Robert “Reuben” SIMMONS was born about 1820 to William Seldon SIMMONS. He is believed to have been born in NC, but he is also given as born in AL in the census, and Delores Tousineau reports that his son Middleton’s death certificate gives both Robert Reuben SIMMONS and Frances SMITH being born in West Virginia. James Madison’s death certificate states that his father was born in NC. (Source for James Madison info, posting by Betty at Rootsweb MSPIKE-L. 17 Feb 2001)
Delores Tousineau writes that her aunts say Robert married Frances SMITH in 1844 in Lowndes Co. AL. Frances SMITH was the daughter of Ward SMITH and Easter EVERIDGE. Ward SMITH’s mother was Cherokee.
Bob Ann Breland notes, “His birthdate on his tomb is 1819, which is incorrect. His name is also incorrect. There has never been any reference to him as Robert Simmons, but always as Reuben Simmons. We shall refer to him as both, however, since that is what is indicated on his tomb. (The tombstone was placed there many years after his death by his grandson, I.O. Lang, the son of Albert W. Lang and Reuben’s youngest daughter, Narcis Simmons Lang.)”
Bob Ann Breland further notes, “Descendants claim his father was William Seldon Simmons. The 1880 census gives Reuben’s father as having been born in North Carolina. Descendants claim he went to Georgia from North Carolina, then to Coffee County, Alabama. His parents have really been hard to track down, since Reuben was apparently the youngest child of an older couple, and courthouses in Alabama have been flooded and records destroyed…Frances Smith was the daughter of Ward Smith and Easter Everidge Smith, who came to Pike County along with her parents and the Murdock Wilson family. Murdock married Martha Smith, sister of Frances Smith Simmons, wife of Reuben. The Murdock Wilson and the Reuben Simmons’ families settled close to the Mississippi line in Pike County. Easter Everidge Smith was known as ‘Granny Ward’. Granny Ward had been crippled by a broken leg when she was thrown from a horse, and had to crawl to get around.”
Frances and Reuben had seven children:
- James Madison “Red Jim” SIMMONS was b. 20 July 1845 in AL and died 18 Feb 1913 in Pike Co. MS. He married, 22 Dec. 1864, Mary E. PHELPS b. 9 Nov 1841 in Coffee Co. AL and died 8 Dec 1925 in MS. She was a daughter of Marshall and Caroline (Parker) PHELPS. Her sister, Sarah, married William Perry LANG when she was 14 years of age. Sarah and William were parents of Albert Winston who married Narcissus SIMMONS, a sister of James Madison.
James is buried in the Union Baptist Church Cemetery. Mary’s burial site is not known. James served in the Civil War in Forrest Cavalry, 4th Mississippi Regiment. Mary applied for a pension in 1923, at the age of 81. The following data is had on the pension application at Jackson, MS:Mary E. Simmons, Pike County, Miss., wife of J. M. Simmons made application for pension on her husband’s Civil War record. She and J. M. Simmons were married in Pike County on Dec. 22, 1864. Her husband enlisted in Pike County in Forrest’s Cavalry, Miss. Regiment.
An earlier application was filed in 1916 when Mary was 64, in which she reported herself as born in MS and was living in Pike Co., a widow of J. M. Simmons whom she married Dec. 22 1864. He resided in Newton County, MS when he enlisted in Forrest’s 4th Mississippi Regiment. He died in Magnolia, Pike Co., MS on 18 Feb 1913. He was living with his youngest son when he died.
James and Mary SIMMONS joined the Bala Chitto Baptist Church in 1873.
James and Mary had 9 children: William F., Austin, Robert T. “Babe”, James Marshall, David, Dudley, Samuel, Emma and Mary Elizabeth.
- William S. SIMMONS
- Mary Ann “Daught” SIMMONS, b. 5 Sept 1848, d. 10 Feb 1910. Married James J. LANG b. 1854, d. 1936.
James J. LANG was a son of James Jefferson LANG and thus a brother to William Perry LANG, a daughter of whose married James Madison SIMMMONS above.
