Janice Simmons Sannar’s Birthdays

Janice – A year and a half old – October 1945

Janice kept diaries throughout the years, so we are lucky to have these glimpses into several of her birthdays, in her own words.

1960 – January 9 – Saturday – Wallowa, Oregon:

Janice on her 16th birthday – Wallowa, Oregon

The Simmons Kids – from left to right – Judy (14), Randy (13), Janice (16), and Phil (17)

1962 – January 9 – Tuesday – Ketchikan, Alaska:

Tommy’s folks gave me my birthday present all ready. It’s a pair of real cute slippers. They are pink. They are those kind that has a piece of stuff just across your foot. It’s made out of fluffy stuff. I’ll cut a picture of them out of the catalog so you know what I’m talking about. They got Judy (Thornburg) a record of Tennessee Ernie Ford’s hymns. Tommy gave me a card this morning and I got one from my folks, so now I have two of them.

It’s raining outside now and has been for about a week. Every once in a while it stops for a little bit. It sure is a lot of rain! I’m beginning to wonder if it’ll ever stop. Tommy said it’s the longest he’s ever seen it rain up here. It’s really been raining for about two weeks but the sun shined for two days last week. It sure was pretty. It’s real warm outside even if it is raining. It’s 40°.

1975 – January 9 – Thursday – Elgin, Oregon:

   24° above this morning. My birthday. 31 years! Went to Mom and Daddy’s and ate supper. Started snowing about 2:30 p.m. and snowed all evening. Phyllis and Jim came in and had birthday cake.

1979 – January 9 – Tuesday – Elgin, Oregon:

Janice’s 35th birthday – This was taken at her parents house in Elgin, Oregon

1980 – January 9 – Wednesday – Elgin, Oregon:

Today is my birthday. I’m 36! Can hardly believe it. I’ve come thru another really good year. I’m moving on up closer to the 40’s age and it really doesn’t bother me at all. It just seems kind of funny that I’m 36, just a year younger then Tommy’s Mom was when we got married! 30° at 4:30 a.m. Wind blowing and starting to snow, again! Kids all went to school and Tommy to work. I fixed chicken dinner. I got so many nice cards. I usually only get two or three and this year I got 10! Tommy gave me two little knife sharpeners and a knife. Susan gave me a bridal veil plant and it is so pretty. It’s hanging in the front room window. She gave me a turtle waterer, too. Stacey gave me an owl wind chime and Paula a pretty card with horses on it. Todd drew some pictures of things I like. I really did have a nice birthday. Susan made a cake and she made chocolate ice cream, too. It was so good. Stacey milked cow. Three deer behind house.

1981 – January 9 – Friday – Elgin, Oregon:

   29° at 5:30 a.m., cloudy.  6 eggs.  Wow, 37 years old, now! Tommy and I are the same age his folks were when we got married! Susan and I went to town (oh, Stacey went, too!) and bought groceries. Tommy gave the girls some money so they bought me 5 pair of undies. Boy, does it seem nice to have some decent ones! I got a crewel picture to do, too. It’s really fun to do it but slow, too. We had German sausages for supper and Susan baked me a cake!

1982 – January 9 – Saturday – Elgin, Oregon:

   My birthday! 38 years, already! 9° above at 6:30 a.m. Moon shining thru clouds. Really looks pretty. Got kids up right after 7 a.m. so they wouldn’t have to do chores in dark. It was cool out. Cold breeze blowing! Burr! Everything fine at barn. Willie is getting ornerier, tho and butts other sheep around. He’s going to have to go. Helga is getting lots tamer and even talks to me.

     Came in house and had hot chocolate. Cleaned it up some and got ready to go to town. Tommy put plastic up at house to enclose living room so he could heat it better. Then he shoveled off trailer (his folks), chicken house and barn roof. Really had a lot of snow on them.

            Went to La Grande after lunch and bought groceries. Bought me a birthday cake, too. Wind really blowing out thru valley! Tommy got ruined tire switched with a better tire that we had. That was only $17. Better then weekend before!

