Simons, James Sr.

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 8939
• 1850 Census: 1850, , Calumet County, Wisconsin, USA
• 1860 Census: 1860, Brothertown, Calumet, Wisconsin, USA
• 1870 Census: 1870, Brothertown, Calumet, Wisconsin, USA
• 1880 Census: 1880, Wrightstown, Brown, Wisconsin, USA
• News Mention: Abt Jan 1889; Kaukauna Times
• Death Record - Civil: 4 Jan 1898
• Obituary: 5 Feb 1898; Kaukauna Sun

Notes:

1850 Census:
James Simons29
Martha Simons27
Maria S Simons0

1860 Census:
James Symonds39
Martha Symonds38
Maria Symonds9
James Symonds8
Adelade Symonds2
Frederick Symonds8/12

1870 Census:
James Simson49
Martha Simson48
Maria L Simson20
James M Simson19

1880 Census:
James Simons59
Martha Simons57
James M. Simons28
Maria S. Simons30

Death Record - Civil:
Name: Jas Simons
Death Date: 4 Jan 1898
Death Place: Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
Volume: 02
Page Number: 0225
Reel: 104
Image: 0127
Sequence Number: 359580

Obituary:
James Simons Chilton Times February 5, 1898
On Tuesday morning at the home of his son, James Simons on Depot street, there passed into rest a man who has been familiar with the growth and development of the Fox River valley for over sixty years.
James Simons, Sr., was of Indian blood, and was born in Oneida County, New York, January 5th, 1821, and was therefore at the time of his death, somewhere over 77 years of age. In 1834 he with the majority of Brothertown Indians, of New York was removed to Wisconsin and settled on the shores of Lake Winnebago, in what is now Brothertown. The first settlement there was made by two or three families, in 1832; Mr. Simons reached the settlement July 28th, 1834.
The decendants of a line of chiefs, after the tribal system was abandoned, and the people became citizens of the United States, still continued to be the leading men in the community, and as such, Mr. Simons as he grew to manhood, became identified with all the early history of Brothertown, where he resided until the fall of 1870, when with his family he removed to Wrightstown. At the time of that early settlement at Brothertown and Stockbridge, the Lower Fox River Valley was almost a pathless wilderness; nearly all the supplies for the community were carried from Green Bay or Bay settlement.
There was much suffering; often, while the party sent out for supplies were away, the settlers at home had no food save fish from the lake, or such small game as they could secure.
Young and athletic, for he was of magnificent physique, Mr. Simons often accompanied these expeditions, and in this way became thoroughly familiar with the valley which has been his home so long. Mr. Simons was proud of his Indian blood, and the writer well remembers the simple dignity with which he one rebuked a careless question as to "where his people came from," with the proud reply; "my people were here always."
In 1849 he was united in marriage to Martha Skeesuck, who survives him. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Simons, two of whom are buried at Brothertown, and two are still living, James Simons of this city and Mrs. S. Brown of Christy.

At Wrightstown from which place he removed in 1883 or '84, to this city, Mr. Simons held the office of justice of the peace for a number of years, holding the same position in this city also. His death was due to a stroke of paralysis, from which he has suffered since January 15th. He was a kind husband and father, and had the esteem and respect of a large circle of friends.
Funeral services were held at the First M.E. Church yesterday and his body was taken to his old home in Brothertown for burial near the resting place of a beloved sister and two children.
L. Fowler and sister, Mrs. Niles, of Brothertown, nephew and niece of the deceased, were present. Mrs. Simons is lying dangerously ill at the home of her daughter, in Christy, and neither his wife nor daughter were able to attend the last sad rites. - Kaukauna Sun

James married Skeesuck, Martha Abt 1849. Martha died Aft 1898. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 8939
• Obituary: Aft 1935

Notes:

Obituary:
Brown, Maria Louise nee Simons (3 July 1851 - 9 Aug. 1935)
Mrs. Maria L. Brown an old resident of Christie died Aug. 9 at the Neillsville hospital, where she had been cared for since July 22, when she fell and fractured her hip joint and sustained other injures. Maria Louise Simons was born at Brothertown, Brown County, Wis., July 3, 1851. She was a descendant of one of the Six Nations a federation of six Indian tribes of Central New York, some of whom were allotted a reservation in Brown County, Wis. Her father, James Simons, was born in New York and came with his people to the Wisconsin reservation when a small child. He became a prominent man serving as Justice of the Peace for many years and was highly respected. Mrs. Brown grew to womanhood at Brothertown and was married to Sidney Brown, May 25, 1896. They came to Mr. Brown's farm near Christie soon after and remained residents of that community. Mr. Brown died a number of years ago. Mrs. Brown leaves no children of her own. There are two sons and two daughters of Mr. Brown's first marriage. Funeral services were held at Lowe's Funeral Home, Rev. G. W. Longenecker officiating. Burial took place in Christie Cemetery. The pallbearers were Ferd Wiesjahn, Geo. Harper, Julius Bohnsack, Matt Schaefer, Dan Timerson, and Irving Young. Jess Scott sang several selections, his wife accompanying on the piano. Mrs. Brown was a woman of many fine qualities and was well liked in the Christie community. For the past four years a neighbor, Mrs. Harper helped to care for her.

Maria married Brown, Sidney 25 May 1896. Sidney died Bef 1935. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 8939
• Obituary: Aft Jan 1908

Notes:

Obituary:
James M. Simons was born at Brothertown, Wis., March 18, 1852, the son of James and Martha Simons. He attended district school during his childhood days and when eighteen years of age he moved with his parents to Wrightstown and worked in a lumber mill for a number of years. He then moved to Kaukauna with his parents and worked in a sulphite mill as an engineer for a number of years. While there he was married to Annie Grigno in Sept., 1882, who died a few years later. Mr. Simons then went into a machine shop where he became an expert engineer and machinist. Later he was engineer on one of the Green Bay and Lake Michigan boats. On Feb. 16, 1894, he was married to Miss Laura Miles and moved to Oshkosh. On May 16, 1905, he had a stroke of paralysis while on a visit here, from which he never fully recovered. Last fall he moved up near Omro and on Jan. 18, 1908, he had another stoke and on and on Jan. 21 he passed away. His remains were brought here for burial and his funeral took place from the M.E. Church the Rev. G. A Fons officiating and interment in the Brothertown cemetery. In his death he leaves a sorrowing widow, and aged and very feeble mother and one sister.