BIOGRAPHY: William SIMMERS, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 408-9
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WILLIAM SIMMERS, superintendent of mines of Frugality, this county, is a son of 
James and Catharine (Rudolph) Simmers, and was born in Prussia, German Empire, 
in 1841. His father, James Simmers, also a native of Prussia, was a carpenter by 
trade, and followed this occupation while in the land of his nativity. He also 
served six years in the German army, as is required of all male citizens of that 
country. In 1842 he emigrated with his family to America, and located at St. 
Clair, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where he worked at his trade of a 
carpenter all his life.
    His marriage with Catharine Rudolph, of Prussia, the mother of our subject, 
resulted in the birth of nine children, four sons and five daughters: Margaret, 
deceased, was the wife of John Wisher, of Schuylkill county; Catharine, 
deceased, who was the wife of George Schetzer, of Schuylkill county; Charles, 
who was a soldier in the late Civil War; Joseph, deceased, was also a soldier in 
the Civil War; William; Catharine, the widow of John Youmer, of Pottsville, 
Pennsylvania; Mary, the widow of Nicholas Cunningham; Harry, a section boss in 
the State of Texas, also served his country in the late war; and Elizabeth, of 
Latrobe. Pa. Mr. Simmers with his family was identified with the Roman Catholic 
church, of which he was a devout member.
    William Simmers came to America with his parents when but a child. He 
received a limited education in the public schools of Schuylkill county, and 
when but ten years old was employed in the Schuylkill county mines, where by 
perseverance and close application to business he arose from one position to 
another until at the age of twenty-seven years he became mine boss. He has 
worked all through the anthracite coal region, occupying various responsible 
positions. As mine boss he has been unusually successful in avoiding the 
terrible accidents incident to mining.
    In 1872 he removed to Sullivan county, where he was employed as a boss 
throughout the semi-anthracite region until 1882. In the latter year he removed 
to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and engaged in mining coal on his own account 
for a few years, and then returned to the hard coal region, where he took charge 
of the Rough and Ready shaft at Pittston, now known as the Phoenix colliery. 
After remaining there five years he returned to Bradford county for a few years, 
and then located in Arnett, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he accepted a 
position as mine superintendent. After an experience of three years in this 
field he removed in September, 1889, to his present home in Frugality, this 
county, and became superintendent of mines. The company had opened but one 
colliery when he took the position; since then four others have been opened, and 
all are in operation, employing about two hundred and seventy-five men. Mr. 
Simmers has explored about all the coal land under the control of his company, 
extending over an area of five thousand acres.
    In politics he is a staunch republican, and in religious faith is a member 
of the Roman Catholic church.
    In 1859 he celebrated his marriage with Miss Emma Gradewell (a native of 
England), of Schuylkill county. Their marriage has resulted in the birth of the 
following children: Emma, deceased; George, a mine boss of Frugality; 
Margaretta, the wife of William Hall, of Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania; 
William, a miner of Frugality; Catharine, the wife of Matthias Falsey, of 
Frugality; Frank and Harry, both deceased; Abbie, at home; Michael, deceased; 
Joseph, a blacksmith, of Frugality; Emma at home; Charles, Thomas, Mary and 
James.