SIMMONS, GEORGE W.

SIMMONS, ANTHONY, SAGE

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 7/27/2003 at 17:24:05

Biography reproduced from page 48 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

George W. Simmons lives on section 14, Burt township, Kossuth county, Iowa, and devotes his attention to farming, dairying and stock-raising. He operates three hundred and twenty acres of productive land in the district, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation and which is supplied with all modern equipments and accessories. He was born in Davenport, Iowa, on June 1, 1860, and is a son of Peter and Ellen (Anthony) Simmons. His father was born in Massachusetts and spent his youth and early manhood in that state. He was a millwright by trade and followed this occupation in Massachusetts and continued in it when he removed to Iowa in 1856. He located in Davenport and was successful and prosperous as a miller for some years.

George W. Simmons is one of a family of four children. He was reared in Davenport and early in life learned the machinist’s trade, at which he worked for several years. In 1887 he came to Kossuth county, locating in Luverne, where he was engaged in various lines of activity. He conducted a restaurant for four years, and when he disposed of his interest engaged in the machinery and farm implement business. He traveled in the employ of the Deering Harvester Company with Iowa territory and in 1902 located in Algona, where he established an implement and machinery business which he successfully conducted for three years. At the end of that time he removed to Burt where he followed the same line of occupation until 1908. In that year he rented his present farm comprising three hundred and twenty acres and has since met with gratifying success as an agriculturist. He does general farming and engages to some extent in the breeding of pure-blooded Shorthorn cattle and is also successful in the raising of high-grade Duroc Jersey hogs. He is a stockholder in the Burt Creamery Association and most of his dairy products are bought by this enterprise.

On March 11, 1884, Mr. Simmons was united in marriage, in Benton county, Iowa, to Miss Alice Sage, a native of Beverly, Massachusetts, and a daughter of M. C. Sage, who was born in England. Mrs. Simmons’ father was a soldier in the Crimean war and is still living at the advanced age of eighty-one years. The wife of our subject was reared in Iowa and received her education in the public schools of Benton county. She and her husband are the parents of seven children: Frank, who was married and passed away, January 13, 1909, at the age of twenty-three years; Irene E. and Carrie J., who are conducting a millinery business in Burt; Harry E., who is assisting his father in the work of the farm; and Mark E., Lester P., and Ralph Leslie.

Politically Mr. Simmons is a republican. He is a firm believer in the principles of prohibition and his active work along this line has done much to promote the cause of temperance. He has never sought public office, although he takes an intelligent interest in local affairs. He is a member of the Yeomen but beyond this has no fraternal affiliations. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian church of Burt.