Mary Ann is buried in the Lang-Simmons Cemetery at Sheridan LA. James J. LANG is buried in the Union Baptist Church Cemetery at Magnolia. They had 6 children: Fannie, Monroe, Esco, Della, Mattie and Marjorie.
- Charles Monroe SIMMONS b. 12 July 1857, d. 24 March 1925. Married Abi Jane SANDIFER b. 15 Feb. 1861, d. 7 Dec. 1939, daughter of John W. Sandifer and Jane G. STRICKLAND. Abi was also reportedly of Cherokee descent through the STRICKLANDS (of NC and GA) and her ggrandmother Elizabeth HUNT b. abt. 1736 Barnwell Co., SC September 08, 1815 Wayne Co., GA. Abi and Charles are buried in the Ponemah Cemetery at Bogalusa, LA. Their six children were: Willie Arnold, Mary Ida, Beulah Jane, Illey Arthur, Charlie Ada and Sidney Albert.
- John B. SIMMONS b. 16 June 1862, d. 25 Feb 1946, married Lula “Lou” BROWN b. 2 July 1873, d. 5 Dec. 1940. Lou was a sister to Julia Brown Simmons, the wife of John B.’s nephew, William F. “Blow Gun” Simmons.) John B. and Lou ran a store in the Union community in Pike County, Miss. and “Uncle John” was one of the more prosperous members of the family. (Their large home across the road from the store was remembered by my father, Seldon Lang, as quite handsome for the time. The house burned several years after the death of John B. and Lou, but the old store building still stands on the corner, overgrown with weeds and trees in 1991.) The children of John B. and Lou Simmons were: Helmer, Alice, Jewell and Prentis.
- Murdock Middleton “Steve” SIMMONS b. 1863 married Louisa Clarinda THIGPEN.<.li>
- Narcissus “Narcis” “Dink” SIMMONS b. 5 Jan 1870 d. Sept 1944, married Albert Winston LANG, b. 20 Oct 1869, d. Feb. 1959. They are buried in the Lang-Simmons Cemetery at Sheridan. Their 9 children were: Iva O., Evie, Lillian and Leslie (twins), Norman and Narvel (twins), Fannie Frances, Clyde, Seldon.
Robert is said to have had land in Alabama that he lost. Jean Kearns had heard a story that he was gotten drunk and signed away the land that Birmingham, AL is on. Delores Tousineau writes that her aunts had heard a story he once had land around Birmingham.
The family has thus far been located on the following censuses:
1850 ALABAMA COFFEE COUNTY CENSUS
NOTE: There are numerous SIMMONS and SMITHS and WILSONS in this Coffee County census. I will give a number of them.3. George WILLSON 50 NC
Harriet 30
Nancy Ann 13 GA
Giles P. 10 AL
Joseph T 5
Michael M 3
John D 1
…
14. William PETTIT 61 NC
Eliabeth 64
Samuel 29
Mary HUDLIN 28 GA
NOTES: http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=spizzy&id=I1381
15. John I. WILSON 40 NC
Nancy A. 34 GA
Frances A. 13
Mary J. 11
John S. 9
Georgia Ann 7 AL
Caroline 6
Elizabeth A. 4
Josephine 3
Alabama 6 mo.
…
20. Alfred SIMMONS 29 NC
Elizabeth 26 AL
James J. 4
Elizabeth 2
Martha C. 2
Isaiah JORDEN 24 GA
NOTE: Ann Hood 1993 communication to Bob Ann Breland notes this Alfred married an Elizabeth BYRD in Pike Co. 19 Sept. 1844.
…
119/119 Bartholomew GIDEON 34 NC
Milly 23 GA
Frances A. 9 AL
Thomas SIMMONS 13 AL
Darcas SIMMONS 18 AL
George W. 2 AL
NOTE: Ann Hood 1993 communication to Bob Ann Breland notes that Milly is Amelia MALONE and that a Darcas ELLIS was living as a domestic servant in the home of a Thomas W. SIMMONS in 1880. She notes Thomas SIMMONS as being a son of John SIMMONS at household 121.