            Stopped at Mom’s on our way home and had some ice cream. They gave me a new pair of scissors for my birthday! I needed them so bad! Got home and unloaded Wagoneer. Stacey dropped beer. Only broke one bottle! Kids did chores while I fixed supper. (Mom, Judy, and Peggy called.) Put groceries away. Had hamburgers. Yuk! Went over to Miller’s afterwards and took my cake to share with them. Road not bad. Got a real pretty card from Susan and Kenny today and a really cute one from Randy and Shelley. The kids gave me a cute card, too and Stacey made me a doily. It’s red with white lace around it and little red ribbons on the corners. It’s really pretty! Moon shining so pretty. It’s full. Up to 25°.

1983 – January 9 – Sunday – Elgin, Oregon:

   Today is my birthday. 39 years old! Gosh, can hardly believe it! Time sure hurries by fast. I really don’t feel much different than I did 20 years ago and I still want to be a writer! I’ve got a few more kids and more gray hair and a few more pounds but other than that I’m the same person. I know I’m more relaxed with life, tho and am not as serious as I used to be but that’s part of growing up, I think. If I had these years to live over I would want to do it pretty much the same.

   It was 30° this morning at 6 a.m. with snow lightly falling. The wind has quit blowing and it is peaceful and quiet.

   Peggy called this morning and sang happy birthday to me. She wanted us to come to dinner this afternoon but we were going to Mom’s. Judy Hulse called too. Sure was glad to talk to her. Wished they could come over!

   Gave Joshua his bath. He got so mad when I took him out. Tommy put stops on big front window and then he washed it. Sure looks a lot better.

   Went to Mom’s to eat lunch. Randy, Shelley, Lance and Josette, and Phil and June and Marcie were there, too. Really enjoyed it and everything tasted so good. Had kind of like Swiss steak, dressing and three salads. Shelley made two of them. And German chocolate cake and ice cream.

   Tommy and kids gave me cards and Stacey gave me an air freshener and a doily to set it on. Todd is fixing a piece of log to stick suet in for the birds. Mom gave me a pretty frosty looking salad bowl and Randy and Shelley gave me a spaghetti spoon, a toaster cover with chicken and eggs on it, and Charlie perfume. Marvalene called while we were at Mom’s! Todd and Lance want to write a book about trapping bananas! Susan and Kenny gave me a book called Mollie. A true journal of a pioneer lady. Tommy’s folks sent me bell wind chimes. Lynda came out Thursday and gave me a little lamp that holds a candle (I set it on my desk) and a picture she made. They are really cute.

   Came home and kids did chores, then we went to Miller’s. Stacey stayed home. Tommy and Todd rode their buggies. They’ve put wallpaper in the living room. Really looks nice. Peggy made chess pies. Good!

   Wind blowing hard, again!

   Lady got stuck on ice in pond and Stacey and Todd had to go rescue her!

A Family Squeeze – Jan 1983 – Back Row: Phil, Shelley, and Randy Simmons – Front Row: June Simmons, Janice and Tommy Sannar

1984 – January 9 – Monday – Elgin, Oregon:

Paula made me a Gnome in ceramics. It is so cute. That was my birthday present from her.

1986 – January 9 – Thursday – Redding, California:

Paula got me a flannel nightgown for my birthday. Really, she let me pick it out and then she paid for it! Did I tell you Grandma and Grandpa sent me a little birdfeeder that fits on the window? It’s so cute but no birds have come to it. Maybe I should try putting bird seed in it! Todd thought that might help.

     Boy, I guess I was popular on my birthday. I got four phone calls. From Mom, then Judy (Hulse) called that morning. I talked to Dale, too! Then almost 4 p.m. Susan called. They are fine and she said it had warmed up and was 60° the day before. About 9:30 p.m. Marvalene called from work. She’d just gotten off work. I talked to a bunch of her friends and they told me happy birthday. Even Ron! Sure was fun and made me feel good to get all those calls! Paula made banana splits and they were yummy. She made me a chocolate cake, too. Susan and Kenny gave me a little tea pot with cups like the Chinese use. It’s just brown and tan colors and no flowers. Now I’ve got to get some Chinese tea.

