The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-03-01
BURR SIMMONS DEAD
Sad News From Chicago Brings
Sorrow 10 The Homes of Many
People in kenosIla.
cLosB or An Ev1prrUL CAREER

| Passing or one o. hEuVSAA buSt Ano" II
| and Most Honored cltizens-A short
| Sketch of His Active Business Life Ii
| Kenosha-Pu Will be Held sunday
Afternoon from the House.
The death of Burr Simmons, which
occurred at 2:3O Friday afternoon at
| the Baptist hospital in Chicago, has
been the cause of a great deal of sor-
row in Kenosha. When the news was
| received Thursday evening it came as
la great shock to friends in Kenosha, as
| many of them had not heard of the re-
lapse of Wednesday and had thought
| that the deceased was on the high road
to recovery. Everywhere about the
city loving tributes have been paid to
his memory and his sad death has
brought a personal sorrow home to
many hearts and 6resides. Mr.. Sim
mons had been a sufferer from kidney
| trouble for many years and 1T was only
| two weeks ago that he consented to go
to the hospital with the hope that the
operation would prolong his life. He
stood the operation we'll and it was
thought that health was again within
his grasp, when the relapse came, and
after lowering between life and death,
with his friends and relatives at his
bedside, he passed peacefully to his re-
ward in the great beyond
The death of Burr Simmons marks
the passing of one of Kenosha's oldest
and best known citizens. No chron-
o1ogy of dates could tell the story of
his life, for he was one who lived IN
the hearts of his friends, and his death
will leave vacancy which will indeed
be hard to fill. To him was ascribed
the honor of being one of the pioneer
settlers of Southport. He was one of
the men who cut away the forests and
laid the foundations, strong and broad,
for the building of Kenosha. Mild
and gentle, with heart large enough
to take in all umanity, he lived
among the people of the city and
county of Kenosha, and there are none
who knew him but were proud to have
him for friend and adviser. Follow
ing closely the development Of Keno
sha he grew with the city-conserva-
tive-but always urging a steady
progress which brings success.
The loss of Burr Simmons is indeed
loss to the entire city, but the blow
will fall heaviest on those who knew
him in the bonds of friendship. When
the earlier settlers of the county gather
again there will be a vacant chair
which will bring tears to many eyes,
and sorrow to many hearts.
Mr.. Simmons never sought prefer
ment, and never held a public office,
and yet, it would be hard to estimate
| the value of his life to the public. A
Republican in politics, he was loyal to
the principles of his party, but he was
always one of the rank and file and
not one of the men struggling for the
| spoi1s of office. Seeking only to be
| Just and honest with all, and to add a
little to the general happiness of the
world in which he lived, he went his
way, making friends who remain to
grieve over the sad havoc of the death
angel.
To those who knew him in his home,
in his private life among his own cir
Gle of immediate friends, the loss will
be irreparab1e. With keen interest
in the affairs of the world, and ready
wit, he was a companion sought
by all ard when the company with
which he was SO wont to n1ing1e
gathers again about the fireside, the
Jolly laugh and hearty joking nature
of Mr.. Simmons will be lost and the
circle can never be complete again.
No better tribute could be paid to
Burr Simmons than that of one of his
friends when he said, ''Mr. Simmons
was an honest man and lived an honest
life, loved and revered by all who knew
him. A man with strong conviction,
yet generous to fault.
OF the personal history of Mr.. Sim
mons much could be said. By ancestry
he belongs to one of the earliest fami-
lies in this part of the country. He
was a son of Ezra Simmons, who came
from New York to Lake county, ILL.,, in
1843. He was a brother of Z. G. and
Ezra Simmons, Mrs. J.. M. Stebbins
and the late Rouse Simmons.
The deceased was born IN Montgom-
cry county, N. Y, July 10, 1880. He
came with his parents to the great
Northwest and landed in Kenosha,
then Southport in 1843. While young
man he went to work for himself and
a few years later he was extensively
aged in the tanning business.
Later he went into the lumber business.
Some years ago Mr.. Simmons moved
from this city to farm in the town of
Somers, where he lived four years.
Returning to Kenosha he engaged in
the ice business, in which he was act
lively employed until short time ago
when he rented his holdings &c the ice
trust.
A wife and three children, Orson
Simmons, Of Seattle, Washington;
Mrs. Ella Washburn, of Racine, and
Mrs. Mile Eiche1man, of Chicago.
survive him. His remains were
brought from Chicago Saturday and
the funeral was held from his
late residence on Park avenue at 2
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