…
121/121 John SIMMONS 40 NC
Keran 30 GA
William 12 AL
Jason 6
Mason 11 mo.
NOTE: Ann Hood 1993 communication to Bob Ann Breland noted that Thomas SIMMONS in household 119 was a son of this John SIMMONS. She reported she didn’t know his parents, siblings or wife’s maiden name.
122. Andrew J. SIMMONS 29 NC
Mahala 21 AL
Elizabeth 3
William LZT 1
NOTE: Ann Hood 1993 communication to Bob Ann Breland noted Mahala was Mahala HUTCHINSON, daughter of William Jason HUTCHINSON. He is given as probably a son of Levi SIMMONS at household 124. “In 1840 he had 2 sons in this age category.”
… 124. Levi SIMMONS 53 NC
Mary 40
Martha 16 AL
Alzeda 14
Levi 12
Emeline 8
NOTE: Ann Hood 1993 communication to Bob Ann Breland noted that Andrew J. SIMMONS (household 122) who married Mahala HUTCHINSON is likely a son of Levi. Thomas W. in household 126 is also given as a son. Levi is given as likely being the Levi in Dale Co. in 1840 and Pike Co. in 1830.
125. Isaac HURST 41 SC
Jane 45
Lewis 14 AL
Pherobie 13
Thomas 11
King J. 9
Isaac C. 6
John T. 4
Quintillian 2 m.
Elizabeth McMATHAN 16
126. Thomas W. SIMMONS 21
Emeline 20
Ann SIMMONS 25 SC
NOTE: Ann Hood 1993 communication to Bob Ann Breland noted Thomas is a son of Levi in household 124. Ann is given as probably being a sister.
162. William H. SMITH 37 GA
Tabitha A. 27 SC
John T. 9 AL
James J. 6
Susan E. 4
William I. 2
Frances C. 9 mo. f
Stephen WILLIAMS 57 NC
Susan B. 52 NC
Stephen J. 15 GA
… 202. Stephen CARLTON 45 NC
Sarah 36
Mallisee 17 GA
Mary E. 15
Martha J. 10
Nancy 8
Susan 6
Thomas 5
John 3
Rebecca 1
Moses SIMMONS 17
…
204. Robert P. BROOKS 31 GA etc.
205. Elizabeth BROOKS 50 GA etc.
206. James M. SMITH 38 SC
Mary 28 AL
Richard 6
Elizabeth 4
Washington 1
…
213. John A. SMITH 26 NC
Catharine 20 AL
Elizabeth 3 GA
214. Blake CARLTON 22
Mary 22
Shadrack CARLTON 70 NC
Catharine 65
John S. 24
S? 20 m GA
Catharine 16
…
218. James BAKER 60 NC
Fanny 45
Calvin SMITH 17 GA
Council BAKER 13
Mahala 8 AL
219. James AKRIDGE 39 GA
Sarah 26
Elbert 5 AL
James 4
Mary A. 1
…
231. David WILLSON 45 NC
?? 35 f
Johnathon 7 AL
William 5
Elizabeth 4
Caroline 1
…
233. Amelia BAKER 44 NC etc.
…
300. Stephen SMITH 44 SC
Margaret 34
David 15 GA
William 11 AL
Eliza 7 FL
Mary 5
Josephine 4 AL
William BROOKS 34 GA
301. Henry SMITH 55 SC
Sebella 62
John A. 34
302. William FREEMAN 43. GA
Sylvesta 38 etc.
