George married Hester Jones in Sangamon Co. in 1832, and by 1840, they had moved to Knox Co., IL, with a host of relatives. They settled on Section 6 in Rio and Section 1 in North Henderson township, Mercer county, where George built his home. The home consisted of one large room, with one end in Rio, Knox county, and the other in Mercer county. At dances held here it was not uncommon to have the music in one county and the dancing in the other. When marriages were solemnized in this house, care was taken to have the bride and groom stand well over in the county that issued the license.
He first made his living cutting cordwood near New Boston and selling it to riverboats on the Mississippi River. He was the only white man for miles around when he first went there. Later he began a brickyard and furnished building brick which was used in the area.
Here they raised twelve children to adulthood (an additional child died young), all of whom migrated yet further west. George Simms was reputedly a close personal friend of Abraham Lincoln from his days in Springfield, and he frequently spoke out against slavery. He died while felling a tree.
His wife Hester removed to Custer Co. NE with several of her children, where she died in 1901 and is buried in Gates Cemetery.
George married Hester Jones in Sangamon Co. in 1832, and by 1840, they had moved to Knox Co., IL, with a host of relatives. They settled on Section 6 in Rio and Section 1 in North Henderson township, Mercer county, where George built his home. The home consisted of one large room, with one end in Rio, Knox county, and the other in Mercer county. At dances held here it was not uncommon to have the music in one county and the dancing in the other. When marriages were solemnized in this house, care was taken to have the bride and groom stand well over in the county that issued the license.
He first made his living cutting cordwood near New Boston and selling it to riverboats on the Mississippi River. He was the only white man for miles around when he first went there. Later he began a brickyard and furnished building brick which was used in the area.
Here they raised twelve children to adulthood (an additional child died young), all of whom migrated yet further west. George Simms was reputedly a close personal friend of Abraham Lincoln from his days in Springfield, and he frequently spoke out against slavery. He died while felling a tree.
His wife Hester removed to Custer Co. NE with several of her children, where she died in 1901 and is buried in Gates Cemetery.
Family Members
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Anna Jemima Simms Sweeney
1833–1879
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Robert Rufus "Rufe" Simms
1834–1918
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George William Simms
1837–1915
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Maria Lydia Simms Rhodes
1840–1896
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Mary Jane Simms Robson
1841–1886
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William Thomas "Will" Simms
1843–1885
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David Bruner Simms
1845–1912
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Hester E Simms
1847–1848
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Isaac Newton "Newt" Simms
1847–1936
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Martha Grace "Kit" Simms Herbert
1848–1932
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Henry Lane Simms
1851–1930
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James Edwin Simms
1853–1935
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Hetta Simms Bishop
1857–1894
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