1990 – January 9 – Tuesday – Cottonwood, California:

I got three cards on my birthday! One from Mom (no, that was yesterday!), one from Mattson’s and from Tommy’s folks. They even called me the evening of my birthday. And then they sent me a pretty little crystal thing to hang in the window. My Mom called me the morning of my birthday.

     The place Paula took me to for Chinese dinner didn’t look like much but the food was delicious. I really enjoyed it. Paula and John and the girls gave me an album that she’d put some of my old pictures in and some newer one’s too. They came out for a while that evening. Todd gave me a sympathy card! Then he gave me one with the prettiest saying on it.

     Paula took Shilo to the hospital on my birthday because she just couldn’t breath right and she kept coughing. She was beginning to get stuff in her lungs so they gave her medicine and she’s doing better now. Poor baby. She took her to the doctor yesterday and he told her it’s just a virus.

I went in and saw Marianne the afternoon of my birthday. I had to call her back Thursday because she called a diabetic specialist to see if he could tell me what to do to keep from having these sugar drops. I’m back on the 1200 calorie diet and if I feel I need a snack, especially in mid-morning, I’ll have one. I have to do several blood readings at all different times and then go back on the 18^th to show Marianne what I’m doing. She had me get a chart that will be easier to read then all my notes on paper! I sure hope it all works.

1991 – January 9 – Wednesday – Cottonwood, California:

   The weatherman was right this time. It’s 40° and raining! What a nice and peaceful sound to wake up to.

   It’s my 47th birthday! Wow! I can hardly believe it. I know that the next 47 years are going to even be better than the last one’s were. Most of it has been pretty great. Help me to think happy and inspiring thoughts every day and to help and make other people feel good. Let me reach out and touch other people and give encouragement where it is needed. And to do more writing and send it in. Thanks Father God!

1993 – January 9 – Saturday – Red Bluff, California:

   It’s my Birthday! I turned 49 years old. Wow! I thought I would be old and decrepit by now but I’m not. Actually I really am not feeling good today (or this evening!) but it’s just the flu. Joshua has it, too. What a grouch. Tommy bought me a cake at Costco and we got pizza from Round Table delivered. Little Tommy helped me blow out my candles. I got calls from Stacey, Mom, Paula and Susan. Thanks for a terrific day, Father.

Janice blowing out her candles on her 49th birthday with a little help from Little Tommy.

1994 – January 9 – Sunday – Red Bluff, California:

   My Birthday! Up early this morning when I heard soft knocking on the bedroom door. Little Tommy had an accident in his bed. This started off my birthday!! My 50^th Birthday! Wow! Whoever thought! I had a real nice day. We drove up to Chester and it’s beautiful there. Love it! Paula watched the kids in the evening while Tommy and I went to eat at The Greenbarn and to the show of Mrs. Doubtfire. Both were good! Susan, Mom, Judy & Marvalene called. Had really good visits. Stacey called while we were gone. It was a great day! Thank You Father. Sugar level bad! 234! Help me!

Janice on her 50th birthday – January 9, 1994

1996 – January 9 – Tuesday – Powell, Wyoming:

   Happy Birthday to me! WOW! I can hardly believe I’m 52 years old already. The years just zoomed away but most of them have been pretty good ones. I really don’t feel inside like I’m that old but my body keeps sending me some kind of messages! It hurts a lot! So I’ve got to get more active and lose some weight. That is one of my goals this year.

   Judy Ennis came and we went to Cody to Paula’s for “our” Birthday lunch. Susan and Stacey were there, too and it was fun. We ate stuffed pasta shells and had birthday cake and presents. Mom called me in the morning (it was raining) and Tommy’s folks called in the evening (it was 80°!). That was great hearing from them.