303. Calvin H. YORK 43 SC
Elizabeth E. 27
Patrick H. 11 GA
Francis B. 8 AL
Matilda J. 4 FL
Richard J. 3 AL
Mary E. 1
Mary Ann SMITH 64 NC
Mary BROOKS 22 SC
304. Benjamin FREEMAN 39 TN etc.
…
316. Nicholas WILSON 25 GA
Teresa 27
William A. 3 FL
Rebecca 56 GA
…
420. G. T. SYLVESTER 33 SC
Martha G. 27 GA
William G. 9 AL
Frances V. 7
Narcissa E. 2
John B. SIMMONS 23 GA
…
472. John SIMMONS 57 NC
Lydia 43
Sarah A. 16 AL
Mary J. 14
Thomas J. 10
Francis A. 7 f
Amanda R. 4
William I. 2
NOTE: Ann Hood 1993 communication to Bob Ann Breland noted this SIMMONS is probably observed in the Elba District of Dallas Co. in 1840, the children’s ages matching. …
511. Harvy B. MILLER 52 SC etc.
512. John SMITH 30 GA
Dorca A. 22 AL
Delissa 14 GA
Melvanna 12
William 3 mo. AL
513. Lemuel FLANINGHAM 46 SC
Elmer 52
Winney 15 AL
Celia 13
William 11
Iven BROOKS 14
515. David DONALSON 54 SC etc.
John MILLER 21 GA
516. Mary E. SMITH 37 SC
Synthia A. 18 AL
John 16
Jackson A. 9
Minor J. m
Stephen A. 4
…
588. Charles WARD 55 NC
Mary 45
Roselle 16
Benjamin C. 14
Ann 9 AL
William H. 7
NOTE: http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=gplatt&id=I311
588. Wiley WILKERSON 30 GA
Emily J. 25 AL
William 4
Adam 2
Francis M. SMITH 21
…
594. Mary WARD 40 GA
James M. 19 AL
Michael W. 14
Millberry J. 11
595. James WARD 38 NC
Eliza 25 AL
John J. 10
Mary J. 8
William E. 7
Hezekiah 3
…
628. Samuel W. SIMMONS 29 AL
Susannah 30 GA
Samuel M. 4 AL
James J. 3
NOTE: Ann Hood 1993 communication to Bob Ann Breland noted that he is a son of Isaac SIMMONS in household 643. He married Susannah STEWART 13 August 1844 in Pike Co. In 1860 they were in Holmes Co. FL.
629. C. H. KYSER 31 SC
Nancy 21 AL
Sarah E. 1
James BELL 15 GA
Jackson RICE 22 SC
630. Bazel BUZZBEE 29 SC
Elizabeth 27
Emmanuel 5 AL
Joshua 4
Newton 2
…
638. John KYSER 83 SC
Barbery 65
Jacob 22 AL
Mary 17
Daniel 15
Elizabeth RICE 20
(GENFORUM KYSER posting by Amy Bryant gives as a daughter of John and Barbery, Clarissa Harlow KYSER who married Green Berry Wilbur BAILEY. Had a son Green Berry BAILEY. John and Barbery also had Philip KYSER who is shown at household 650 in the census. She gives her great grandmother as Carrie Bell KYSER-DRIGGERS whose father was Wylie DRIGGERS, a horse trader. Mother was Itella.)
NOTES: Ann Hood wrote in a 4 Jan 2001 posting that the KYSERS in the census at that time are one of her family lines; that she wasn’t exactly sure how the RICE family fit in but she suspected “John KYSER (KISER)’S daughter oldest (sic) daughter may have married a RICE.” An Alfred BOYD was close to the family and she notes that the idea that “Alf was a Boyd leads me to believe that Reuben may have been part of William B. Simmons family, another group of Simmons, possibly related, who were in Dale County 1850 census, but moved to the other end of Coffee County, around Elba, by 1860. Someone in their family married a Boyd. They were a more ‘educated’ ground of Simmons and had a lot to do with the development of the town of Elba.”
639. W. B. BOYETTE 35 SC
Julia 22
Benjamin ENGLISH 3 AL
NOTE: A Bennett BOYETTE lives a couple house away from Ward SMITH and Frances SIMMONS (daughter of Reuben in the next household) in the 1850 Covington County Census. He was married to a Fatama UNDERWOOD.
http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:1779868&id=I82894660 has “Bennett J. Boyett born 1818 in Georgia. Died June 29, 1862 in Winn Parish, LA. Killed by a man named Mad Dog Smith.
