The Press., 1891-11-19

Asklna anu SOOQ nciSnnOr, ana VIII De
 missed in this community. He was one of our best and most enterprising farmers. Widow Amasa Chapman, who died at the town farm, was brought here and
 buried in the Westford cemetery last week.
 (Correspondence.)
 The town of Ashford has lost a strong man in the death of Dr. John H. Simmons. which occurred Nov. 18th, af- ter . sickness of several months, from no disease but the result of old age, and whose prominence in professional, public and social life for more than half a cen- tury deserves more than 8 passing notice.
 He was born in Ashford Nov. 21, 1911, and was son of Alva Simmons, Esq, a leading citizen of the town in his day. His childhood and youth were spent lin his native place, receiving his early edu- cation h the district school and Ashford Academy. He received his diploma from the Yale Medical School of New Haven in 1888, and at once began the practice of his profession at Pomfret Factory, now the thriving town of Putnam. After re- maining one year he returned to his native town of Ashford, where he has continued to practice until a recent date, having had large practice in his own and ad- joining towns, and being very successful in his practice. In the public affairs of Ashford he has taken a leading and prom inent part, and with marked influence. A republican in politics, commencing
 with the party at it's formation, and a firm believer in it's principles, and true to his convictions, and prominent in the councils of his party. He represented Ashford in 1855, and was a member of the judiciary committee, which numbered among its members the late ex-Governor Richard D. Hubbard, the late ex-U. s. Senator Orris s. Ferry, and the late Hon, Edmued Perkins of Norwich. In the years 1861 and 1864 he represented the old fourteenth district in the senate. From
 1867 to 1872 he held an office in the in- tcrnal revenue department, was for six teen years registrar of voters in his town, ten years town registrar, and postmaster of Ashford two years, filling all these po- sitions with much ahility and credit. He was early a member of the Congrega- tionaI church and a strong supporter of it, with deep interest in it's success. He took a leading part in the erection of the new church, in place of the one burned last year, living to see it dedicated, free from debt, and aiding in many ways towardss accomplishing same.
 Whatever has fallen to the lot of Dr. Simmons to do in his life work has been well done, and in faithful and conscien-
 tious manner (which will be the unani-
 nous verdict of his neighbors and towns
 mem, and a gentlemen in every sense of the word, always true to his friends.
 His first wife was Mary Smart of Salem, N. J., to whem he was married May B, l 1889, and by whom he had four children, of which survive him, John, residing al Woonsocket, R. l., William O., who holds
 a position in the U. s. government al Washington, D. o., and Charles H. o1 Pomfret, and all were in the U. s. service | in the late war. He was married the sec ond time to Mrs. Emeline B. MoultOn
 Nov. 19, 1877, who survives him. He
 leaves one brother, Abel H. Simmons Esq, of Stonington, treasurer of the
 Groton Savings Bank of Mystic.