Henry C. Simmons, farmer and blacksmith, P. O., Marshall. Born in Washington City, District of Columbia, August 17, 1813. His father, William Simmons, is a native of Ireland, and his mother of England. At an early age Henry moved, with his father’s family, to Barren county, Kentucky. He was educated in the public schools of that county. At the age of fifteen, he learned the blacksmith and gunsmith trade, which he followed for seven years in Kentucky. He came to Saline county, November 10, 1839, and settled at Marshall. He walked from St. Louis to Marshall, where he worked at his trade for ten years. He built the first blacksmith and gunsmith shop in Marshall. It stood on what is known as "Dog Row." He paid $105 for the lot—60x120. In November, 1849, he married Miss Sarah A. Gilmer, daughter of John Gilmer. They have one daughter, Mary E. Wilcox. In same year he had an attack of the "gold fever," which carried him off, across the plains, with an ox-team, to California. He remained there two and a half years, engaged in freighting, in which business he was quite successful. He returned home via the Isthmus and New York, paying $200 for his passage. In 1854, he purchased the farm on which he now resides, consisting of 600 acres of well-improved farm land. His first wife died June 18, 1859, and is buried at the Gilmer graveyard. In 1862 he was again married, to Miss Frances Vivian, a native of Howard county. Their union was blessed with six children, four of whom are now living: William, Robert, Alfred, and Samuel.