640. Reuben SIMMONS 28 NC
Frances 26 AL
James M. 5
William S. 2
NOTE: Ann Hood 1993 communication to Bob Ann Breland noted that Reuben had 60 acres of land listed in Coffee County.
641. John SMITH 46 SC
Nancy 30
William 15 AL
John 12
Amanda 10
Eliza 6
Duncan 4
Neal 2
642. Thomas DAVIS 25 SC
Martha 34
William RICE 26
James WALKER 22 GA
643. Isaac SIMMONS 57 NC
Lydia 60
NOTE: Ann Hood 1993 communication to Bob Ann Breland noted that Isaac SIMMONS was in Dallas Co. AL in 1830 and then in Pike Col AL in 1846. He had a wife and 2 son in both censuses. Gardner B. (household 644) and Samuel W. SIMMONS are his sons.
644. Gardner B. SIMMONS 25 AL
Margaret 23 SC
Malissa 7 AL
Rebecca 4
Lydia 2
(NOTE: Parents of Gardner were Lydia NEELY b. 1803 Elba Coffee Co. AL m. Isaac SIMMONS in 1824, Elba, Coffee Co. AL.) Ann Hood 1993 communication to Bob Ann Breland noted that Gardner was a son of Isaac in household 643, and that in 1860 he was in Holmes Co. FL.
645. George BODIFORD 40 NC
Elizabeth 18 GA
646. Loveless SMITH 44 m SC
Sarah Ann 25 GA
Joanna 9 AL
James H. 6
John S. 5
(NOTE: Sarah Ann was Sarah Ann EDWARDS b. 1822-23, daughter of James Harvey EDWARDS and Sinai MCMICHAEL. Sarah and Loveless were married Sept.27,1839 according to Rena (email message 23 Nov 2002). Parents of John Harvey EDWARDS were David EDWARDS Dinwiddle Co. VA m. Elizabeth SPEARS. Rena writes that Loveless SMITH was born in SC to a John and an Elizabeth(?) and that John and Elizabeth had about 13 children. John is 80 and living with Loveless in the 1850 census. Loveless was later married to a Martha, possibly Johnson.)
647. Eliz. H. SMITH 80 SC
Caroline RICE 18 AL
Adaline 16
Irvin 16
648. Ashfield JOHNSON 52 GA etc.
NOTES: http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=klloyd77&id=I562 b. Greene Co. GA. married Elizabeth ASHFIELD.
649 Thomas SESSIONS 35 SC
Frances 30 NC
Mary 12 GA
Milly 6 AL
650. Philip KYSER 24 AL
Vastia 24 GA.
Narcissa 1 AL.
(NOTE: Genforum KYSER posting by Amy Bryant gives Philip as a son of John and Barbary KYSER, who live on the other side of Reuben SIMMONS. Philip married Vastia DAVIS. Gives Philip as b. abt. 1826 KY.)
651 Samuel SMITH 51 SC
Martha 39 GA
Asia 20 m. AL
Catharine 15
Martha 15
Alfred 10
Edmond 8
Zylphia 5
652. Frederick BUZBEE 58 SC
Sarah 48
Elizabeth 23 GA.
Hulda 22
Lucinda 20
Frederick 17
Thomas J. 15
Elizabeth 78 NC
Louisa 4 GA
(NOTE: Genforum postings by Jackie Buzbee Davis gives Frederick as born possibly in Edgefield Co. A brother was William b. 1795 Lexington Co. Parents were Elisha BUZBEE b. abt. 1765 in Johnston Co. NC and Elizabeth. Amy Bryant gives her great grandfather’s sister, Eula KYSER, marrying a Franklin Walker BUZBEE. August 14 1999 GENFORUM posting.)
…
811. Nicholas SMITH 41 GA
Jane 40
Alfred 17 AL
John 13
Jane 10
Sampson 7
Nicholas 3
Alvinia 1 mo.