     Judy seems to be less stressed about the church but it still hurts. Joshua was sick again today. Big Tommy not feeling good and Little Tommy being a pill! But Father God Thank You so much for this Terrific Neat Day!

   This morning it was warmer (18°) so Shadow was a little later coming in to eat her breakfast. As soon as she finishes she runs off to Joshua’s room as fast as she can cause she knows she’s not supposed to be in. Landlord rule. Joshua was sick and laying in bed, and when he moved she bit his arm so out she went!

1997 – January 9 – Thursday – Red Bluff, California:

   My Birthday! It really seems strange to think I’m 53 years old! I don’t feel much different and where has the time gone! I know in raising a family and Living Life. Ate lunch with Nancy, Dolores, Lois and Bobbi at Streamside in Redding. It was fun but I did miss the time at Paula’s last year in Cody with the girls and Judy Ennis! Ruby came and talked to me about Melaleuca! Thanks for my Birthday Day, Father.  

1998 – January 9 – Friday – Red Bluff, California:

   About 46° at 5 a.m. and still cloudy. The moon is shining bright on it’s journey to Becoming Full! Today is my 54^th Birthday!! Wow! This was such a Special Day. I got calls from our three girls, my Mom, my two sisters and Judy Ennis. What great visits I had on the phone and Tommy took me to Perko’s for lunch and we had Papa Murphy’s pizza for supper and watched a movie. Joshua gave me a pillow he made. Thank you Father God for this Most Wonderful, Special Day!

A page from Janice’s baby book

(Janice is the daughter of Rolin Clay Simmons and Leoma Nesta (Dallas) Simmons)

Leoma Nesta Dallas Simmons

Nola and Leoma Dallas – Iosepa, Utah

One hundred years ago, a baby girl was born in a place called Iosepa, a small town in Skull Valley. Skull Valley is in the high desert country of Utah in the United States of America. The baby girl’s parents looked at her, counted her fingers and toes, welcomed her into the world and named her Leoma Nesta Dallas. Her middle name was in honor of her Aunt Nesta, her Mama’s sister. Leoma was the seventh child born into the family, though three more would follow in the years to come.

It was April 28^th of 1920. The great war had ended and Woodrow Wilson was president of the United States. It was a time of optimism and prosperity, but Leoma’s father was a trapper and a hunter. He was paid for each fur he brought in and that is a hard way to raise a large family.  Her mama, Amy Hovey,  was raised in the Mormon religion but left it behind to marry Walter Dallas.

In September of that year, the first home radio was available to purchase. The first broadcast from a commercial radio station was the results of the presidential election – Warren G. Harding won.

The Roaring Twenties had just begun, but that happy carefree time, full of Jazz music and flapper dresses, did not reach into the wilderness of Utah.

Automobiles, moving pictures, and electricity in the house for the city folks were just some of the major changes that the decade brought. Baseball stadiums began to be built around the country and Leoma would be a fan of baseball for her entire life.

By the time Leoma was ten years old, Wall Street had crashed and the Great Depression had begun. The Dallas family had moved to Jerome Prairie, Oregon where Leoma’s dad was mining for gold. Herbert Hoover was president of the United States.

Mickey Mouse was created, Pluto was discovered, prohibition came to an end. In 1935, President Roosevelt created the Rural Electrification bill; by 1939 twenty-five percent of rural households had electricity, but indoor plumbing was still in the future for the country folk.

When Leoma was sixteen, her family had been hit hard by the depression. They were traveling around California, following the fruit harvest as migrant workers. Leoma was living in Grants Pass, Oregon with her oldest sister and her family. She tried her hardest to stay in school, but the chores got to be too much and she found it too hard to go back.

Leoma and Rolin Simmons

She was nineteen when she married a man named Rolin Clay Simmons. Rolin worked in the mine with her brothers and the sparks flew when the two met. This same year, in a country far away, a man named Adolph Hitler hatched a plan to take over the world. Two years later, the United States joined in World War II. Leoma’s Rolin had arsenic poisoning in 1941 from working in the mine, so he was not sent off to fight.

