MS-269
The Charles C. Simmons Genealogy Document Collection
Introduction
The Charles C. Simmons Genealogy Document Collection was accessioned into the Piqua Public Library Archives and Special Collections as the result of a donation from the Miami County Historical and Genealogical Society. By resolution of the society, ownership of the collection was transferred to the Piqua Public Library. The collection is housed in a single Hollinger box containing 36 files. There are no known restrictions on the use of this collection.
Scope and Content
The Charles C. Simmons Genealogy Document Collection is divided into the following two series:
SERIES I: Simmons Genealogy Documents – Box 1, Files 1 – 17
SERIES II: Original documents, deeds, land descriptions, receipts and other documents – Box
1, Files 18 - 36
Container List
SERIES I: Simmons Genealogy Documents
BOX 1
File 1 Ancestor Chart of Charles C. Simmons – this chart, in three pages, follows the
Simmons family back to Johann Jakob Simon, born c. 1700 in Bulenbach, Germany, and the Bechtolt family back to Johann Bechtolt, born c. 1770 in Pensylvania.
2 “John Simmons, A Life Sketch” by Leonard U. Hill – August, 1958 – draft of an
article written for The Piqua Daily Call. – 5 pages
3 “Out of Historic Past ---- John Simon, Early Settler Came To Piquarea in 1801” by
Leonard U. Hill. Published in The Piqua Daily Call, August 29, 1958 and is based on the draft in File 2 above.
4 “Ancient Oak Still Stands at Dillbone Massacre Site,” article in the Piqua Daily Call
by Leonard U. Hill – no date on the article but c. 1950’s.
5 Page of notes on the genealogy of Johann Jacob Simons.
6 Oldest known Simmons document:
[1] A letter of introduction for Johann Phillip Simon … from the Evangelical
Reformed Minister in Bulenbach, Germany dated May 2, 1750. It is on parchment with a seal and is legible. It is in German script writing.
[2] A printed copy of the letter – hand printed in German.
[3] A letter to Rev. Harry B. Parrott of Fletcher, Ohio, from Albert W. Aron of the
University of Illinois, Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures, Urbana, Illinois, dated June 10, 1933. In this letter is a translation of the 1750 letter of introduction. This letter has a number of later edits and corrections made by persons not identified.
7 Notes on Johann Phillip Simon.
8 Notes on John Simmons.
9 Notes on Phillip Simmons and five receipts for the disbursement of funds from the
John Simmons Estate of which Phillip Simmons was the executor and one receipt for the payment of $5.00 for the coffin of John Simmons.
10 Notes on Jacob Simmons and a deed by which Jacob and Hettie Simmons sold the
southeast quarter of Section 31, Town 2, Range 12, Miami River Survey to John Simmons for $320.00. The deed is dated April 17, 1823.
11 Notes on Peter J. Simmons.
12 Notes on Benjamin Franklin Simmons and the following photographs:
[1] The Benjamin Franklin Simmons plot in the Fletcher Cemetery.
[2] The grave of Benjamin Franklin Simmons (1848-1921)
[3] The grave of Rachel Jane (Sanders) Simmons (1846-1923)
[4] Rachel, Charley, Harry, Benjamin, Ward, Fred Simmons.
[5] Rachel, Benjamin and family.
[6] Benjamin’s Family
[7] Benjamin, Rachel, and Charley Simmons
13 Notes on J. Ward Simmons, his wife Alveria McKnight and daughter Aileen. There is
an obituary of J. W. Simmons, a picture of Aileen, her husband Russell Milen and their daughter Gretchen, and a funeral card for Aileen (died January 24, 1974)
14 Notes on Charley Levi Simmons, his wife Gertrude May Motter and three children:
Carroll Franklin, Helen Josephine, Francis Levi. After the death of Charley in 1923, Gertrude married Charles Niswonger and they had one son, Marvin. The file included the following photographs and documents:
[1] Grave marker for Charlie (Charley) L. Simmons (1886-1923)
[2] Grave marker for Gertrude M. (Simmons) Niswonger (1887-1941)
[3] Obituary for Mrs. Charles (Gertrude) Niswonger
[4] Marriage Certificate for Charley L. Simmons and Gertrude M. Motter, 29 Dec. 1907.