1860 MISSISSIPPI NESHOBA COUNTY CENSUS
Pg. 656 “High Hill”
821/844 R. SIMMONS 37 farmer no real estate personal estate was $260 NC
Francis 35 AL
James M. 14
Mary A. 8
Charles M. 4 MS
Murdock M. 6/12
822/849 Robert GREEN 31 farmer b. NC $400 $120 NC
Winne 23 b. GA
William C. 10
Enoch T. 8
Sarah J. 6
Mary C. 4 b. MS
John S. 8/12
D. A. HENDERSON 24 farmer b. MS
NOTE: On the next page is a Joseph Morrow 58 b. SC with family born in AL. from the age of a 22 year old child. And an A. J. SMITH 28 b. SC with wife Elizabeth 24 and Margaret 2 and Marth A. 6/12 b. MS.
823/850 W. A. WATKINS 34 farmer personal value $416 b. NC
Sarah 40 b. AL James 14 b. MS Mary A 12 Malcolm 9 Roxanna 4 Andrew J 1
824/851 G. (or J.) M. WILSON 38 farmer real estate $800 personal $1174 b. AL
Hannah C. 39 SC
John M. 10 b. MS
Andrew J. 6
Mary A. J. 4
Anderson WATKINS 16 farmer
NOTES: http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=gelem&id=I1893. John Mills WILSON married Hannah CARTER. John MILLS WILSON’s mother is Jennet NELSON WILSON. John’s sister, Sarah Ann married a WATKINS (see household 823). 825/852 Jennet WILSON 69 housekeeper $200 $5210 SC
A. J. WILSON 33 farmer $460 or $260 and $1660 AL
Jane NELSON 22 MS
826/853 W. P. SANDERS 52 $4800 $7332 GA
Margaret and family
1870 MISSISSIPPI PIKE COUNTY, HOLMESVILLE
pg. 125
27/27 LEGGET John 39 farmer $4000 $1670 b. MS and Mary and family
SIMMONS Robert F. 22 student b. MS
28/28 LEA Mingo 55 (b) farmhand b. GA
Catherine 25 (b)
Delilah 17 (b) domestic servant wife b. MS
29/29 LEA Alexander 27 (b) farmhand b. MS
Gormelia 22 (b)
Jefferson 2 (b)
infant 3/12 (b)
30/30 JAMES Philip 34 (b) farmhand
Louisa 40 (b)
and family
31/31 JAMES Letty 28 (b) laborer and family
31/32 SIBLY Joseph 24 (b) farmhand
32/33 SIMMON Reuben 49 farmhand $100 personal prop. b. AL
Frances 45
Mary 16 b. MS
Charles 13 b. MS
Stephen 11 b. MS
John 7 b. MS
infant 7/12 b. MS
33/34 SIMMONS James 26 farmhand $300 personal prop. b. AL
Mary 22 b. AL
James 5 b. MS
John 2 b. MS
34/35 WARD Mary 37 b. MS
? 15 (female)
Joseph 9
35/36 FRIED David W. 59 and Matilda and family farmer b. TN
36/37 MCCLENDON Charles 55 (b) (and Mourning (b) and family) farmhand $15- b. VA
37/38 ? John (b) (and Charlotte and family) farmhand $150 b. MS
38/39 SIMMONS Miriam 34 farming $300 $200 b. MS
Nancy 9
Mary 7
John 4
Martha 3
Benjamin 15
39/40 SIMMONS William 40 farmer $2500 $1220 b. MS
Martha J. 33
William 17
Wright 15
James 9
Fanny 8
Alexander 7
Angeline 5
Thomas 4
Elizabeth 3
Willis 7/12
REEVES ? Nancy 14
George 17
40/41 BRUMFIELD Richard 27 (b) farmhand
41/42 SIMMONS Thomas 33 farmer personal value $350 b. MS
Sarah 21 b. LA
John T. 3 b. MS
Richard 2
Mary 10/12
SANF? Dicy 23 laborer
42/43 SIMMONS John R. 55 farmer $775 ? b. MS
Margaret 49
Richard J. 17
Jesse 15
Margaret 12
Haman 10
43/44 CHENY Philip 37 (b) farmhand (and family)
44/45 SIMMONS John D. 29 farmer RE value $100 personal $700 b. MS
Margaret B. 29
Sarah 8
Benjamin F. 6
Margaret 4
Julia J. 2
WOOD Mary E. 15
etc.
