History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade and Barton Counties, MO
Cedar County Biography Section

     Dr. John D. Simrell, practicing physician and surgeon of 
Washington Township, was born in Sullivan County, Ind., in 
1835, and is the third of two sons and three daughters born 
to William and Mary (Whalen) Simrell, natives of Tennessee.  
They were reared in that State, were married there, and there 
remained until 1830, when they removed to Indiana.  Mr. Simrell
died there in 1870, and Mrs. Simrell in 1882. Both were members
of the Methodist Church for many years, and the father was a 
farmer by occupation.  He was the son of William Simrell.  
The maternal grandfather, John Whalen, was born in North 
Carolina, and died in Indiana.  He was a soldier in the War of
1812, with Jackson.  Dr. John D. Simrell began for himself at
the age of fifteen as a farm hand, and attended school when he
had the means.  In 1856 he began the study of medicine, but 
soon discontinued that and took up the study of law, which, 
after continuing for some time, he abandoned and returned to 
the study of medicine, having previously taught a year.  
In 1859 and 1860 he attended the Eclectic Medical Collage at 
Cincinnati, Ohio, then taught school, and continued his studies
until 1864, when he joined Company D, First Indiana Heavy 
Artillery, and served in Louisiana until the close of the war.
He was private secretary of Gen. William P. Benton, at first, 
but afterward assisted in the medical department.  He was 
married, in 1857, to Miss Albarado, daughter of James and 
Jemima Hughes.  Mrs. Simrell was born in Kentucky, and died 
in 1866.  She was the mother of three children, one daughter 
now living.  Mr. Simrell's second marriage was in 1869, to 
Miss Sudie, a native of Morgan County, Mo., and the daughter 
of Andrew and Nancy Masters, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee,
respectively.  Mr. and Mrs. Masters came to Cedar County, Mo.,
before the war, and here Mr. Masters died in 1870.  Mrs. Masters
is still living.  Mr. Masters served in the militia during the
war, and was probate judge several terms in Morgan County.  
To the Doctor and last wife were born seven children, three 
sons and four daughters.  He first came to Cedar County in 
1866, and has since lived in Washington Township, where he has
640 acres in several farms, all the result of his own work.  
He has practiced his profession with considerable success ever
since locating in Cedar County, and is one of its leading 
physicians as well as farmers and stock-raisers.  He has been 
a Democrat in his political views all his life, and his first 
presidential vote was for James Buchanan in 1856.  He has been
a member of Humansville Lodge of the I.O.O.F. for about 
seven years, and has held various offices. 

History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade and Barton Counties,
Missouri, published by Goodspeed, 1889--Pages 776, 777  
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