My great-grandfather, Mervin Allen Simmons, was a successful businessman in Maerengo, Iowa. He was a well-respected member of his community- so much so that shops were closed for his funeral... which was conducted by no less a figure than the Very Reverend William Hannon, President of St. Ambrose College, Davenport, Iowa. He lived most of his life in the 19th century, and he lived in a world that was filled with "old-fashioned" values. Thus, he was hardly soft and I doubt if he had much of a feminine side... but he was in love with a woman... and as a young man, he expressed his love in letters. He married Mary (Mollie) Agnew on July 2, 1866 in Iowa City, Iowa... and I would like to present two of the love letters he wrote to her before they were married.
March 10, 1864
Dear Mollie
You are aware this 10th of March A.D. Eighteen hundred and sixty four- is my 21st birthday. And I sincerely say it is the happiest I ever witnessed. Although the mind is more at ease and the heart knows no sorrow during (childhood), it is momentary as it (pales) in comparison to that to that which has deeply penetrated my heart this day. And is this happiness a momentary feeling? I solemnly vow it is not. The present bestowed upon me this day by her whom I so truly, and devotedly love, shall be held in sacred remembrance, as a token of your true, pure, and unfaltering love, you bear for me. It is a true emblem of yourself. Not only does it represent you in splendor, beauty, and brilliancy, but it contains the richest and most valuable qualities the world ever produced. I (the) future, if I ever should chance to be separated from you, this ring will be my companion and great consolation. In all my trials and afflictions it shall serve as a guide, to direct me in all my actions as your true representative. Daily will I kiss it and think of you. If it is for the honor and glory of God and our salvation we should ever be united, may the love we bear each other be such that none can sever. Hoping you will receive these few words as my most grateful thanks for (the) blessing you have bestowed upon me. I remaine (sic) your ever devoted.
Mervin
P.S. In (the) future, if you ever desire, or request, anything in the name of this ring, if it lies within my power to grant it, by the grace of God it shall be done.
Adieu
August 9, 1865
Dear Mollie
I know that you are anticipating a letter and I cannot be so wicked as to disappoint you, although I have no doubt you are enjoying yourself well/ You are of a roaming disposition and I know it is a source of great pleasure for you to mount a spirited steed and fleet over the Prairie by moonlight, your true little heart pounding with joy and seldom thinking of the lonely heart which is longing for its companion. Yet I love such a spirit. I would not that one thought of me should cause you one moments sadness. As for my part, I assure you it is a great pleasure to know you are happy and contented. Had I my wish, never a moment of sorrow should cross your path, but so far your troubles in life have been but imaginary cases and I know it is with me that your future happiness reposes. May God give me grace to prove worthy of the love and confidence which you have bestowed upon me. Oh! Mollie I need not try to express how lonely I feel during this beautiful weather. It is of great gratification to me to seek some retired spot after the days labors have ceased, and indulge in the many thoughts of you which are continually pressing themselves upon my mind and which, of course, I do not care to resist. Now Mollie I have a "streak" of good news for you. It is with much pleasure that I announce to you another little Brother. He was introduced to the world yesterday morning. Now Mollie, do not let your great anxiety to kiss the little dear tempt you to anything rash. Do not attempt to walk home but be patient and I will come after you next Sunday if nothing happens to prevent. Dear Mollie be true happy and contented and great will be your reward.
Yours Truly,
Mervin
Monday, January 25, 2016
A PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF THE BAKER HOWARD SIMMONS-THERESA ANN JARBOE FAMILY
On January 31, 1915, Eva Simmons wrote a personal memorandum about her family. It is rich in detail... and I am reproducing it here, wishing that every family had someone who would tell their story.
Grandfather Simmons name was Baker Howard Simmons. He was born near Frederick, Maryland. His father came from England. Grandmother Simmons' maiden name was Theresa Ann Jarboe and she was of French descent. They lived on a farm of 160 acres in Frederick County, Maryland, about 9 miles from Frederick.
Grandmother died (on) July 16, 1897, on a farm 3 miles north of Marengo, Iowa, of apoplexy. Grandmother had one brother, James Jarboe, and a half-brother, Will Perry. Uncle Jarboe lived with grandfather and grandmother until the last year or so of his life, when he came to town and lived with us. He died January 11, 1903, at the age of 82 years, p months, and 1 day.
Grandfather had one brother, James, who was an auctioneer. Uncle Glen lived with his uncle, James Simmons, a bachelor most of the time when he lived in Maryland. This uncle adopted a girl, whose name was Bowers, to whom he left all of his money, except $500, which he left to uncle Glen. It was his wish that Uncle Glen marry this girl, but Uncle Glen thought differently (and) he never married. Uncle Glen was drafted twice while in Maryland for the Civil War by the North, but was exempted on account of his health.
