Born ‎ Mar 10, 1843 at Edinburgh, MD, died ‎ Aug 29, 1920 at Iowa Co., IA‎, 77 years. Occupation: ‎ at Merchant;
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Mervin Allen Simmons was the namesake of his Uncle, Rev. Mervin Allen.
(Family legends named Rev. Mervin Allen as a brother of Ethan Allen of
Revolutionary War fame. While Rev. Mervin Allen had a brother, Ethan
Allen, he was not the famous Revolutionary War hero, this Ethan Allen was
born in 1780 and was an Episcopalian minister in Washington. Mervin and
this Ethan Allen were the sons of Asahel Allen.)
From Obituary: One of the largest funerals held in Marengo during recent
years occurred on Tuesday morning August 31, at St. Patrick's church when
the last rites were performed for Mervin Allen Simmons. A distinguished
assembly of friends and relatives from all over Iowa County gathered at
the church and business houses and professional offices were closed
during the fore noon as a mark of respect to the man who was a pioneer in
the material welfare and the moral ideals of this section of Iowa. ****
In 1861, Mr. Simmons, imbued with the true pioneer spirit left the
affluence and luxury of life in the south for the rigors and wilderness
of the prairie. In 1866 he was married at Iowa City in old St. Mary's
church to Miss Mary B. Agnew, the daughter of two Iowa pioneers, who had
also come westward from the Old Line State. To this union were born
twelve children, nine of whom are still living. They are Mrs. E.E.
Brunell of Minneapolis, Mrs. W.B. Johnson of Davenport, Mrs. Myrene
Shedenhelm of Gowrie, Iowa, Mrs. Arthur Brown of Marengo, Miss Therese
Simmons of Marengo, Ray Simmons, Mark Simmons, Paul Simmons of Marengo
and C.J. Simmons of Williamsburg. Besides a large number of
grandchildren and great grandchildren, Mr. Simmons is also survived by
three brothers and one sister, John, Edwin and William Simmons and Mrs.
Ida Wanamaker.
Mr. Simmons was a leader in his community and for many years was
active in every forward movement for the benefit of Marengo. He was a
marksman with a state wide reputation and was a promoter of every
wholesome sort of sport. As a young man his religious convictions were
so strong as to always reflect the spirit of "the land of this sanctuary"
whence he hailed. For a number of years in his early manhood before any
house of worship had been erected in Marengo, it was his custom to attend
mass beneath a large and ancient tree. His wife's former pastor, the
Rev. Peter Emonds, came weekly on horseback from Iowa City, to minister
to the spiritual needs of the little flock of which Mr. Simmons was a
devout and ardent member.
****
Father Hannon who read the comforting message of the days epistle
taken from St. Paul to the Corinthians also paid a rich tribute to the
memory of the dead man. He recalled Mr. Simmons many sterling qualities
as a community leader, an upright citizen and a pioneer in Christian and
national ideals. Father Hannon paid equal homage to the manner in which
he lived in relation to his fellow man and to his warm and earnest
convictions with regard to the religion of his mother which he early
embraced and in which he lived and died. Mr. Simmons example as a model
citizen and a Christian gentleman was one as worthy of emulation as it is
choice in remembrance. The service was closed with brief prayers for the
dead and in Calvary cemetery, one of Marengo's grand old patriarchs was
lowered to his last rest by his four sons, Ray, Mark, Paul and C.J.
Simmons and his two grandsons, Mervin Brown and Lloyd Simmons.

Born ‎ Nov 15, 1845 at MD, died ‎ Sep 1, 1918 at Marengo, Iowa Co., IA‎, 72 years, buried ‎ Sep 22, 1918 at Calvary Cemetery, Marengo, Iowa Co., IA. Occupation: ‎ at Housewife;
Alias: /Molly/
Cause of Death: Chronic endocardites
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