[5] Photograph of Gertrude and Charley Simmons
[6] Memorial card for Gertrude Simmons Niswonger
[7] Photograph of Aileen, Ken, Carroll, Fred, Helen, Francis, Audrey
[8] Photograph of Carroll and Daisy (Harry)
[9] Photograph of Charley in front of an Interurban trolley car.
[10] Photo of Children: Francis, Carroll, Helen Simmons
[11] Photo of Adults: Carroll, Helen, Francis
[12] Photo of Adults: Helen, Elizabeth & Marvin Niswonger, Francis Simmons
[13] Photo of Francis & Thelma Simmons
[14] Photo of Simmons cemetery monument for Francis and Thelma Simmons
[15] Photo of Thelma and Francis Simmons
[16] Memorial card for Francis L. Simmons.
[17] Photo of Elizabeth & Marvin Niswonger.
15 Notes on Carroll Franklin Simmons, his wife Caroline Flora Bechtolt and sons Charles
Conrad and John Clarence. The file includes the following photographs and documents:
[1] Cemetery marker – Simmons – Carroll F. and Caroline F. – in Riverside Cemetery, Riverside, California.
[2] Marriage certificate for Carroll F. Simmons and Caroline F. Bechtolt – 4 May 1933
[3] Memorial card for Caroline Flora Simmons – February 2, 1993
[4] Memorial card for Carroll F. Simmons – May 11, 1979
[5] Photo of Caroline and Carroll Simmons
[6] Photo of Charles, Carroll, John Simmons
[7] Photo of Carroll and grandson Eric – labeled “Last picture of Dad, March 10, 1979”
[8] Birth Certificate of Carroll Franklin Simmons – January 15, 1911
[9] Birth Certificate of Caroline Bechtolt – April 14, 1911
16 Notes on Charles Conrad Simmons, his wife Rosanna Irene Ward and daughters Diane
Louise and Debra Rosanna. The file includes the following photographs:
[1] Rosanna, Charles, Debra
[2] Diane
[3] Debra
17 Notes on John Clarence Simmons, his wife Mary Ellen Rose Walker and children:
John Eric, Ivy Elizabeth, Oliver Keith. The file includes a wedding photograph of John, Mary Ellen and family.
SERIES II: Original documents, deeds, land descriptions, receipts and other documents
File 18 Land survey plot and description of the Northeast quarter, Section 34, Town 2, Range
11 (Miami River Survey) for John Shank and Ephraim Covault – the document is not dated – the land is located in the northwest corner of Lost Creek Township, Miami County, Ohio.
19 Land survey of Section 12, Town 3, Range 5 East (East Meridian Survey) – B. Van
Cleve, surveyor – John Simmons listed as owning 374.5 acres. The document is not dated. The land would be located in Montgomery County, Ohio.
20 Note confirming the sale of some old papers, Fletcher, Ohio, November 27, 1937. The
papers were sold by P. L. Carter (age 80), son of Barbara Simmons, who was the daughter of Peter Simmons. The papers were sold to Carroll F. Simmons for the sum of $5.00.
21 English translation of a letter of introduction for Johann Phillip Simon … from the
Evangelical Reformed Minister in Bulenbach, Germany dated May 2, 1750. The original letter in German is located in Box 1, File 6, No. 1, of this manuscript.
22 Document in German apparently referring to a violin made by or after Antonius
Stradivarius in 1736. Since a violin of this late date does not appear on the list of Stradivarius violins, it may be safely assumed that it was either a quick production by Stradivarius or by another violin maker copying Stradivarius designs.
23 Three receipts showing payment of $3.00 for a one year subscription to Liberty Hall a
newspaper published in Cincinnati. The receipts are dated June 18, 1814; July 29, 1816 and July 21, 1817.
24 Receipts for surveying work done by Samuel Archer, surveyor:
[1] December 22, 1814 survey of South West quarter, Section 34, Town 2, Range 11, paid by John Simmons - $3.00
[2] December 22, 1814 survey of North West quarter, Section 34, Town 2, Range 11, paid by John Simmons - $3.00
[3] Daniel Newcome is ordered to pay $4.00 to John Simmons for a survey of South East quarter, Section 25, Town 2, Range 12. No date is listed.