They had 13 slaves at the tome of the Civil War. Papa was 11 years old when the Civil War began. Grandfather wasn't in the Civil War on account of poor health. Uncle John andUncle Merve came out to Iowa during the War... because they couldn't get across the Potomac River to fight for the South, on account of its being guarded by Northern men... and the North was drafting every able bodied man in Maryland. Uncle John cane to Iowa first. They first worked at Iowa City.
Grandfather and Grandmother Simmons had the following children: John Baker, Glenville, Mervin, Edwin, Alonzo, William Heald, Clarence, Ida, and Clara. Uncle John is a retired farmer and has been living in Marengo, Iowa the last couple of years. His wife's maiden name was May Long. They had the following children living: Charles, Fred and Ed, all of whom are farmers. Annie married Al Lynch, a stock dealer and widower, and Frank (unmarried), who works in Fred Karsten's clothing store, and stays home.
Uncle Merve (my great-grandfather) is now engaged in the abstract business here.His wife's maiden name was Molly Agnew. They have the following children living: Ray, who is not a retired farmer living in Marengo; Carroll, who is a Cashier of the Farmer's Savings Bank of Williamsburg Iowa; Mark, who is the shoe business here; Paul, who works out by the month on different farms; Laura, who is married to Arthur Brown, a farmer north of town; Kate, who is now a widow and who lives in Minneapolis; Millie, who is married to W.P. Johnson of Davenport, who is a superintendent of a correspondence school; Teresa, who lives at home; and Myrene, who is married to Clarence Shedenhelm, a farmer north of town.
Uncle Ed was married in Maryland. His wife's name was Anna, and she died when Keenly was born. She is buried in Maryland. They had two other children, namely, Raymond and Florence. Raymond and Keenly are both farmers, living north of Marengo. Raymond is married and has 6 children. His wife's maiden name was Clara Stephens. Uncle Ed makes his home with them. Keenly is married and has one child, Lucilla. His wife's maiden name was Helen Jacobi. Florence is married to Clarence Brown, a farmer north of town, and has 5 children (6, as Mark was born after 1915 when this was written).
Uncle Lon died at the Hospital for Insane at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa several years ago. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary (Molly) Sinks, died about six months afterwards. They had the following children: Midge, who is married to Fred Karsten, who has a clothing store here, Lucille, Florence, and Mel.
Papa (William Heald) came out to Iowa in 1874 when he was about 24. Uncle Lon and Uncle Merve has a store here at the time and Papa worked around there for awhile when he first came from Maryland, and then on the Agnew farm 9 miles south of Marengo, and at different places. When he was about 33 he sent (sic) up to Watertown, South Dakota and worked a little over a year there. He and mamma were married in Kranzburg, South Dakota, October 30, 1884 when he was about 34. They have lived in Marengo since May, 1885. They have the following children living: Mary Winifred, Nona Regina, Frances Marie, Eva Josephine, William Ernest, James Glenville, Joseph Leo, and George Andrew.
Winnie married William G. Thomas, April 6, 1910, and is living in Iowa at the present time. Up to March 1915, they lived on a farm. They have one child, Robert Abraham. Nora married Peter Hartin, Jr., August 31, 1910, and is living on a farm 31/2 miles south of town. Frances has had 21/2 years of training at Mercy Hospital , Davenport, Iowa- dod not get to finish her training on account of sickness- and she occasionally gets nursing to do around Marengo. Eve is a stenographer in the law office of J.M. Dower and has been since January 20, 2012, having finished a 6 month business course at the Cedar Rapids business college on that date. Ernest is working in a general store in Norway, Iowa just now. He is going to quit in a short time and try to get work on a farm. James and George are going to high school. Len stays at home doing odd jobs now and then.
Uncle Clarence was a wood engraver. He worked at that trade in different cities, first going to Chicago from Marengo. He died about 4 years ago in Denver, Colorado. He had two daughters, Zola and Hazel.
Aunt Ida married William Wannanmaker, who died lover a year ago with cancer. They had one child, Edwin, who lives with his mother and works at a garage in town,
Aunt Clara was married in Maryland to Townie Dade and came out to Iowa on a farm a short time before Grandmother Simmons, Uncle Jarboe, Uncle Ed, and his family came here. They had two children, Lester and Jessie. Aunt Clara died of tuberculosis when Jessie was about 4 years old and Lester was 6 years old. Uncle Townie ran away a short time after Aunt Clara's death and hasn't been heard of for a long time. M.A. Mullin (now of Oakton, South Dakota) adopted Jessie and Lester, made his home with Grandmother Simmons as long as she lived.
