Mervin Allen Simmons, Mar 10, 1843 - Aug 29, 1920

SIMMONS, JARBOE, AGNEW, BRUNELL, JOHNSON, SHEDENHELM, BROWN, WANAMAKER

Posted By: Ava Simmons (email)
Date: 2/27/2005 at 16:41:52

OBITUARY, (Marengo newspaper, name & date of paper unknown):

"M.A. SIMMONS IS CALLED TO HOME ABOVE
Descendant of the Jarboes of Maryland the Kin of Ethan Allen is Laid to Rest

One of the largest funerals held in Marengo during recent years occurred on Tuesday morning August 31, at St. Patrick's church when the last rites were performed for Mervin Allen Simmons. A distinguished assembly of friends and relatives from all over Iowa County gathered at the church and business houses and professional offices were closed during the fore noon as a mark of respect to the man who was a pioneer in the material welfare and the moral ideals of this section of Iowa. A profusion of floral tributes to the memory of the dead man and the customary black vestitures of the church added solemn beauty and impressiveness to the occasion.

Mr. Simmons was born on the 19th day of March, 1843, at Edinburgh, Maryland, and was the son of Baker Howard and Theresa Anne Jarboe Simmons. His father was the namesake and godson of General John Eager Howard, the Revolutionary hero and was a wealthy plantation holder and the master of hundreds of slaves. Mr. Simmons, himself, was the namesake of his uncle, Rev. Mervin Allen, the brother of General Ethan Allen, also of Revolutionary fame, while his mother was a member of the distinguished Jarboe family of Maryland, whose members have contributed so much in service and intellect to the prowess and glory of the old Confederacy in war and in peace and whose early ancestors were among those seeking religious freedom in company of Lord Baltimore who colonized in 1631, the state of Mr. Simmons' birth.

In 1861, Mr. Simmons, imbued with the true pioneer spirit left the affluence and luxury of life in the south for the rigors and wilderness of the prairie. In 1866 he was married at Iowa City in old St. Mary's church to Miss Mary B. Agnew, the daughter of two Iowa pioneers, who had also come westward from the Old Line State. To this union were born twelve children, nine of whom are still living. They are Mrs. E.E. Brunell of Minneapolis, Mrs. W.B. Johnson of Davenport, Mrs. Myrene Shedenhelm of Gowrie, Iowa, Mrs. Arthur Brown of Marengo, Miss Therese Simmons of Marengo, Ray Simmons, Mark Simmons, Paul Simmons of Marengo and C.J. Simmons of Williamsburg. Besides a large number of grandchildren and great grandchildren, Mr. Simmons is also survived by three brothers and one sister, John, Edwin and William Simmons and Mrs. Ida Wanamaker.

Mr. Simmons was a leader in his community and for many years was active in every forward movement for the benefit of Marengo. He was a marksman with a state wide reputation and was a promoter of every wholesome sort of sport. As a young man his religious convictions were so strong as to always reflect the spirit of "the land of this sanctuary" whence he hailed. For a number of years in his early manhood before any house of worship had been erected in Marengo, it was his custom to attend mass beneath a large and ancient tree. His wife's former pastor, the Rev. Peter Emonds, came weekly on horseback from Iowa City, to minister to the spiritual needs of the little flock of which Mr. Simmons was a devout and ardent member.

The mass of requiem for Mr. Simmons was celebrated by the Very Reverend William L. Hannon, President of St. Ambrose College, Davenport, who was assisted by Rev. J. J. Glenn of Williamsburg. The choir sang the Gregorian requiem mass and during the Offertory - Cherubini's Veni Jesu was sung by Mrs. E.J. Sullivan, Mrs. Paul Hummer, Mrs. Ed Hogan Jr. and Miss Elizabeth Glenn. Following the mass, Mrs. Hogan also sang, "I Would Not Live Alway". As the cortege proceeded from the church, a trio arrangement of "Face to Face" was sung by Mrs. E.J. Sullivan, Mrs. Ed Hogan Jr., and Mrs. Paul Hummer, Mrs. Sullivan singing the solo parts. Irwin Moyihan presided at the organ.

Father Hannon who read the comforting message of the days epistle taken from St. Paul to the Corinthians also paid a rich tribute to the memory of the dead man. He recalled Mr. Simmons many sterling qualities as a community leader, an upright citizen and a pioneer in Christian and national ideals. Father Hannon paid equal homage to the manner in which he lived in relation to his fellow man and to his warm and earnest convictions with regard to the religion of his mother which he early embraced and in which he lived and died. Mr. Simmons example as a model citizen and a Christian gentleman was one as worthy of emulation as it is choice in remembrance. The service was closed with brief prayers for the dead and in Calvary cemetery, one of Marengo's grand old patriarchs was lowered to his last rest by his four sons, Ray, Mark, Paul and C.J. Simmons and his two grandsons, Mervin Brown and Lloyd Simmons."