My Genealogy Hound

James C. Simmons, merchant at Rocky Mount, Mo., was born near Russellville, Cole Co., Mo., in 1847, and is the eldest in a family of four children born to John H. and Isabell (Campbell) Simmons, both natives of Kentucky. The paternal grandfather was a farmer by occupation, and settled on land near Russellville at an early day. John H. Simmons also resided on a farm near Russellville until 1866, when he moved to Rose Hill, Johnson County, and there opened a store, going thence to Wadesburg, Cass County, and from there to Florence, Morgan County. In 1869 he came to Rocky Mount, Miller County, where he opened a general store and soon acquired an extensive trade. His wife died June 29, 1859, after which Mr. Simmons married Miss Elsie E. Roark. She bore him seven children. James C. Simmons was reared on the farm, and began for himself in 1866. December 24, 1865, he married Miss Eleanor Banister, a native of Franklin County, Ohio, where she resided until twelve years of age. Then she came to Missouri with her parents in the year 1859, first settling in Henry County, but later moved to Cole County, and from there to Centre Town, where Mr. Banister opened a store in 1870; this he closed in 1883, but remained at Centre Town until 1889. He now resides in Montrose, Henry County, near his farm. Mr. Simmons carried on farming up to 1880, when he secured an interest in a store at Rocky Mount, and continued up to 1882. His father died December 24, 1881. In February, 1882, Mr. Simmons sold his interest in the store, and in the same year Chambers & Banister started a store at Rocky Mount, and here Mr. Simmons clerked for two years. Chambers then withdrew, and Mr. Simmons is now managing the business for his father-in-law. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Iona Lodge No. 381. He is somewhat active in politics, having been postmaster at Rocky Mount for six years. He is the father of three children: Charles Franklin, Ida (deceased) and Leona.