The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-10-14
EZRA SIMMONS |
PIONEER, DEAD.
Old KenOsha Resident Died
Saturday Afternoon at
the Kenosha Hospital.
PROMINENT IN CITY

Ezra Simmons, aged eighty-three
and the last of the second generation
of the Simmons family in Kenosha,
died at the Kenosha hospital at one
o'clock Saturday afternoon. Mr.. Sim
mons had been in failing health for
many months and less than a week
ago a fall at his home on Chicago
street resulted in the fracture Of his
hip. 1t is certain that the accident hur-
ried the end of long and active life.
Mr.. Simmons was son of the late
Ezra Simmons, one of the earliest of
the pioneers of Kenosha. He was born
in Oneida county, New York, on Febr-
uary %, 1887. He came to Southport
with his parents in June of 1843 and
he was the youngest Of the family
Of Ezrai Simmons. He was twin
brother Of the late Mrs. James M.
Stebbins and brother of the late Zal-
mond G.. Burr and Rouse Simmons.
Educated in KenOsha Schools.
After the family Of Ezra Simmons
had lived for a short time in South
port, Mr.. Simmons moved to the town
of Benton where he remained with the
members of his family until 1851. The
Younger Ezra Simmons was educated In
the pioneer schools of Kenosha. He
was student in the old Kenosha High
school at the time the late John G.
McMynn, famous as soldier and
scholar was in charge of the school
and from Col. McMynn he found the
patriotic fervor which caused him to
enter the Union army at the time of
the Civil War. He, was a member of
one of the Kenosha regiments and he
never fully recovered from illness con
tracted during army service. He re
sponded to the first call Of President
Lincoln for volunteers and was mem
Der of Company G, First Wisconsin
Infantry afterward known as "The
Park City Grays."
Was Pioneer Railroad Man.
Mr.. Simmons was one Of the pioneer
railway men Of Kenosha. On his re-
turn from army service he was named
as agent for the Chicago and North
Western Railway company in Keno
sha and he had an active part in the
building of the lines of the Kenosha
and Rockford division of the North
Western, serving as superintendent of
the work for some time. He was
widely known among the pioneer rail-
waymen of the city and state.
In 1872 Mr.. Simmons went into the
manufacturing business in Kenosha
buying the factory at the northwest
corner Of Fremont avenue and Eliza
beth street and it was moved to the
present site of the Simmons company.
The factory engaged in the manufact-
ure Of cheese boxes. Mr. Simmons was
associated with his brother, 2. G. Sim
IONS in this work for a number of
years. He went to Colorado in 1878
and spent a year there and returning
to Kenosha he became financially in
terested in the flour mills here.
Long on Board Of Trade.
His connection with the mill led
him into the board of trade in Chi
cage and he first became connected
with the board through buying cash
wheat for the mills here. After he
gave up his work at the mill he was
on the board of trade in Chicago con-
tinuously for more than thirty years.
1t was declared that for twenty-five
years he never missed the trip to Chi
cage going down on the old Kenosha
accommodation in the early morning
and returning just after four o'clock
in the afternoon.
For some years he had lived re
tired life, spending his winters in his
winter home at Georgiana, Fla, and
his summers in Kenosha. For years
he had spent much time at the Pen
meyer sanitarium during the summer
months.
Widely Known to Kenoshans.
Mr.. Simmons was widely known and
deeply beloved by Kenosha people. He
vas man of ready humor and his
long association with the business of
the city made him a prime favorite
among the older residents of the city.
For months he had been in failing
health. Mr.. Simmons is survived by
his widow and one son, Zalmond Guy
Simmons. His only daughter, the late
Mrs. VIII. D. Hampstead, of Evanston,
died only short time ago in Keno
sha. He is survived by two grand
children, Mrs Kenneth Hess of Plain
field, New Jersey, and Edward Hemp
stead of Knox, Indiana, now a stu
dent at Purdue University.
The funeral services were held at
three o'clock this afternoon at st.
Mathews church and interment was at
the family plot at Green Ridge.