Leoma’s brothers went to war. She had five babies in five years time, the last one coming by cesarean section. Her brothers all came home from the war. One brother contracted polio and would walk with a cane the rest of his life.

The Simmon’s family moved to Elgin, Oregon. The country prospered after the war ended.   Rolin and Leoma started a hardware store, a construction company, and became landlords.

The first atomic weapon is tested in the mid 1940’s; the sound barrier is broken for the first time, and the television and microwave oven are invented. Casablanca wins an Oscar and Frank Sinatra became one of the first teenage idols. The Diary of Anne Frank was published in 1947.

Leoma and her five children

In the next decade, the 1950’s, a vaccine for polio had been found, the first kidney transplant was completed successfully, and the Korean War began.

The first Peanuts cartoon strip was published, Queen Elizabeth II was crowned, and segregation was ruled illegal by Brown vs. Board of Education.

Science proved that cigarette smoke causes cancer, Walt Disney opened a park, and Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Elvis Presley scandalously shook his hips on television, the Soviet satellite Sputnik was launched, and Dr. Seuss wrote “The Cat in the Hat.”

The Simmons children grew up, married, moved away, and went to war. Grandchildren were born who adored that baby girl who was born in Skull Valley so many years ago. They called her Grandma.

John F. Kennedy became President of the United States. The country went to war with Vietnam. John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The fight for civil rights was being fought on United States soil. Martin Luther King was assassinated. Hippie’s were growing their hair long and practicing free love.

Leoma and Rolin were running their hardware store and building houses, playing with the grandkids and growing a garden. Washing paper plates and never throwing out the leftovers – a habit leftover from those hardscrabble years.

Leoma and Rolin in their backyard

A man walked on the moon, the fight for equality went on, there was a worldwide oil crisis, gasoline was rationed, and President Nixon resigned. Bell bottom pants were the rage.

In the early 1980’s, the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh took up the local Oregon headlines with this cult commune. A recession hit the logging and farming community hard where Leoma and Rolin lived. They sold their hardware store and many of their friends and neighbors, and some family members, were forced to sell and move. Rolin passed away in 1982, making Leoma a widow at the age of 61.

The space shuttle Challenger crashed, grandkids began to marry, and great-grandbabies were born. The Soviet Union was dissolved, the United States entered another war, The Gulf War, and Dolly the sheep was cloned from a cell.

Leoma lost one of her daughters and a child should never die before a mother. She began to have heart problems and memory problems. When the grandkids would visit, she would ask for them to take Grandpa his lunch down at the worksite. Whose to say that her mind didn’t need to go to that happier time, when the people she loved most in the world were just down the road, building a house, or working in the garden?

Leoma Nesta Dallas Simmons left this earth on January 27^th of 2004. She was 83 years old and had lived through so much, seen so many changes in this world of ours. “This too shall pass” she often said, because she knew that it would.

She is buried in the Elgin Cemetery in Elgin, Oregon with her beloved husband Rolin next to her and her daughter Janice beside him.

(Leoma is my maternal grandmother)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“How can you have been gone so long when I still see your sparkling brown eyes light up in teasing. And that soft chuckle or intake of breath before saying “Good Night!” Not wishing someone slumber, but expressing exasperation. Or the softness of your cheek as you hug me close. So many ways you will always be with us. Happy Birthday Grandma.” – Susan Sannar Pawley

“The softness of her cheeks is what I remember most ❤.” – Brittany Sumpter (Great-Granddaughter)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leoma Dallas Simmons’ Diary 1937 – 1955 – Dear Diary

In 1937, Leoma was seventeen years old. In August, she was living with her oldest sister and family in Grants Pass, Oregon. Leoma loved going to the movies but didn’t love going to school. These are her personal diary entries that give a glimpse into her life from 1937 to 1955. Book 1.

