From the book HISTORY AND FAMILIES OF JOHNSON COUNTY This book is for purchase from the Johnson Co. Gen. and Hist. Society. SIMMONS FAMILY the Simmons family established their roots in Johnson County married David Allard on May 2, 1847. They had children named John Franklin, William Green, India Ann, wife of Wesley R. Jenkins; Martha J., wife of Gilbert Morse; David Newton; Sidney Ann; Charles E. and George W. (see William Allard family for more data). Rosanna Jane Simmons Allard was the daughter of Peter Simmons and Cynthia Harvey (March 1805 in Georgia- August 1848). Not much is known about the Harvey family line. Peter Simmons was born on Dec. 24, 1804 in Bertie Co., NC (July like his parents Thomas and Mary Ann Walker Simmons) and died on Sept 17, 1889 from cancer of the face. Peter�s grave is located on Rillie and McKinley Stapleton�s farm. Peter and his first wife, Cynthia had children named Rosanna Jane Allard; Monroe; Lewis; Alexander; Peter W.; Sarah; Polly A.; John C.; Melinda; and James A. Peter and Cynthia were members of the County Line Baptist church. Peter married for the second time a Mrs. Tucker who had a son James Riley Tucker and perhaps a Joe Tucker. Peter Simmons (1804-1889) was the son of Thomas Simmons (ca. 1767-1860) and Mary Ann Walker. They had children Peter, who married first Cynthia Harvey and second Mrs. Tucker; Wesley married Mary or Polly A. Ering; Lewis married Sarah; and perhaps a son named Daniel. Thomas Simmons was believed to be the son of Wesley and Elizabeth Simmons were immigrants of North Carolina from Ireland. Thomas Simmons and his son, Peter moved to Wayne Co., TN from North Carolina. Peter and his family moved to Johnson Co., IL between the Federal Census of Illinois in 1830 and 1840, while his parents Thomas and Mary Ann Simmons followed the clan to the same county before 1850. Submitted by Elizabeth Ann Wimer Marsh. SIMMONS FAMILY The Simmons family came to the United States from Ulster, Ireland, at the close of the Revolutionary War. Thomas Simmons was the great great grandfather of Faye (Simmons) Greer of Vienna. His wife was Mary Ann Walker. Wiley Simmons, son of Thomas, married Mary Ann, a daughter of Ezakiah Erving. Campbell Dotson Simmons., "Uncle Cam:, married Mary Ann Ralls. Their children were Wiley Dot, Calvin, Mary, Sarah and Jane. Mary married James Stout and their children were Lydia (Stout) Johns; Sarah, who married James Wilson and had children Nettie, Jewel and Glenn; and Wiley, who married India Simpson and had children Orpha, Dot and Fred. They moved to Utah. Campbell Dotson Simmons, Jr., �Dot�, married India?(my copy is bad) Elizabeth Simpson and had children Wiley, Anna, Johnie, Lela, Bertha, Lon, Ed, Edna, and Jewel. Dot and Lizzie were members of the Baptist Church. Calvin Corbitt Simmons married Caroline Reynolds at Reynoldsburg, IL Sept. 4, 1898. Their children are Alice Faye of Vienna and Joseph C., now living in Beloit WI. Alice Faye married Frank Greer, a teacher from White County, who came to Johnson County in 1924. He later became a postal employee in Vienna for 32 years. He was a 32nd degree Mason. He and Faye were both members of the First Baptist church, White Shrine and Eastern Star. Both were teachers. They had two daughters. Lillian I., married James D. McCall, they have three children Debbie P. Bonwell, Dona Jasson and Ed McCall. Bettie married Norman Norton of Percy, IL. Their children are Mathew J. of Columbia, SC and Jane of Danville, CA. The Nortons reside in Danville, CA. Joseph C. Simmons married Dorothea M. Walter July 6, 1944 in Rockford, IL. Joe, Dorothea and son Jim operated Anatorwind Clinic in Beloit, WI. Their childre are Caroline Simmons of Bria, CA; Jacquie (Simmons Terry of Washburn, WI; Cathy (Simmons Kurtyka, of Wanwatose, WI; and Jim Simmons of Beloit, WO. Submitted by Faye Greer. BESSIE ELIZABETH ASKEW SIMMONS Was born in a rural area of Tunnel Hill, IL (Johnson County) on Oct. 7, 1901, to Edward Eugene Askew and Cora Whitehead. She grew up and went to school in Tunnel Hill, IL. She was the only child born to Edward Eugene and Cora Whitehead Askew. Cora died when Bessie was about five months old (March 1902). Edward Eugene then married Ava Johnson in 1902. They had 13 children who were step brothers and step sisters to Bessie. Bessie married Arlie Simmons in 1917. Arlie Simmons was born Feb. 20, 1896. Arlie worked as a coal miner, deputy sheriff, policeman and police radio operator. Bessie and Arlie had six children Edna Marie, born Sept. 18, 1917; William Edward, born Jan. 11, 1919; Eva Lee, born Jan. 28, 1922; Alice Mae, born Sept. 16, 1924; Arlie Eugene, born Aug. 9, 1927; wilma Fern, born Dec. 17, 1929. Edna Marie married Lee Cogdill. They had two children: Sharon Lee (Cogdill) Skiles and Carol Lynn (Cogdill) Thompson. William Edward married Ruby Boatright. They had three children: Gloria Jean (Simmons) O�Bryan; Donald Simmons, and Gary Ray Simmons. Eva Lee married Raymond "Joe" Greeney. They had three children: Brenda Greeney; Dennis Greeney, and Tim Greeney. Alice Mae married James R. Jewel. They had two children: David Jewel and Nancy (Jewel) Simmons. Arlie Eugene Simmons married Mary Jo Martin. They had two children: Gregg Eugen Simmons and Steven Douglas Simmons. Wilma Fern married Wallace Pebbles. They had two children: Paul Peebles and Beth Ann (Peebles) Asp. Arlie Simmons died on Dec. 4, 1967. Bessie still resides at 302 E. Mitchell, Marion IL. ED SIMMONS Son of Campbell Dotson and Elizabeth Simmons was born Oct. 8, 1901 and died June 15, 1985. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Vienna, a former state employee and a bus driver. He also did farming, general blacksmithing, electrical work and plumbing. He attended Robertson Grade School and Vienna High School. He was a member of the Senior Citizens Club and Band. He had his own band, known as the "The little Egypt String Band" for 14 years, furnishing entertainment for the nursing homes and community. He married Robbie Ridenhower Simmons in Metropolis. They have three children. Edward Fraklin Simmons married Georgia Eastman in Oklahoma. They have two daughters. Janet is married to Barry Scheer and they have a daughter, Emily. Martha M. Simmons Perkins married Larry Ellis. They had three sons; Ronald Ellis married Pam Baker in Marion, IL and they have two sons, Bradley Ellis and Craig Ellis. Howard Ellis is deceased and Stephen Ellis married April Andrews. They have one son, Stephen Howard Ellis. Martha M. Simmons Perkins is married to Bob Perkins of Memphis, TN. Sandra Sue Simmons Trovillion married Lowell Trovillion. They have five children, namely: Donna Carmen, who married Wesley Carmen. He has two children, Chris and Jody Carmen; Debbie Smith married James A. Smith; Denis Turpen married Mark A. Turpen and they have one daughter, Brittany Leigh Turpen; Chrisite Trovillion and Gary Trovillion. Submitted by Robbie Simmons.