The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-03-18
Ensign Ward Simmons.

Ensign Ward Simmons.
! "And you shall shortly know that
heightened breath
Is not the sweetest gift God sends
| His friend,
| And that sometimes the sable pail Of
death
Conceals the fairest bloom his love
can send.
! If we could push ajar the gates of life
, And stand within and all Gods 5
workings see,
We could interpret all this doubt and
strife,
i And for each mystery would find a
key"
"A wonderful stream is the River
Time, as it runs through the realm OF
tears" but beyond the River some
day it will be morning, and it Will oe
Gods morning.
F.; Joshua Ward Motto Simmons was
born in Newberry on August q,
1885. and died at Portsmouth on
March IA, 1919, at 1870 p. m. He was
the son of Mr.. and Mrs. J. W. N.
Simmons of Newberry, his father hay
ing died about IA years ago. He was
the last male descendant of the name
of his grandfather A. w. T. Simmons
who lived in Newberry many years
ago. He is survived by his mother,
Mrs. Lalla Rook Simmons and four
sisters, Mrs. Rivers Stone of Spartan
burg, Ms. Geo. F. Claussen of AL
gusta, Ca, Mrs. Alan Johnstone, Jr.,
Of Richmond, Va, and Miss Sara SIM
mons of Newberry, and other rela-
tives in Newberry.
He came down on his ship from
Philadelphia during the storm of ten
days ago and was exposed very much
on account of the rough sea and con-
t1acted a cold, but would not give up
and probably remained too long at his
post instead of going to the hospitai
He developed case Of pneumonia On
Tuesday of last week and died the
Friday following. A telegram was
sent his mother on Wednesday and
she went Immediately for Portsmouth
and arrived Thursday morning, and
while he had been del4rious he was
conscious and said it was the happiest
day of his life to see his mother,
though at the time he was suffering
terribly. He was a devoted son and
during the entire time of his service
never failed to remember his mother
monthly. One who knew him well
said that the trait N his character
that stood out in bold relief was his
devotion to his mother, and what
higher tribute could be paid to any
son, than to say that he never. forgot
his mother wherever he may have
rcamed 80.
When but a youth Ward enlisted ia
the navy at New Orleans and by his
own efforts and worth he was grad
ually promoted until at the time of
his death he was an ensign with the
rank of junior lieutenant.
When the United States entered the
war he was chief machinist on tee
Osceola down around Cuba, and lie
was called from that post to the rank
OF ensign on the Teal, mine sweep
er, U-boat SO And in that capacity
he had served his country during the
great war. When he was transferred
from the Osceola those who served
with him presented him with a beau-
tiful sword as a testimonial of their
regard and esteem. With that sword
across the casket and draped in the
flag of his country, the beautiful stars
and stripes, the body was brought to
Newberry on Sunday and rested for
the night at the home of his aunt
his mothers sister, Mrs. Jas. McIn-
tosh. AS an escort of honor the body
was met at the train by the boys of
both branches of the service and es-
corted from the train, with Captain
Guy Brown and Lieutenant Fairey IL.
command. Ward was home just a
few days before Christmas on briee
furlough and handsomer or mora
hoalth1, and robust vcalng officer YOU