Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Simmons, Hon Solomon 
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Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

Hon. Solomon Simmons, of Plainfield, was a man of prominence in his community 
and left the impress of his individuality for good upon public thought and 
action. In office, in business connections and in social relations he was 
always a trustworthy, honorable man, the force of whose character was found in 
his strong individuality, his conscientious performance of every duty, and his 
upright principles. Mr. Simmons was born in Claverick, Columbia county, New 
York, March 18, 1812, and was a son of Solomon and Rebecca (Murray) Simmons. 
The father was born in Germany, January 31, 1762, and was one of nine sons and 
daughters born unto Mr. and Mrs. William Simmons. The grandparents of our 
subject came to America about the time of the Revolutionary war and the 
grandfather died in Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, New York, at the great age of 
one hundred and five years. He owned a tract of land there, on which he had 
been engaged in farming and to the same pursuit his son, Solomon Simmons, Sr., 
was reared. The father of our subject was in his teens when he came to America 
with his parents. He early became familiar with the duties and labors that 
fair to the lot of the agriculturist and his first purchase of land was a farm 
of one hundred and twenty acres at Rhinebeck. He settled thereon after his 
marriage and later he purchased one hundred and thirty acres in Columbia 
county, New York, but lost it by defective title. He continued to reside in 
Dutchess county until 1826, when he removed to Penfield, Monroe county, where 
he lived until his life's labors were ended in death in September, 1831. Unto 
him and his wife were born five children: Daniel and Jacob, twins; Elizabeth; 
Rebecca; and Solomon. The mother died in Penfield in January, 1833. She was a 
daughter of John Murray, who joined the colonists at the outbreak of the 
Revolutionary war and laid down his life on the altar of liberty. Judge 
Solomon Simmons was a youth of fourteen years when he accompanied his parents 
on their removal to Monroe county, New York. From that time forward he was 
dependent upon his own resources for a livelihood, first earning five dollars 
per month at farm labor. When sixteen years of age he became a driver on the 
Erie canal, following the towpath for six months. For five years he continued 
in the employ of the canal company, soon being placed in charge of a boat. 
Thinking to find better business opportunities in the newer west, he made his 
way to Geauga county, Ohio, in 1833, and purchased a tract of timber land near 
Bainbridge. In the midst of the forest he put up a log cabin and with 
characteristic energy he began clearing the place. A year later he sold that 
farm and bought another tract which already had quite a large clearing upon 
it. In 1836 he began boating on the Ohio canal, but after following that 
occupation for two seasons again turned his attention to the improvement of a 
farm. He made his first visit to northern Illinois in 1839, in which year he 
purchased eighty acres of land in Kane county, and also secured a claim of 
eighty acres from the government. It was his intention to bring his family to 
Illinois in the fall of that year but money due him could not be collected 
and, other misfortunes happening, he sold the land and remained in Ohio until 
1845. Accompanied by his wife and children he then made an overland journey to 
Illinois, reaching Plainfield on the 19th of September. Here he invested in 
wild land in Dupage township and two years afterward purchased eighty acres of 
improved land near Wheatland. As opportunity afforded he extended the 
boundaries of his property until he had altogether a good farm of two hundred 
and forty acres, which he cultivated until 1863, when he sold out and 
purchased another farm of one hundred and ninety-two acres valued at fifty 
dollars per acre, his son Andrew purchasing a third interest in the place. 
Andrew remained on the farm until 1873, when he sold to his brother Henry and 
bought eighty acres on the Joliet road, which he sold in 1891 and then bought 
one hundred and sixty acres one mile east of Plainfield, formerly owned by his 
father-in-law, Sereno Culver. In 1902 he sold that place, since which time he 
has been living retired except for a real-estate business which he and his son 
conduct. Judge Simmons lived on the farm purchased in 1863, until 1880, when 
he sold that place and took up his abode in Plainfield, spending his remaining 
days in the enjoyment of comfort and ease made possible through his activity 
and energy in former years. On the 6th of January, 1833, Judge Simmons was 
united in marriage to Miss Mary Nettleton, a daughter of Tifnay and Mary 
(Griswold) Nettleton. Mrs. Simmons was born in Penfield township, Monroe 
county, New York, and was a most devoted and faithful wife and mother. She 
died April 28, 1886, and her loss was sincerely mourned by many who knew her. 
