Person:Frances Willis (8)

IMMIGRATION: From England to Canada: Emigrated to Canada after 16 Aug 1854 (birth of Louis Daniel in England0) and before 1857 (Louisa French born in Canada abt 1856 as per 1870 census, Loda, Illinois).....From Canada to US. Fanny (Frances) is on 1910 census, Marshall, Lyon county, MN. Image 12 Ancestry.com. With husband, William Simmons. Census shows them married 47 years (married about 1863) and immigration to US (from Canada) in 1871. However immigration must have been 1870 or shortly before as Fanny appears on the 1870 census in Loda, Illinois, married to William Simmons. ---------------------------

Census 1841 Hampshire St. Helens District 15

Elizabeth Dyer age 40 Laborer Born in county

Elizabeth Dyer age 15 Born in county

Peter Dyer age 75 Born in county

Frances Wallis age 10 Born in county

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CENSUS: 1851 St. Helens, I.O.W. Daniel French (born St. Helens) appears as a lodger, occupation shoemaker, in household headed by Elizabeth Dyer (born in Brading), occupation school mistress. Only other member of household is Fanny Willis (born in Brading), occupation servant. She is listed as niece of Elizabeth Dyer.

Elizabeth Dyer age 49 widowed School mistress Born Brading Fanny Willis age 20 niece Servant Born Brading Daniel French age 26 lodger Born St. Helens --------------------

CENSUS: 1861 Cartwright, Durham County, Ontario, Canada Fanny appears as head of household, age 30, occupation dressmaker with children: Edmund, birthplace England, age 8; Lewis D., age 6, birthplace England; Louiza M., age 4, born "Canada West"; and Elizabeth, age 2, born "Canada West" Religion listed for all family members is "New Connexions Methodist"

Genealogical research by Sher Leetooze revealed that Fanny and the children were living in a log house on property that belonged to Lewis Fallis in Lot 15, Concession 8, Township of Cartwright. It is in a section called "Caesarea". The home was less than 1/4 mile from the the New Connexions Methodist Church. It was built in 1855 in the small community of Salem, later to be known as North Nestleton. The church was taken down in 1900 and replaced with a brick Methodist church. (From correspondence from Sher Leetooze, 2 July 2007)

CENSUS: 1870 Loda, Iroquois county, Illinois. William Simmons - head of household - age 30, works distillery, born England; Francis - age 36; Arthur Simmons age 6, born Canada; Laura Simmons - age 3 - born Illinois; George Simmons - age 1, born Illinois; Edwin French - age 17 - born England; Lewis French - age 16 - born England; Louisa French, age 13, born Canada. Ellen French, age 11, born Canada.

CENSUS: 1875 Brookfield, Renville county, MN. W.H. Simmons - head of household- age 35 farmer, Francis Simmons - age 42; Arthur Simmons - age 10 - born Canada; Louisa Simmons - age 8 - born Illinois; Wm. H. Simmons - age 3 - born Minnesota; Wesley - age 0, born Minnesota.

CENSUS: 1880. Brookfield, Renville county, MN. W.H. Simmons - head of household- age 40 farmer, Francis Simmons - age 41; Arthur Simmons - age 16 - born Canada; Laura Simmons - age 13 - born Illinois; Wm. H. Simmons - age 8 - born Minnesota; Wesley - age 5, born Minnesota.

Census: 1885 Minnesota State census Brookfield, Renville county

Wm Simmons 35 born England

F. Louesa Simmons 43 born England

Arthur J. Simmons 10 born Canada

Louesa J. Simmons 8 Born Illinois

William Simmons 3 Born Minnesota

Wesley Willis Simmons 0 Born Minnesota

CENSUS: Minnesota State Census. 1895 Lyon County, Lynd. William H. Simmons 55 Born England. In state 24 years.... Fanny Simmons 63 Born England. In state 24 years. Frank Simmons 23 Born MN Wesley Simmons 20 Born MN

CENSUS: 1900 Lynd, Lyon county, MN. Wesley Simmons - age 25 - Head of household; Frank Simmons - brother - age 28; William H. Simmons - age 60; Fanne Simmons - mother - age 68.

CENSUS: 1910. Marshall, Lyon, MN. William H. Simmons - head of household - age 70; Fanny Simmons - age 78.

DEATH:   30 June 1919.    Obituary in Marshall (MN) Messenger - July 4, 1919. reports death of  Mrs. W.H. Simmons "at the home of her son, W.W. Simmons on West Marshall street, Monday afternoon at 2:30  o'clock..   The deceased lady's maiden name was Frances Louisa Willis.  She was born at St. Ellen on the Isle of Wight, England, January 24, 1832, and at the time of her death had attained the ripe age of 87 years, 5 months and 7 days.  She was married to Daniel French and to this union were born four children all of whom preceded her in death... In the 50s she came to America and lived for a time at Toronto, Canada.  On September 30, 1863, she was united in marriage with Mr. W. H. Simmons, and in 1892 they came to Lyon county from Renville county, locating near Lynd and later moving to this city where they have since made their home. -------------------------------------------- Marriage record of Frances (Willis) French and William Simmons

MARRIAGE: Francis French and William Simmons Name: William Henry Simmons Birth Place: England Residence: Cartwright Township Age: 24 Father Name: William Simmons Mother Name: Mary Ann Simmons Estimated birth year: 1839 Spouse Name: Frances French Spouse's Age: 30 Spouse Birth Place: England Spouse Residence: Cartwright Township Spouse Estimated Birth Year: 1833 Spouse Father Name: Thomas Wallis Spouse Mother Name : Louisa Mary Wallis Marriage Date: 30 Sep 1863 Marriage Place: Bowmanville Township Marriage County: Northumberland and Durham Family History Library Microfilm: 1030061

1. ↑ History and Description of Lyon County, Minnesota.. (Marshall Minn.: Messenger Print. House, 1884.).
2. ↑ Letter from Lee French to Bryce Lehmann (1934).
3. ↑ Consolidated Parish Registr Index in Isle of Wight Record Office, Newport, IOW.
4. ↑ Newport County Records Office, IOW, England. .. (Chart from records compliled by Ms. Hilary Lloyd, Rose Cottage, Burnt House Lane,).
5. ↑ Census 1910. Lyon county, Minnesota.
6. ↑ Census 1870. Loda, Iroquois county, Illinois.
7. ↑ Census 1880 Brookfield, Renville county, Minnesota.
8. ↑ Obituary of Fanny Simmons. ("Marshall New Messengerf", Marshall, Minnesota. July 4, 1919.).