Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-10-02
DR. J.F|. SIMMONS IS DEAD AFTER SHORT ILLNESS His Declining Health and Age Cause Capitalist to Succumb
 At Age of S6. HE WAS ONE OF THE
 STATES RICHEST MEN Placed His Faith in Future of Pine Bluff and Amassed Immense
 Fortune in Real
 Estate.

At II o'clock yesterday morning, i11
 his home on Fifth and Walnut, Dr. J
 F. Simmons, 86 years old, pioneer
 resident of Jefferson county, and one
 Of the states wealthiest men, died
 after a short illness which began
 Monday following a general decline
 in health of several years duration. l Dr. Simmons was attended at his death by his wife and one daughter
 Miss Theola Simmons, while the oth- CT daughter, Miss Lucille Simmons was at the moment a passenger on train from Little Rock, hurrying home from Washington where she was on her way to school when the message announcing her fathers crit | lcal condition reached her Tuesday. Mrs. Simmons, who was Miss Emma Hunter, of Sardis, Miss, before her marriage, and Dr.. Simmons were mar ried November 27, 1895. The two daughters, Misses Theola and Lucille Simmons, and his widow alone sur- vive him.
 Dr. Simmons was born near Flor ence, Ala, but removed with his pa rents to Mississippi in his early child hood. He was educated to the medi- cal profession, receiving his col legiate education at Jefferson Col lege in Philadelphia. At the outbreak of the Civil war he joined the Con- federate forces and served during the four years of that war as a surgeon, having been stationed at one time at a hospital near Oxford, Miss. Shortly after the close of the war, Dr. Simmons moved from Mississippi l to Arkansas. He came to Jefferson county and took up the practice of medicine on Bayou Bartholomew. near Pine Bluff He acquired a plan tation there and assumed the manage- ment of the farm in addition to his nrictice of medicine. From the prof it's acquired from this land, he bepan to make other investments, and dur ino his lifetime amassed an estate said to be worth between $2.OOO, ,OOO and S2,5O0.000. He was the laroest owner of business nropertv in Pine Bluff, and besides his holdings here. owned large tracts of country land in this county. During recent years he acquired business property in Mem- nhis estimated in value at about $600,000
 Organized Bank.
 Dr. Simmons success is attributed to business acumen and firm faith in the business future of Pine Bluff. With an almost nncanny foresight into the future values of property. he invested heavily in Pine Bluff Main street business blocks and his jude- ment was sustained as is shown by the increased values of these hold ings.
 About 40 years ago. Dr. Simmons moved to Pine Bluff from his place in the country. and soon after coming here. gave up the practice of medicine to devote more of his time to his business interests. and though he has been in i'll health for the past several years, he did not entirely re- ]inquish his erip on his affairs up to the time of his death. Sixteen wears ago, the Simmons National bank. named after Dr. Simmons. was es- tablished, and he was elected it's first president. only to resign short while afterwards to be succeeded by Dr. z. Crto.
 Pronounced scrupulouslv honest in the veriest detail of his business transactions, Dr. Simmons was sue. cessful in nearly every business deal in which he engaged. In time his property holdinps became so great that he was enabled to carry his own insurance, and though none of his buildings were covered bv fire in- surance, he suffered very little from fire losses.
 Reserved Nature.
 Dr. Simmons was of a retiring na- ture and had few intimates, and only the members of his family knew the character of the man behind his hsbitual reserve. That he was a true friend, once he formed friendship, and was devoted husband and fath- CT is known. He was a member of the First Methodist church of Pine Bluff, member of the Knights Tenn plar and other Masonic orders. The exact amount of the estate left bv Dr. Simmons is not known. It is said to run well over $2.000,00O, and he is said to have had an annual in- come of about S1OO,OOO. This is one of the largest fortunes ever accumu- lated in Arkansas. It is an example of what thrift, acumen, and an abid- ing faith in the future of town will do. Dr. Simmons visioned the pros- porous years which were to come to Pine Bluff, and he staked his all on the vision. Had his faith not been justified, no amount of saving or economy could have made for him the fortune which he leaves.
 Funeral Today.
 Dr. Simmons holdings in Pine Bluff business property extended from Sec i ond at Main street to Sixth avenue
 Continued from page four)