Jessie is now a stenographer for the Minneapolis Drug Company Minneapolis, and Lester is Assistant Cashier for the Adams Express Company, Minneapolis. Lester married a French girl by the name of Alice Dupont, who was a dressmaker in Minneapolis in September 1012. They have one child, Dorothy, who was born in June, 1914.
Grandfather Simmons name was Baker Howard Simmons. He was born near Frederick, Maryland. His father came from England. Grandmother Simmons' maiden name was Theresa Ann Jarboe and she was of French descent. They lived on a farm of 160 acres in Frederick County, Maryland, about 9 miles from Frederick.
Grandmother died (on) July 16, 1897, on a farm 3 miles north of Marengo, Iowa, of apoplexy. Grandmother had one brother, James Jarboe, and a half-brother, Will Perry. Uncle Jarboe lived with grandfather and grandmother until the last year or so of his life, when he came to town and lived with us. He died January 11, 1903, at the age of 82 years, p months, and 1 day.
Grandfather had one brother, James, who was an auctioneer. Uncle Glen lived with his uncle, James Simmons, a bachelor most of the time when he lived in Maryland. This uncle adopted a girl, whose name was Bowers, to whom he left all of his money, except $500, which he left to uncle Glen. It was his wish that Uncle Glen marry this girl, but Uncle Glen thought differently (and) he never married. Uncle Glen was drafted twice while in Maryland for the Civil War by the North, but was exempted on account of his health.
They had 13 slaves at the tome of the Civil War. Papa was 11 years old when the Civil War began. Grandfather wasn't in the Civil War on account of poor health. Uncle John andUncle Merve came out to Iowa during the War... because they couldn't get across the Potomac River to fight for the South, on account of its being guarded by Northern men... and the North was drafting every able bodied man in Maryland. Uncle John cane to Iowa first. They first worked at Iowa City.
Grandfather and Grandmother Simmons had the following children: John Baker, Glenville, Mervin, Edwin, Alonzo, William Heald, Clarence, Ida, and Clara. Uncle John is a retired farmer and has been living in Marengo, Iowa the last couple of years. His wife's maiden name was May Long. They had the following children living: Charles, Fred and Ed, all of whom are farmers. Annie married Al Lynch, a stock dealer and widower, and Frank (unmarried), who works in Fred Karsten's clothing store, and stays home.
Uncle Merve (my great-grandfather) is now engaged in the abstract business here.His wife's maiden name was Molly Agnew. They have the following children living: Ray, who is not a retired farmer living in Marengo; Carroll, who is a Cashier of the Farmer's Savings Bank of Williamsburg Iowa; Mark, who is the shoe business here; Paul, who works out by the month on different farms; Laura, who is married to Arthur Brown, a farmer north of town; Kate, who is now a widow and who lives in Minneapolis; Millie, who is married to W.P. Johnson of Davenport, who is a superintendent of a correspondence school; Teresa, who lives at home; and Myrene, who is married to Clarence Shedenhelm, a farmer north of town.
Uncle Ed was married in Maryland. His wife's name was Anna, and she died when Keenly was born. She is buried in Maryland. They had two other children, namely, Raymond and Florence. Raymond and Keenly are both farmers, living north of Marengo. Raymond is married and has 6 children. His wife's maiden name was Clara Stephens. Uncle Ed makes his home with them. Keenly is married and has one child, Lucilla. His wife's maiden name was Helen Jacobi. Florence is married to Clarence Brown, a farmer north of town, and has 5 children (6, as Mark was born after 1915 when this was written).
Uncle Lon died at the Hospital for Insane at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa several years ago. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary (Molly) Sinks, died about six months afterwards. They had the following children: Midge, who is married to Fred Karsten, who has a clothing store here, Lucille, Florence, and Mel.
Papa (William Heald) came out to Iowa in 1874 when he was about 24. Uncle Lon and Uncle Merve has a store here at the time and Papa worked around there for awhile when he first came from Maryland, and then on the Agnew farm 9 miles south of Marengo, and at different places. When he was about 33 he sent (sic) up to Watertown, South Dakota and worked a little over a year there. He and mamma were married in Kranzburg, South Dakota, October 30, 1884 when he was about 34. They have lived in Marengo since May, 1885. They have the following children living: Mary Winifred, Nona Regina, Frances Marie, Eva Josephine, William Ernest, James Glenville, Joseph Leo, and George Andrew.
