The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-07-25
EZRA SIMMONS. Sr.
Ezra Simmons. Sr whose deaf


Ezra Simmons, ST., whose death was
announced in this paper last week, was
born in Montgomery County, N. Y, in
1905. and there received the usual
training Of q farmers boy Of seventy
years ago. Thence at the age of TWEEN
ty-one, with his newly married wife.
he moved to Oneida Co., where his
early manhood was spent in the rug
ged life OF clearing forest farm, and
where his children were born. At the
age OF thlrty-eight. his pioneering spir-
1t being still active, he again moved
west, and in the spring Of 1S43 landed
with his family at Southport. Wis
consin was then still territory; not
eight years had passed since the first
axe had sounded at Pike River; South
port was still a small settlement, with
no harbor and few streets, and with
forest and swamp where now many Of
the houses OF Kenosha stand Nj.
Simmons moved on to Lake Co., Ill,
where ne purchased, and recommended
q farm life,-this time easier and more
productive on the prairie soil. There
he worked till 1851, when he followed
his sons to Xen0Sha, where he las
since remained till his death at the
ripe age OF seventy-three.
Mr.. Simmons received by Inherit
ance and early training,a sound and Wig
orous body and a healthy soul, and he
has kept both by rare habits of tenn
perance. His was not the mere tenn
perance Of eating and drinking, but a
temperate habit Of life, in which he
allowed no worry nor fretfulness to
wear him out, but met duties and
troubles with q serene patience and
composure. Hence he retained his
youthful yigor Of body to old age, and
retained his youthful spirit to the last.
These last few years he has moved
among us calm and dignifed
and venerable, yet loving the young
and the sports Of the young, hk-
| ing ever TO hear and tell a story, show
ing always a pleasant face and cheer
full ways. Age did not dry nor sour
his nature, but v,ny ripened it, and
showed at last the maturity Of seven
ty frightened with the gladness Of six
teen. So hale and sWeet-spirited an
old man tells US how little the cares of
life need harm US if we will meet
them as we should.
Nj. Simmons led only the quiet life
Of private citizen, and his qualities
| have been of the modest and gentle
rather than Of the aggressive type.
Yet his scrupulous integrity Of char
acter, his thorough reliability in all
business transactions, his faithfulness
in performing all the duties Of his
position, and his kind generous bear
ing toward all, have made him widely
known, and known always to lie re-
spected. His private life WIGS marked
10y such purity and patience, that
those who knew him best hardly re-
member an unpleasant act or word
from him. His kindness extended be-
yond his immediate acquaintance, SO
that, as q laboring man whom he
! scarcely knew said the other day, che
had kind word for everybody and
some kind thing to say about every
body"
i'm religion he was charitable, hold
ing firmly to his own faith, yet finding
no fault with the faith Of any other
man. He did not seek to he known
by any religious name; but if Chris
) tian means one who is filled with
Jesus spirit of fidelity, forgiveness and
sweetness, then he was a Christian. If
the "pure in heart" are blessed and
; peacemakers shall be called the SONS
of Cod" then his pure and peaceful
life was a religious life. He died as
he had lived, meeting his severe and
protracted suffering with continued
patience, cheerful to the last, and at
length wishing to go and partal2e OF
: that rest and better life beyond, in
which he had q faith that newer
: WaVered.
81.