 

 

 

 

All My Love: Letters from Leoma Dallas Simmons – All My Love

These are the personal letters that Leoma wrote to family from 1960 to 1989. Includes: A short personal history that Leoma wrote about her family, and essays about Leoma and Rolin written by their granddaughter, Paula Sannar Niziolek. A family photo album included. Book 2.

 

Martha Alameda Rowe Sagers Simmons

Martha Simmons – May 15th, 1940

Martha Alameda Rowe was born on November 8th, 1887 in Plattsmouth, Nebraska to Louis Michael and Lucinda Jane (Curtis) Rowe.

In the 1900 census, Martha was listed as attending school. She could read and write and had five brothers and sisters. The family lived in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Nebraska City is located on the banks of the Missouri river and was a good place to cross, so river trade was a big part of the community. The Burlington and Missouri River railroad also came right through town, making Nebraska City a bustling place for industry.  Right around the early 1900’s, river trade slowed and the railroad pushed west.  These two things combined to slow the growth of industry in Nebraska City.  The population of the town lagged, many families pushing west with the railroad.

This picture shows Nebraska City in the 1880’s, about the time that Martha was born.

By 1902, Martha, who was just 14 years old, was in Oregon. We know this because my uncle, Randy Simmons, has her autograph book from that time. The earliest entry is dated May 2, 1902 and the place is Narrows, Oregon in Harney county. From the autographs, we can also see that her mother, Lucinda, several of Martha’s brothers and sisters, cousins and aunts and uncles were all living in the area at the time.

On the 22nd of June, 1904 Martha married Thomas W. Sagers in Harney county, Oregon. Thomas was thirteen years older than Martha, who was only sixteen.

On the 24th of December, 1905 the couple welcomed a daughter, Alta Isoline Sagers.  They were living in Soda Springs, Idaho.

Four years later, on September 1st, 1909, a son Estel Thomas Sagers joined the family.

The family must have moved back to Oregon shortly after Estel was born. In October Martha was entering handiwork in the Harney county fair!

From the Times-Herald (Burns, Harney County, OR) dated 16 Oct 1909:

‘A list of premium winners at the county fair last week:

Mrs. Thos. Sagers, first on embroidered center piece, first on embroidered cushion.’

On the federal census of  April 1910 Thomas is working as a bookkeeper in a store and Martha’s mother has come to live with them.

Two years later, the local newspaper reported that Martha has filed for divorce.

From the Times-Herald (Burns, Harney County, OR) dated 13 Apr 1912:

Circuit Court Work:

Martha Sagers vs. Thos. Sagers – Divorce. Referred to official reporter.’

In October Martha’s mother, who was still living with her, passed away. It seems like it was a tough year for her. She not only became a single mom, but lost her own mother as well.

About 1916, Martha married Clay Taylor Simmons. My uncle Randy tells me that Martha had gone to school in Burns, Oregon and was friends and classmates with Ackie Simmons, one of Taylor’s younger sisters. Both Ackie and Mint had signed Martha’s autograph book in 1902.  Taylor had a big crush on her and they rekindled their friendship after Martha and Tom divorced. The couple got married on January 22, 1917. Martha was 29 years old and Taylor was 34.

Martha and Taylor had a son, Rolin Clay Simmons, born on February 20th, 1918 in Ontario, Oregon.

From The Times-Herald (Burns, Harney County, OR) dated 02 Mar 1918:

‘Born – Feb. 20 to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Simmons at Ontario, a son. Mrs. Simmons was formerly Martha Sagers and is a sister to Mrs. Ed. Springer.’

Martha was an active member of the local Eastern Star chapter. The Eastern Star is a Masonic group that is open to both men and women.

From The Times-Herald (Burns, Harney County, OR) dated 01 Mar 1919:

‘The installation of the officers of Burns Chapter, O.E.S., took place last Wednesday evening at the Masonic lodge rooms. The ceremony was followed by a social meeting and refreshments. This event has always been an occasion of much enjoyment in former years but because of the “flu” ban the election was not held on the usual date and the installation of the Masons, which had been customarily held jointly with the Star before, had already taken place, it did not bring together the usual number of members. However, it was an affair that will be remembered by those present. 