25 Genealogy notes, by Carroll F. Simmons, on the descendants of Phillpe Simon who
came to the British colonies in 1763. The notes trace the family through seven generations down to Carroll F. Simmons.
26 Statements or promises to pay to John Simmons:
[1] William Landis, $2.00, August 14, 1811
[2] Thomas Childreys (sp. ?), $4.00, December 18, 1818
[3] Lewis S. Winans, $1.50, November 8, 1928
[4] Fleming Jones gave $10.00 to John Simmons to be paid to J. L. McKinney. Simmons made payment to McKinney on December 16, 1919
27 Financial Documents
[1] John Simmons paid $5.50 to Joseph Fouts on January 30, 1811
[2] William Wiley received $3.26 from Jacob Platter on the account of Ben Winnans, February 22, 1817.
[3] John A. Caven promise to pay one year after date, $264.00 to James Mgurllin (sp. ?), February 25, 1818.
[4] John Simmons turned over for collection a promissory note given him by Nicholas Platter for $100.00. The note was turned over to C. W. Ewing for collection on July 25, 1820.
[5] Lucois Case promise to pay John Simmons $20.00 – March 16, 1824.
[6] Adam Simmons requested to pay $1.50 to Caleb Jones on the account of R. A. Linman – April 1, 1828.
28 Notice to delinquents in the 7th Company commanded by Captain William Newcomb
on the 9th and 12th day of September 1831. The notice was issued and signed by A. J. Pearson, Paymaster for 1st Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 10th Division, and dated October 10, 1831.
29 Letter in German to Johannes Simmon in Montgomery County, State of Ohio, on the
Wolfscreek, from Jacob Miller, dated October 15, 1805. The letter is hand written in German. There is a typed translation of the letter.
30 Letter in German with translation provided, dated October 15, 1805, from Jacob Miller
to Mr. Scholl, requesting payment of money.
31 Receipts for payments made by John Simmons:
[1] To And Cristy Coll, $1.10, December 5, 1802
[2] ToThomas Newmon, $0.90, September 24,1804
[3] To C. Martin Russell, $1.27½, December 31, 1804
[4] To S. Medary & Brothers, $2.00, August 15, 1837
32 Receipts for payment of state and county taxes:
[1] John Simmons - $10.60 for the year 1815
[2] John Simmons - $9.86½ for the year 1820 and Jacob Simmons - $1.59 for the year 1820
[3] Jacob Simmons and Asa H. Munsel – total $0.80 for the year 1822
[4] Phillip Simmons - $1.55 for the year 1828
33 Receipts for payment of state, canal, school and county taxes:
[1] John Simmons - $7.68.2 for the year 1827
[2] John Simmons - $6.76 for the year 1828
[3] John Simmons - $6.18.6 for the year 1829
[4] Adam Simmons - $3.36.9 for the year 1830
[5] Adam Simmons - $3.99.7 for the year 1834
[6] Adam Simmons - $4.39.8 for the year 1835
[7] Adam Simmons - $5.67.7 for the year 1836
[8] John Simmons - $7.66.8 for the year 1834; $7.59.2 for the year 1833; $9.94 for the year 1935 – for a total of $25.20 paid on January 28, 1836.
34 Receipts for payment of state, canal, school, county, town and road taxes:
[1] Peter Simmons - $1.34.4 for the year 1841
[2] Philip and Peter Simmons - $27.23.4 for the year 1844
[3] Phillip Simmons - $3.96 for the year 1846
[4] Philip and Peter Simmons - $23.54.6 for the year 1847
[5] Estate of John Simmons deceased, Philip Simmons, administrator - $3.87.5 for the year 1848
35 Receipt given to John Simmons for payment of taxes on 25 September 1789 – he paid
his taxes in pine boards valued at 18 pounds sterling – probably paid in Pennsylvania.
36 Invoice to John Simmons from Doctor E. M. Foshee for medicines and medical
attendance for John and his wife - $4.62. At the bottom of the invoice is a note “PD give on the account t above by punkins - $1.00.