BIO: Oliver B. SIMMONS, Dauphin County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 313.
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  SIMMONS, COL. O. B., was born in Harrisburg, Pa., April 28, 1842. He 
is the third son of George W. Simmons, who was one of the oldest and 
most honored citizens of Harrisburg.  He died April 5, 1889.  He was a 
lineal descendant of Colonel Whitley and Capt. Mike Ward of Paxtang 
Valley, who were of Scotch-Irish origin, and were noted officers in the 
war of 1812.
  Colonel Simmons received his education in the common schools of 
Harrisburg.  At the age of nineteen, he was one of the first to respond 
to the call for troops at the breaking out of the Civil war.  He 
enlisted April 18, 1861, as a private soldier, in the Lochiel Grays.  
During his service in the army he was promoted, at different times, for 
the only qualities that entitle a soldier to promotion, discipline and 
gallantry on the field of battle.  His last promotion was to the rank 
of brevet colonel.  He served in the Eastern and Western armies, until 
January 18, 1866, when he received an honorable discharge, having given 
to his country five of the best years of his life.
  After his return to Harrisburg he became deputy warden of the county 
prison, which position he held for ten years.  Since that time he has 
been engaged in various business ventures.  He finally located in the 
eastern part of the city, and engaged in plumbing and gas-fitting, 
being senior partner of the firm of O. B. Simmons & Son.
  Colonel Simmons represented the Ninth ward of the city in common 
council, and is also president of the board of health, and chairman of 
the joint sanitary committee.  He has always taken an active interest 
in city and State politics, and is a strong adherent to Republican 
principles.  He is a charter member of Post 58, G.A.R.  He withdrew 
from the charter membership of Knights of Pythias.
  He was first married in Baton Rouge, La., in 1865, and had three 
children, George W., in business with his father; Charles K., and 
Gertrude, a trained nurse of Philadelphia.  He was again married in 
1895, to Miss Harriet Mahaney, a prominent teacher in the city schools.  
Mrs. Simmons is a member of Bethel church, and Colonel Simmons attends 
the same church.

Note: Oliver B. (58), Harriet E. (44) and Millard B. (1) Simmons appear 
in the 1900 Harrisburg Ward 9, Dauphin County census.