Simms and wife are honored members of the Baptist church, and the family is 
among the best and most respected in the county of Coweta, where they have 
the regard of all who know them.

Transcribed from MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA published by the Southern Historical 
Association, 1895.