Edgar  Simmons

          Edgar A. Simmons, postmaster of Kokomo, and ex-sheriff of Howard county, is a native of Indiana, born in the county of Shelby, on the 6th day of September, 1859.  His father, Augustus Simmons, a resident of Shelby county, died when Edgar was five years old: his mother, who bore the maiden name of  Catherine Giles, was born July 16, 1819, in Bourbon county, Kentucky, accompanied her parents to Shelby county, Indiana, when fifteen years of age and was there married a little later to  James Thompson, who moved his family to Howard county in 1844, settling about five miles west of Kokomo, near what is known as the "Indian Springs Picnic Grounds."  After residing in that locality one year Mr. Thompson took a claim one mile nearer the county seat, but he did not live long enough to improve his land, dying the year following his arrival.  After the death of her husband Mrs. Thompson returned to Shelby county, where in due time she was married to Mr. Simmons, with whom she lived in that county until again becoming a widow in the year 1865.  In 1872 she brought her family to Howard county and here continued to reside until her death which occurred in Kokomo, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Frank Todhunter, on the 7th day of April, 1908, at the ripe old age of eighty-nine years.  Of her family there remains three living children namely:  Leonidas, late postmaster of Young America, Cass county, but now a resident of Kokomo;  America, wife of  Frank Todhunter, who also lives in the city of Kokomo, and  Edgar A. Simmons, whose name introduces this sketch.  The early life of Edgar A. Simmons, amid the healthful influences and wholesome discipline of the farm, was in most respects similar to that of the majority of country lads.  As soon as old enough to be of service he was set to work' in the woods and fields and in this way spent the spring and summer months, while the winter seasons were devoted to study in the district schools, where, in due time he acquired a fair knowledge of the ordinary English branches.  In 1872 he came to Howard county and located on the place known as the old Indian Spring farm about five miles west of Kokomo where he remained until his twenty-fourth year, in the meantime spending three years in town attending school.  In the year 1883 he was united in marriage to  Belle George, daughter of  W. W. George, who came from Fayette county, Indiana, in 1873 and settled three miles west of Kokomo on the Peet's Rum pike, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits.  The three years following his marriage Mr. Simmons farmed in Ervin township and at the expiration of that period was appointed deputy sheriff by  Isaac Wright  under whom he served four years, during which time he rode over every part of the county, became personally acquainted with almost every man in his jurisdiction and discharged his duties with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his superior as well as to the general public.  So faithfully and well did Mr. Simmons attend to his duties and so capable did he prove as an officer of the law that in 1890 he was nominated by his party to the responsible position of sheriff, and triumphantly elected by a handsome majority, receiving one of the largest votes cast for any Republican candidate that year.  After serving one term he was re-nominated without opposition and again elected by an unusually large majority, his triumph in two campaigns' being a compliment to his ability as an official as well as to his high personal standing among the people of the county irrespective of party ties.  At the expiration of his second term Mr. Simmons became a partner of  Scott Armstrong, ex-mayor of Kokomo, and ex-County  Clerk Ellis  in the hardware trade, but after two years in that line of business severed his connection with the firm to engage in the real estate business, to which his attention from 1898 to 1906 was directed. In the latter year he was appointed postmaster of Kokomo, his commission dating from February 7th, and since that time he has given his attention wholly to his official duties, proving in this as in his former trust, both capable and popular and fully equal to the demands of the public in one of the most responsible and onerous branches of the government service.  The post office at Kokomo does a larger amount of business perhaps than that of any other city of the same size in the state, requiring the services of a deputy and ten clerks, twelve city carriers, nine rural free delivery carriers and four substitutes in addition to this force, there being also one Star route.  Recently congress has made an appropriation of ninety thousand dollars for the erection of a government building in Kokomo and ere long it is to be hoped the office will have more comfortable and commodious quarters in keeping with the growth of the business and the dignity of one of the most thriving cities of which Indiana can boast.   For a number of years Mr. Simmons has been one of the leaders of the Republican party in Howard county and for six years was chairman of the county central committee.  Fraternally he holds membership with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, aside from which he is identified with no other secret organization, though deeply interested in all lines of good work for which such societies stand. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons have a pleasant home in Kokomo and are highly esteemed by the best social circles of the city.  Their family consists of three children, two sons and one daughter, namely Herbert, Catherine and George N.
History of Howard County Indiana,  Jackson Morrow, B. A.  Illustrated Volume II.  B.F. Bowen Y Co, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1909.

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