Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Simmons, Judge Solomon 1812 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 5, 2007, 1:20 pm Author: Portraits & Bio Sketches, 1890 JUDGE SOLOMON SIMMONS. No citizen of Plainfield has read more extensively, thought more deeply, or is better posted than the gentleman above named. His judgment is keen, and after once arriving at a conclusion he is very positive, and only serious thought and study of pros and cons will change his ideas. Frank and open-hearted, all know the meaning of his words and actions and respect him accordingly. He is liberal in his religious belief, has never even touched tobacco with his fingers and has always been an ardent advocate of temperance and a believer in prohibition, although not a third party man. Judge Simmons was born in Claverick, Columbia County, N. Y., March 18, 1812, and is 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 to William Simmons and his wife. The grandparents of our subject came to America about the time of the Revolutionary War, and the grandfather died in Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, N. Y., 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 was reared. The father of our subject was in his teens when he came to America with his parents, and in the Empire State when forty years of age he was married. His first purchase of real estate was a farm of one hundred and twenty acres at Rhinebeck and upon this estate he settled after his marriage. He purchased one hundred and thirty acres in Columbia County but lost it by a defective title. He continued to reside in Dutchess County until 1826, when he removed to Penfield, Monroe County, making that his place of abode until he was removed from the toils and cares of earth in September, 1831. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Simmons comprised five children, viz: Daniel and Jacob (twins), Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Solomon, the subject of this sketch. The mother married the second time and spent the latter years of her life in Penfield, breathing her last there in January, 1833. Her father, John Murray, served in the Revolutionary War and died in the service; he is believed to have been born in Ireland. The gentleman of whom we write was fourteen years old when his father removed to Monroe County, N. Y., and there he began working on a farm at $5 per month. When sixteen years old he became a driver on the Erie Canal, following the tow path six months. For five years he continued in the employ of the canal company, soon being placed in charge of a boat. In 1833 he went to Ohio and bought a tract of timber land in Geauga County, near Bainbridge. There he built a log house; he began cutting down the trees, grubbing out the stumps and otherwise preparing the soil for cultivation. During the year he cleared quite a tract, after which he sold the place and bought another which already had quite a large clearing upon it. In 1836 Mr. Simmons began boating on the Ohio Canal, but after following that occupation two seasons again turned his attention to the improvement of a farm. In 1839 he explored the northern part of Illinois, purchased eighty acres in Kane County and a claim to eighty more of Government land. It was his intention to remove hither that fall, but money due him could not be collected, and other misfortunes happening, he sold the land and remained in Ohio until 1845. Then, with his wife and children, he started westward, making an overland journey to Illinois, arriving at Plainfield September 19. He purchased a tract of wild land in DuPage Township and two years later eighty acres of improved land near Wheatland. To this estate he added until it amounted to two hundred and forty acres. This he operated until 1863, when he sold it, purchasing another farm which consisted of one hundred and ninety-two acres and cost $50 per acre. This valuable piece of property was his home until 1880, when he sold it and took up his abode in Plainfield. It will thus be seen that the persevering efforts of Judge Simmons resulted in the accumulation of a comfortable fortune and the ease to which he is entitled is made possible by his finances. For a time he followed in the footsteps of his father and voted the Democratic ticket, but on removing to Illinois he joined the anti-slavery forces and has been a Republican since the formation of the party. He has filled various offices of trust, and in every position has acted wisely and well. In 1853 he was elected County Judge, in which capacity he served one term. For six years he represented Wheatland Township on the County Board of Supervisors. In 1862 Gov. Yates appointed him enrolling officer for Will County, and President Lincoln subsequently appointed him to a similar position for the Sixth Congressional District where he superin- tended the draft. In looking back over a long life, Judge Simmons would no doubt see where he has made mistakes, as who can not, but he would have the pleasure of realizing that his aim has ever been toward that which is noble and that the example of his life is one worthy to be followed. On January 6, 1833, the rites of wedlock were celebrated between Judge Simmons and Miss Mary, daughter of Tifnay and Mary (Griswold) Nettleton. Mrs. Simmons was born in Penfield Township, Monroe County, N. Y., possessed many virtues and made a happy home for her husband and children until called from them to the land beyond. She breathed her last April 28, 1886, deeply regretted by a host of friends. She had borne her husband ten children, whose record is as follows: Oliver is now living in Petrolia, Canada; Andrew, in Plainfield Township, this county; Henry E. was born January 20, 1850, and died in Kansas City in 1883, Solomon W. is living in Joliet; Olive, the second child, died in 1840 when but two years old; Mahala died in 1858; Mary married George Pickel (see sketch); Rosetta is the wife of C. H. Carson, M. D., of Kansas City; Louisa, wife of C. W. Cropsey, Kansas City; Laura was the wife of Willis Brainard, of Fairbury, Neb. She is deceased. Additional Comments: Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/simmons489gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 6.9 Kb