Mr. and Mrs. Simmons were the parents of ten children. Oliver lived on a farm 
in Wheatland township until sixteen years of age and then went to Joliet and 
later to Ohio, where he was married. He was subsequently mail clerk on the 
Michigan Central Railroad for a number of years and also deputy sheriff of 
Will county, Illinois, while during the Civil war he was drafting officer. In 
1865 he went to Petrolia, Canada, during the oil excitement and there engaged 
in the oil business, meeting with great success. He served as mayor of 
Petrolia for several terms, was a member of the city and county council and at 
the time of his death, in 1903, was serving his adopted country as a member of 
parliament. His death occurred in Kansas City, Missouri, where he had gone for 
treatment. Andrew, the next of the family, is a retired farmer of Plainfield. 
Henry E., died in Kansas City in 1883, at the age of thirty-three years. At 
the age of eighteen years he served as usher and captain of the guards in the 
Joliet state prison. Solomon W. lived for some time at Joliet and then he 
removed to Kansas City, where he died about four years ago. Olive died in 
1840, at the age of two years. Mahala died in 1858. Mary is the wife of George 
Pickel. Rosetta is the wife of Dr. C. H. Carson, of Kansas City, Missouri. 
Louisa is the wife of C. W. Cropsey, now located at Topeka, Kansas. Laura is 
the deceased wife of Willis Brainard, of Pairbury, Nebraska. Judge Simmons was 
for many years a prominent and active factor in the public life, and the 
interests of Will county were largely promoted through his public spirited 
efforts in its behalf. His early political allegiance was given to the 
democracy but following his removal to Illinois he became an opponent of the 
system of slavery as practiced in the south and when the republican party was 
formed to prevent its further extension he joined its ranks and remained one 
of its stalwart advocates until his death. His fellow townsmen, recognizing 
his capability and loyalty, called him to various public offices. In 1853 he 
was elected county judge, in which capacity he served for one term. For six 
years he represented Wheatland township on the county board of supervisors. In 
1862 he received appointment from Governor Yates to the position of enrolling 
officer for Will county and President Lincoln subsequently appointed him to a 
similar position for the sixth congressional district, where he superintended 
the draft. He served as superintendent of the Will county poor house for 
twenty-seven years. His entire public service was characterized by an 
unfaltering devotion to duty and he made few mistakes in the performance of 
any public service. His course therefore was one which awakened uniform 
commendation and his fellow townsmen recognized his worth and value as a 
citizen. In business he met creditable success through the employment of 
methods which neither sought nor required disguise. He spent his last years in 
honorable retirement in Plainfield, where he died in 1894, having for almost a 
half a century been a resident of Will county. Andrew T. Simmons, son of Judge 
Solomon Simmons, is now living retired in Plainfield after long, years of 
connection with farming interests in Will county. He was born in 183S and 
spent his boyhood and youth upon the old homestead farm, early becoming 
familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the 
agriculturist. For many years he carried on farming at the old homestead 
between Joliet and Plainfield, where he brought his land under a high state of 
cultivation, so that he annually gathered good harvests therefrom. He was a 
successful farmer, so directing his labors and conducting his agricultural 
interests that prosperity resulted, and when he had acquired a sufficient 
competence he retired from active life and took up his abode in the village of 
Plainfield, where he now makes his home. Mr. Simmons' was united in marriage 
to Miss Emma Culver, a daughter of S. Culver. She died on the 21st of 
December, 1894, at the age of fifty-one years. They had previously lost two 
children, Alice and Nellie, and two daughters and one son of the family are 
yet living, Pearl and Wilbur being still at home, while Myrtle is the wife of 
Earl Spangler of Plainfield. They have one daughter, Olive, eleven years of 
age. Mr. Simmons has led a somewhat quiet and uneventful life, yet his course 
has been marked by those characteristics which constitute the good citizen and 
the reliable business man, and therefore his example is well worthy of 
emulation. At the early age of twenty-one years he was elected collector of 
Wheatland township and most acceptably filled that position. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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