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.
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