BIO: William SIMONTON, 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 210. 
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  SIMONTON, WILLIAM, son of Dr. William Simonton and his wife Jean 
Wiggins, was born in 1788, in Hanover township, Dauphin county, Pa., 
and died May 17, 1846, in Hanover.  At the death of his father he was 
only twelve years of age.  His early education was received under the 
direction of his mother, and consisted of the branches usually taught 
in the country schools of that period.  As he was inclined to the 
medical profession, he studied Latin under the tuition of the Rev. 
James R. Sharon, pastor of the Derry and Paxtang churches.  After the 
usual preliminary instruction under a private preceptor, he studied 
medicine with Dr. Samuel Meyrick, of Middletown, afterwards attending 
lectures of the Medical Department, University of Pennsylvania, in 
Philadelphia, from which he received the degree of M. D.  In the 
distribution of property resulting from his father's death, the farm 
"Antigua" was equally divided between him and his brother, John W. 
Simonton.  The latter occupied the homestead until his death in 1824, 
which occurred a few days previous to the death of his mother.  After 
the erection of the necessary buildings in 1818, he took possession of 
his new home, where the remainder of his life was spent.  While his 
time was devoted to the practice of medicine, the farming operations 
were carried on under his superintendence.  He always took an interest 
in political affairs, and was accustomed to act with the Whigs in 
opposition to the Democrats, who had retained possession of the 
National Government from the election of Andrew Jackson in 1824.  He 
was elected county auditor in 1823, serving three years, and in 1838 he 
was nominated as a candidate for Congress from the district then 
composed of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon, and was elected by a 
large majority.  He was re-elected in 1840.  During the extra session 
of Congress, held in the summer of 1841, Dr. Simonton's health gave 
way.  Having been accustomed to an active life and to exercise on 
horseback, strict attention to public business, with confinement to the 
atmosphere of Washington during the heated term, so prostrated him 
physically that he was unable to attend regularly upon the sessions of 
1842 and 1843.  He never fully recovered his health, though he resumed 
his medical practice, which was continued nearly three years after the 
close of his congressional career.  In person Dr. Simonton was five 
feet eleven inches in height, of good presence and proportions, with 
regular features and very black hair, which retained its color to the 
last.  He was a modest, diffident man, but of a genial and friendly 
disposition.  For some years previous to his death he was an elder of 
old Derry church, and while in Washington a member of the Congressional 
prayer-meeting.  He was a decided Presbyterian in his faith, and ever 
took a deep interest in the affairs of the denomination to which he 
belonged.  He was a strict observer of the Sabbath and of the services 
of the sanctuary.  He maintained family worship, and was careful to 
give his children a religious training.  He acquired a good reputation 
as a physician, and for many years had an extensive country practice.  
Dr. Simonton married Martha Davis Snodgrass, born 1790; died April, 
1862; daughter of Rev. James Snodgrass, of Hanover.