Ansil N. Simmons (1882 - 1942)

Born 1882 in Pike County, MS

Ancestors

Husband of Cora (Brock) Simmons — married 1902 in Washington Parish, Louisiana, United States

Died 1942 at about age 60 in Napolianville, LA

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Biography

Ansil N. Simmons, b. March 03, 1882, Pike County, MS, d. January 16, 1942, Napoleonville, LA.

On August 3, 1902, Mr. Simmons married in Washington Parish Miss Cora Brock, a daughter of Alexander and Clara (Smith) Brock. Mr. Brock is a merchant of Washington Parish, but Mrs. Brock died in that parish April 30, 1924. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons have had the following children born to them:

1. Jewell S. married Esther Boudreaux and they lived in Napoleonville where he was an attorney.
2. Edrye, married Dr. R.H. Dolese and they lived in Thibodeaux
3. Winnie Lucille, she married Joseph Alleman and they lived in New Orleans
4. Ansil S. Jr. married Lucy Blanchard and they lived in Napoleonville where he was an attorney.
5. James
6. Clyde, married Rose Signorelli and they lived in Napoleonville
7. Robert, married Catherine Laws and they lived in Napoleonville
8. Norma, married Linsey Berjeron, they lived in Napoleonville
9. Marjorie remained single.
10. Willomay, married Ray Toups and they lived in Napoleonville

The Silver Creek Simmons Family page 35

Ansil N. Simmons.

One of the dignified representatives of the legal profession of the Parish of Assumption is Ansil N. Simmons, whose activities are not confined to his calling, but are extended to include the management of a fine plantation and public service of a somewhat varied nature. In everything that he undertakes Mr. Simmons displays that thoroughness and efficiency that have always been his vital characteristics, and his connection with a project not only proves its trustworthiness, but also the fact that it is liable to be carried to a successful completion. He is a native son of Louisiana, and was born in the Parish of Washington, March 3, 1882.

His great-grandfather, John Simmons, was a planter of Pike County, Mississippi, where he died, and where his son,Willis Simmons, the grandfather, was born, spent his life and died,he,too,being extensively interested as a planter.

The father of Ansil N. Simmons, Wright L. Simmons, was also born in Pike County, Mississippi, in 1857, but in young manhood he moved to Washington Parish, and there he died in 1885. His life work was centered on farming, and he was successful in his efforts in this direction. An advocate of democracy as enunciated by the followers of Jefferson and Jackson. He voted the democratic ticket. The Baptist Church held his membership, and he was a strong churchman. He married Eliza Miller, who was born in Washington Parish, in 1849, and died at Edgerly, Calcasieu Parish, in October, 1918. They had two children: Ansil N. and J. Wright. The latter is a painter and decorator, residing at Franklinton, Washington Parish. After the death of her first husband the mother of Ansil N. Simmons was married to Isaac A. Burch, a native of Mississippi, who died at Edgerly, Louisiana, in 1919.

Ansil N. Simmons was educated in public and private schools of Washington Parish, and was reared on his father's plantation until he was nineteen years old. He then went to Mount Herman, Louisiana, and for a year clerked in a store. In the meanwhile he had begun the study of law under the preceptorship of Judge Prentiss B. Carter, and continued it for two years. He then entered the law department of Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, and was graduated therefrom with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and was admitted to the bar in June of that same year. Immediately thereafter he entered upon a general practice at Franklinton, and continued it until 1911, when he moved to Napoleonville, and here he has remained, carrying on a general civil practice. His offices are in the Masonic Building on Franklin Street. He is a republican, and served for two terms as a member of the City Council of Napoleonville, and for one term was mayor of the city, in these offices doing much to advance the community and secure an honest administration of its affairs. He is a member of Saint Anne's Roman Catholic Church of Napoleonville, and of Assumption Council No. 1099, Knights of Columbus; of Donaldsonville Lodge No. 1153, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Professionally he belongs to the Louisiana State Bar Association, and to the Twenty-seventh Judicial District of the Louisiana Bar Association. He is secretary and treasurer of the Labadie Farm Loan Association of Napoleonville, which is doing much to finance building operations in this locality. He owns a very fine residence, corner of Courthouse and College streets, Napoleonville, set in large and tastefully arranged grounds, and which is a very desirable home. In addition to this property he owns Bellewood Plantation, situated four miles southwest of Napoleonville, on an improved road, this property comprising 1,375 acres, 400 acres of which are under cultivation, and here Mr. Simmons raises sugar cane. He has invested to considerable extent in other real estate in Assumption Parish, and is a man of large means. During the late war he assisted in all of the drives for all purposes; was a member of the Legal Advisory Board of Assumption, and in this connection, and otherwise, devoted a large amount of the to the cause. As chairman of the four-minute men of Assumption Parish he had charge of the speakers on public subjects in this locality, and was himself one of the most popular of them.

On August 3, 1902, Mr. Simmons married in Washington Parish Miss Cora Brock, a daughter of Alexander and Clara (Smith) Brock. Mr. Brock is a merchant of Washington Parish, but Mrs. Brock died in that parish April 30, 1924. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons have had the following children born to them: Jewell S., who is a law student of Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana; Edrye, who is a graduate of the Louisiana State Normal School, Natchitoches; Winnie Lucille, Ansil S. and James Clyde, who are students of the Napoleonville public schools; and Robert, Norma, Marjorie and Willomay, who are at home.

Sources

• History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 301-302, by Henry E. Chambers.

Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.