Winnie married William G. Thomas, April 6, 1910, and is living in Iowa at the present time. Up to March 1915, they lived on a farm. They have one child, Robert Abraham. Nora married Peter Hartin, Jr., August 31, 1910, and is living on a farm 31/2 miles south of town. Frances has had 21/2 years of training at Mercy Hospital , Davenport, Iowa- dod not get to finish her training on account of sickness- and she occasionally gets nursing to do around Marengo. Eve is a stenographer in the law office of J.M. Dower and has been since January 20, 2012, having finished a 6 month business course at the Cedar Rapids business college on that date. Ernest is working in a general store in Norway, Iowa just now. He is going to quit in a short time and try to get work on a farm. James and George are going to high school. Len stays at home doing odd jobs now and then.
Uncle Clarence was a wood engraver. He worked at that trade in different cities, first going to Chicago from Marengo. He died about 4 years ago in Denver, Colorado. He had two daughters, Zola and Hazel.
Aunt Ida married William Wannanmaker, who died lover a year ago with cancer. They had one child, Edwin, who lives with his mother and works at a garage in town,
Aunt Clara was married in Maryland to Townie Dade and came out to Iowa on a farm a short time before Grandmother Simmons, Uncle Jarboe, Uncle Ed, and his family came here. They had two children, Lester and Jessie. Aunt Clara died of tuberculosis when Jessie was about 4 years old and Lester was 6 years old. Uncle Townie ran away a short time after Aunt Clara's death and hasn't been heard of for a long time. M.A. Mullin (now of Oakton, South Dakota) adopted Jessie and Lester, made his home with Grandmother Simmons as long as she lived.
Jessie is now a stenographer for the Minneapolis Drug Company Minneapolis, and Lester is Assistant Cashier for the Adams Express Company, Minneapolis. Lester married a French girl by the name of Alice Dupont, who was a dressmaker in Minneapolis in September 1012. They have one child, Dorothy, who was born in June, 1914.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
THE SIMMONS-AGNEW-SHEDENHELM FAMILY
When I was growing up, I viewed my heritage through my father's surname. If someone asked me about my ancestry, I would've told them that I was a Shedenhelm, with ancestral roots in Germany. My father often said we were "Dutch German," and I suspect he had the German Palatines who emigrated to Pennsylvania in mind. We "Shedenhelms" are more Deutsch than Dutch, but it is quite accurate to say that we are German. In fact, we go back to the 13th century in the Nordlingen area and to the 16th century in the region of the Black Forest. I love my Shedenhelm ancestors- those who made a name for themselves and those who simply did the best they could- and God willing, I will visit the Schwarzwald myself some day.
However, to say that I am a "Shedenhelm," though correct, is incomplete because, even on the paternal side of the family, I was always a Shedenhelm...and...a Simmons. My grandfather was Clarence Shedenhelm (1883-1853) and my grandmother was Myrene Agnew Simmons (1887-1982). Clarence's parents were Joshua Shedenhelm and Elizabeth Johnson and Myrene's parents were Mervin Allen Simmons and Mary (Molly) Agnew (a surname with an unbroken like back to 1330 in our family tree). Since we all have 4 grandparents, 8 great grandparents, 16 gg grandparents... 1024 9ggp,,, and over 1 million 19x great- grandparents, each one of us is a lot of things. We are products of millions of surnames, but in this blog, I want to honor great-grandfather Simmons and great-grandmother Agnew... and my extended family, through them.
Due to family dynamics that are not clear to me, I don't remember meeting a "Simmons" other than grandma, even though they also lived in the area of Marengo, Iowa and even though grandma's siblings were just as much my uncles and aunts as my father's siblings were, In any event, I will start with start with Mervin A Simmons and Mary Agnew... and follow their ancestral trails, wherever they may lead me.
However, to say that I am a "Shedenhelm," though correct, is incomplete because, even on the paternal side of the family, I was always a Shedenhelm...and...a Simmons. My grandfather was Clarence Shedenhelm (1883-1853) and my grandmother was Myrene Agnew Simmons (1887-1982). Clarence's parents were Joshua Shedenhelm and Elizabeth Johnson and Myrene's parents were Mervin Allen Simmons and Mary (Molly) Agnew (a surname with an unbroken like back to 1330 in our family tree). Since we all have 4 grandparents, 8 great grandparents, 16 gg grandparents... 1024 9ggp,,, and over 1 million 19x great- grandparents, each one of us is a lot of things. We are products of millions of surnames, but in this blog, I want to honor great-grandfather Simmons and great-grandmother Agnew... and my extended family, through them.
Due to family dynamics that are not clear to me, I don't remember meeting a "Simmons" other than grandma, even though they also lived in the area of Marengo, Iowa and even though grandma's siblings were just as much my uncles and aunts as my father's siblings were, In any event, I will start with start with Mervin A Simmons and Mary Agnew... and follow their ancestral trails, wherever they may lead me.
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