Augustine Simmons Sprague's Journal of Maine History Vol. 6 May, June, July 1918 No. 1 page 25-27 Augustine Simmons By ELMER W. SAWYER. Judge Augustine Simmons was born at Topsham, Maine, Feb- ruary 20, 1849. His parents were James D. and Ann C. (Rogers) Simmons. James D. Simmons was a lawyer and practiced in Brunswick and Bath. It is probably due to this early environment that Judge Simmons also selected the law as his profession. James Simmons moved his family to Brunswick in 1852. From that time until his death judge Simmons considered Brunswick his "home town." It was there that he spent his boyhood. It was there that he received his early education. All through his life he kept up his intimate acquaintance with Brunswick people. In 1866 he left the public schools of Brunswick and under the instruction of Rev. A. D. Wheeler began to prepare himself for college. In 1867 lie entered Bowdoin College. In 1,869 he was compelled to leave Bowdoin, in order to earn money to complete his education. It was not until 1881 that he was graduated from col- lege. In the meantime he had studied a short time at Bates College and had completed the work required at Bowdoin. In 1881 be was given a diploma which made him a graduate of Bowdoin with the class in which he commenced the course. When he was compelled to suspend his studies at college he took up teaching, not only because it offered the best solution of his problem, but because teaching appealed to him. His first school was Anson Academy. at North Anson. He was principal of that institution four consecutive years, beginning in 1870, except for one term which he taught at Derby Academy, in Hingham, Massa- chusetts. On August 7, 1877, he was admitted to the Kennebec County Bar after having completed his studies with E. W. & F. E. McFadden, a law firm in Fairfield. After his admission to the bar he was editor of the Fairfield journal for nearly a year. He resumed teaching for a short period before he began actual law practice. Twelve years of his life he spent teaching. He taught thirteen different schools among which were Anson Academy, Derby Acad- emy, Fryeburg Academy, Oak Grove Seminary and Fairfield High School. His actual practice of law began on November 24, 1880, when he opened a law office at North New Portland. From his first visit to North Anson in 187o he had been strongly attracted to the little village. There were four lawyers in active practice at North Anson in 1870, which induced him to open an office at North New Portland. North New Portland was as near North Anson as he could practice without competing with the North Anson attorneys. However, in he following May he gave up his office at North New Portland and opened an office at North Anson. The com- petition was keen as his office was the fifth law office in the small village. For several years his practice was the old story of the young lawyer-a living. But as the years went by his practice increased. One by one the other offices were discontinued until he, alone, remained. He had practiced in North Anson village nearly thirty-eight years, when his work was finished on October 24, 19117. During his years of practice judge Simmons attained distinction in his profession. He was judge of the Probate Court of Somersett County eight years, from 1904 to 1912. The vote he received in each election was a personal tribute to his ability, and the manner in which he ran ahead of his ticket demonstrated the esteem in which he was held even in the rank of the opposition. This is the only public office ever held by judge Simmons, although he was frequently urged to become a candidate for the office of attorney general, and once at least was selected for nomination as a justice of the Supreme judicial Court when the next vacancy should occur. judge Simmons did not desire office. It was a common saying of his when urged to become a candidate :-"The only office I want is law office." In religious belief judge Simmons was a Unitarian. In politics he began life a Democrat. He remained a Democrat until Cleve- land was refused the nomination of his party for a second term. He then became a Republican and remained a Republican as long as he lived. It required courage to make the change, because like all men in prominent positions in life who do likewise, he was not free from accusation of ulterior purpose. As a Republican he served as a member of the Republican County Committee for Somerset County, and for four years was a member of the Re- publican State Committee. Judge Simmons was made a Mason May 11, 1871. He was a member of Northern Star Lodge, F. and A. M., No. 28, of North Anson, and in 1882 was Master of that Lodge. He was also; a member of Somerset Chapter Royal Arch Masons, Mount Moriah Council and of De Molay Commandery, K. T., all of Skowhegan. He was also a member of Kora Temple, Mystic Shrine. He was a direct descendant of John and Priscilla Alden and was, for several years a member of Alden Kindred of America. He was also a descendant of Philippe Delanois, a French Huguenot, who came to this country on the Fortune. For several years judge Simmons had been a member of the Society of -Mayflower De- scendants of Maine, and on November 21, 1913, was elected Gov- ernor of the Society, which office lie held one year. Comm. Franklin Simmons, of Rome, Italy, the well known Amer- ican sculptor, who created the Logan Equestrian Monument and the Peace Monument which now stand on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D. C., was a cousin of judge Simmons. Although ten years separated their ages, judge Simmons and Franklin Sim- mons were very intimate, an intimacy which began when they were boys and lasted until the sculptor's death in 1913. On November 22, 1872, Judge Simmons was united in marriage to Alice Patten Gahan of North Anson, the eldest daughter of James S. and Maria (Moore) Gahan. Mrs. Simmons' lovable nature and kindly disposition contributed largely to judge Sim- mons' success both as a teacher and in his later life, making pos- sible successes which, without her assistance, he could not have attained. They had no children but the greater part of their mar- ried life was spent in helping the children of others in less happy circumstances. In Maine judge Simmons was regarded as one of the strongest lawyers. Although he always practiced in a small village, his abil- ity was recognized everywhere. He was ever ready to assist the young lawyer, and in his office several young men were fitted for the bar. His popularity with the profession as well as with every- one else was truly remarkable. He was especially a favorite with young people, who went to him with their joys and their sorrows. Even in his advanced years he was one of them. His command of language, coupled with his originality of ex- pression and his eccentricities of manner, made him a real char- acter, a lawyer of the old school, about whom anecdotes will be told as he was wont to tell them about others. 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