pg. 127 B 58/61 WILSON Robert farmhand 25 $100 b. AL
Sarah 23 b. MS
Laura 2
? 2
Murdock 7/12
(Note to self: I only went through a portion of the census, pages 170-188 of 298)
1880 MISSISSIPPI PIKE COUNTY, DISTRICT 37
pg. 339 (page 15 at ancestry.com)
125/126 SMITH William 37 farmer b. AL father b. SC mother b. GA
Josephine 30 can’t read or write b. MS. father b. GA mother b. MS
Adaline 10 can’t read or write, been in school b. MS
Henry 8 been in school
Minnie 6
Lethaann 5
Francis (male) 3
Willie or Wallie b. Jan.
126/127 SIMMONS Reuben 60 Farmer can’t read or write b. NC parents b. NC
Frances 59 can’t write b. AL father b. SC mother b. GA
John 16 Farm hand can’t read or write b. MS father b. NC mother b. AL
Narcissus 10 maimed or crippled, can’t read or write b. MS
127/128 SMITH Ward 81 Farming b. SC parents b. SC
Easter 77 can’t read or write, b. GA, parents b. GA
128/129 SIMMONS Steve 22 farmer b. MS father b. NC mother b. AL
Clarinda 22 b. MS parents b. MS
Esco 7/12 b. NOV
Robert and Frances are buried at the Union Baptist Church Cemetery in Pike Co., MS. Frances was the first person buried there and has the oldest date of birth of anyone buried there. (Source: Delores Tousineau) The Union Baptist Church Cemetery is 5 miles 3ast of Magnolia. The tombstone data reads: Robert SIMMONS, 1819-1903; Frances SIMMONS, 1820-1898.
Bob Ann Breland relates:
Incidently, I don’t know where the name Robert (for Reuben) came from, but my father’s oldest brother, Iva Lang, had the tombstones made. He was the oldest child in my Daddy’s family, so he might have known something Daddy didn’t know about Reuben’s name. I’m sure he knew his grandfather, even though he would have probably been a child when Reuben died. I’m also pretty sure he didn’t just draw that name out of a hat. He was a pretty concise fellow. But everything I have ever found names him as Reuben.
I don’t know if it is included in any of the material that you have but there is a pretty funny story about my grandmother and her daddy.
Reuben traveled about a good deal visiting with his children. At the time, my grandmother and grandfather (Narcis and Albert) were living in Pike County. Reuben came to Sheridan to visit with his son Murdock “Steve” and while he was here, Reuben died. Murdock and others of the family who lived here buried him up at the Nobles Cemetery at Pine. It was freezing cold, and soon after the burial, the ground froze.
Meanwhile my grandmother, up in Mississippi, who was definitely a daddy’s girl and the baby of her family, was grieving herself to death. She was pregnant with a set of twins (I don’t know if it was the first set or the second set, but dates will tell us) and she couldn’t come. She cried day and night until my grandfather came to Louisiana with a wagon to bring him back to Pike County.
They had to build a fire on top of the frozen grave to thaw the ground so they could dig him up. They then transported him back to Pike County where he was buried in the Union Baptist Church Cemetery.
This was probably as illegal then as it is now, but it apparently made my grandmother happy to bring him back home.
Frances SIMMONS
1820 – 1898
Photo contributed by Delores Bateman Tousinau
Frances SIMMONS
1819 – 1903
Photo contributed by Delores Bateman Tousinau
East Union Baptist location of graves of Frances and Robert SIMMONS
SOURCES:
Census data
Bob Ann Breland
Delores Tousineau
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