Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-04

who know hiru believe that the honor
was worthily bestowed.
Mr.. Simmons is a self-made man, a
public spirited citizen and for the past
thirty years has been prominently
identified with the growth and prosper
ity of Ottumwa. He has been most
successful in his business affairs. is
member of the Haw, Simmons Hard
ware Co., and is connected with many
other business enterprises in the city.
Reared in Iowa.
Mr. Simmons was born in Ohio but
came to Iowa with his parents when he
was two years of age and has since
been a resident of this state. He is
the son of the late Rev. ]. 7. Simmons
one of the best known of the pioneer
Methodist ministers in the state. He
came to Ottumwa in 1870 and while
making his home here attended college
for three years at the Iowa Wesleyan
university at Mt. Pleasant and the
state university at Iowa City.
Taught School At Atlantic.
After leaving college Mr.. Simmons
went to the western part of the state
and for seven months taught school at
Atlantic. He returned to Ottumwa in
1874 to make his permanent home and
accepted a position with the firm of
George Haw & Co. His perseverance
and energy and business ability won
for him rapid promotion and in 1879
he was admitted into full membership
in the firm. Soon after he became a
member, the firm embarked in the
wholesale business and he has taken
an active interest in the management
of the large business which has since
developed.
Extensive Business Interests.
Mr.. Simmons is also interested in
several other large business indus
tries and his time has been almost en-
tirely devoted to business enterprises
some of which extend beyond the lin
its of the United States. He has al
ways been interested in the welfare of
the city and has taken an active part
in securing many of the larger manu-
featuring concerns to locate in Ottum-
wa.
Mr.. Simmons has long been recog-
nized as one of the most public spirit
ed of citizens and of the many move
ments for the promotion of the COM
munity that have come before the peo-
pie since he has been resident of the
city, there are few in which he has
not taken a prominent part in carry
ing forward to success. This has
been especially true in the inducing
OF new industries to come to Ottumwa.
Interested in Politics.
Although his business interests de-
manded the great part of his time Mr..
Simmons has for several years taken a
deep interest in politics. The same
earnest and faithful attention that he
gave to his business has marked his
study of the live political issues of the
day and he stands high in the councils
OF his party. He is known as one of
the leading republicans of the state
and has always been an efficient work.
er for the success of the party. In
1892 he was delegate from the sixth
district to the nattonal republican con
vention at Minneapolis which nomin-
ated Benjamin Harrison for the presi-
dency. Mr.. Simmons is a republican
because he is firm believer in the
principles that the party stands for.
His devotion to the party is in behalf
Oh the political issues he thinks to be
right and for the best interests of the
republic and he has always been a
strong advocate Of a clean political or
ganization
he has several times been urged by
ms many warm friends to be candi-
date for office and the fact that he has
not been recipient of political favor
mas been because of the pressure of
business affairs.
MIR. Simmons life has been
an active and successful one and his
fellow citizens know that should he
in the course of events be called upon
to represent the sixth district at the
Chicago convention he is thoroughly
competent TO acquit himself in most
creditable manner.