The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-02-17

on account of the condition of his
health and the crowding of other bust
ness demands upon him.
In politics Mr. Simmons was Re-
publican. He cast his first vote for
John P Hale and his connection with
the Republican party dates from the
organization of the party. He has
given much of his time for public serv-
ice. He was a delegate to the first
convention which nominated Lincoln.
In 1865 he represented the county
of Kenosha in the Wisconsin legis-
lature. He served in the capacity
of mayor of the city in 1884 and
1885 and gave the city administra-
tions which were remarkable for the
wise handling of municipal questions.
During his administrations he set on
foot many practical projects which
have done much for the advancement
of the city.
One of the greatest works which
Mr.. Simmons did for the city of Keno
sha was the refunding of the debt
which had hung over the city for
years. This debt at the time amount
ed to 81 100000, but by able fnancier-
ing he managed to refund it for
100000. His services working along
these lines covered a period of nearly
| fifty years and to the last of his life
he took an intense interest in the
financial affairs of the city. Only a
short time ago he appeared before the
common council and urged that steps
be taken to build city hall which
would be a credit to the city and at
that time he offered to make gift of
$4,000 to make such a city hall pos
sible.
His love for the city and its people
has been shown in many ways. Since
Mr.. Simmons became the leading mer-
chant Of the city in the pioneer days
he had aided many projects in the city.
Not a church has been erected without
his aid and he has given literally of
his wealth for the support of every
worthy institution in the city. He
has made large gifts to the churches,
to the hospital and to the old Kenosha
library and believing that public IL
brary was one of the greatest needs of
the city he provided the city with the
handsome structure in the park, the
most splendedly equipped library to be
found in any city the size of Kenosha
in the country. Mr.. Simmons spent
more than $250,000 in the erection of
the library which he presented to the
| city as a memorial to his son Gilbert
M. Simmons.
At the same time that he presented
the library to the city he showed his
appreciation of the services Of the
soldiers of Kenosha county and raised
to their memory the splendid granite
shaft in Library Park The dedica-
tion Of this monument was one of the
greatest events in the history of Ke-
nosha and brought. to the city many
of the most distinguished men of the
country.
| One of the most splendid features
bo al Of he e. 20 r.
Simmons was the interest which he
had taken in the members of the
Grand Army of the Republic. When
the war broke out in 1861 it was i'm
possible for Mr.. Simmons to go into
the army on account of the fact that
his many business interests demanded
his presence in Kenosha. His inter
est in the conflict, however, was in
tense and it was one of the greatest
disappointments Of his life that he
could not have been in the service.
However, he proved tower of strength
and did much to care for the soldiers
on their way to the battles in the
south. He provided many comforts
for every regiment of soldiers who
passed through Kenosha and during
the years that they were in service he
did much to care for the wives and
children who had been left behind.
His love for the soldiers was such as
to make him a national character
among the members of the Grand Army
of the Republic and he bore the dis
tinction of being the only civilian ever
elected as an honory member of the
grand army. Years ago Mr.. Simmons
members OF the grand army in Wiscon-
sin and northern Illinois at recep-
tion. The reception was always Civ
en- during the month Of June at the
home of Mr.. Simmons and during the
past few years this had been the one
great event in the lives of the soldiers
in Kenosha county. The gathering
of the grand army men in Kenosha
became an event of national import
ance and several of the grand com
manders of the Grand Army of the Re-
public have attended these reunions
during recent years.
| At the Denver encampment of the
| grand army Mr.. Simmons presented
each of the veterans attending with a
bronze medal and at that encampment
he was named as an honorary member