Jonathan Simmons

     Jonathan D. Simmons was born January 1, 1831 in Alabama, and moved with his parents to Mississippi before1840.  He was the son of Jonathan Simmons and his second wife Sally Woodall.  He appears on the 1850 census in Yalobusha County, Mississippi living with Zachariah A. McElroy and his wife.  McElroy’s occupation is listed as miller.  Jonathan’s is laborer.

     In November of 1851, Jonathan married Miss Julia Ann Harrell in Yalobusha County, Mississippi.  In 1860, they appear on the Brazos County, Texas census with their children John F. Simmons, 6; W.W. Simmons, 4; and Thomas J. Simmons, 2.

     In early 1862, Jonathan joined the Confederate army.  He was inducted into Waul's Texas Legion at Centerville, Leon County, Texas.  A legion included infantry, artillery, and cavalry.  Jonathan served in the infantry and was with General Thomas Waul’s Legion when they surrendered to General Grant at Vicksburg on July 3, 1863.  He was paroled and released on the condition that he would no longer fight against the United States.  The parole papers are in the National Archives in Baltimore, Maryland.

     Jonathan Simmons walked home from Mississippi in the company of a man named Headly White who was also paroled at Vicksburg.  A family story suggests that somewhere in Louisiana the two foot-sore soldiers came upon some men who were building a levee.  It was dinner time and the workers were eating under the shade of some trees.  Their mules had been turned out to graze.  Being some distance away from the workers, Jonathan and Headly “appropriated” a mule for their own use without being detected.  From that point on to Texas, one would walk while the other rode the mule.  From time to time, they would switch places.  In this way, they were able to return home. Headly White and his family appear on the 1870 census at Leona in Leon County, Texas not far from where Jonathan appears.

In 1870, Jonathan and Julie were near Leona.  According to Jonathan’s obituary, Julia Simmons died that year.  She was approximately 34 years old.  In 1872, Jonathan, married Miss Fannie Rutherford of Leona in Leon County, Texas.  The family appears on the 1880 census still in Leon County.  Those living with them are William Simmons (age not given, but perhaps Jonathan and Julia’s son, W.W. who would be about 24); Martha A. Simmons, 5; Robert Simmons, 3; and Marcus Lafayette Simmons, 8 months.  Jonathan’s occupation is listed as wagoner.

Jonathan Simmons and his family eventually moved to Kaufman County where he died in 1914.  He is buried in the Dry Creek Cemetery near the Poetry Community.