The following were installed:

Virginia Gemberling, Worthy Matron; Fred Williams, Worthy Patron; Etta Jones, Secretary; Eugenia Faulkner, Treasurer; Martha Simmons, Conductress; Leona Thompson, Associate Conductress; Ellen Geer, Ada; Enid Gowan, Ruth; Neva Geer, Esther; Helene Dalton, Martha; Edith Sizemore, Electa; Inez Geer, Warder; I.S. Geer, Sentinel; Florence Dalton, Chaplain; Ella Voegtly, Marshal; and Sarah Farre, Organist.’

As Conductress, I believe that Martha would have been in charge of any new visitors to meetings and would have conducted all new initiations.  This whole thing is interesting to me, because all the documentation has the Simmons family living in Ontario, yet it seems that Martha is still active with this organization in Burns. The two towns are a little over 100 miles apart. That would have been quite the commitment and must have been a very important group for her.

The 1920 census shows the family in Ontario. Taylor is listed as a Farmer and Martha’s uncle, George Curtis is living with them.

Somewhere in the next few years, the Simmons’ moved to northern California, where Taylor was from. They lived in Oroville when the 1930 census was taken. Martha was 43 years old and taking ironing in to help with the household funds. Taylor was doing bridge work and the family had a boarder living with them. By this time, Martha’s daughter Alta had been married and divorced. She and her young son, Norman, were living back at home with her parents. Rolin was twelve years old.

Taylor, Martha, and Rolin. – photo taken late 1930’s or early 1940’s. 

1940 found Martha and Taylor still in Oroville, but their household had shrunk to just the two of them. Martha was no longer working and Taylor was still building bridges, working as a carpenter.

Taylor and Martha in their garden.  Look at those sunflowers!

Martha A. Simmons – 1940 – Oroville, California

Martha passed away on December 26th, 1943 in Redding, California from complications of diabetes. She was only 56 years old.

From family members, I understand that both Martha and Taylor are buried in a cemetery in Redding, California. I haven’t been able to verify that. I will update this when I find the correct information.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mrs. Simmons Dies From Pneumonia

     Mrs. Martha A. Simmons, 56, of Olinda died yesterday at St. Caroline hospital here from pneumonia.

     She had resided in the Olinda area for many years.

     Mrs. Simmons leaves her husband, Taylor Simmons of Olinda; a daughter, Mrs. Alta Josephson of Olinda; two sons, Rolin Simmons of Olinda and Estel Simmons of the U.S. Army; and five grandchildren.

     Home Mortuary is to announce the time for funeral services later.

(Newspaper: Redding Record-Searchlight and the Courier Press (Redding))

Note: This is the Olinda in Shasta county, California.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Grandma Martha passed when I was about two or younger. She had diabetes. She was 4’10”. She could walk under Grandpa Rolin’s arm when he held it straight out. She was short.”  ~ MJ Simmons

“The family story about Martha Rowe is that she went to school in the Burns area and was friends with one of Grandpa Taylor’s sisters.  That is how he met her.  According to the story he developed a huge crush on her.  She went on to marry Thomas Sagers and gave birth to Aunt Alta and Uncle Estel.  Later when Martha divorced Tom Sagers, Taylor renewed his friendship with her and they eventually married and gave birth to Rolin, my Dad and your Grandpa.” ~ Randy Simmons

Rolin Clay Simmons

When I think of my Grandpa Simmons, I picture him coming home from work.  He’s wearing a white t-shirt and brown jeans, carrying his black metal lunchbox, his white hair shining in the sun and a twinkle in his blue eyes.  His name was Rolin Clay Simmons and I wish I had known him much longer than I did.

Rolin came into this world on the 20th of February in 1918.  He was born in Ontario, Oregon to Clay Taylor and Martha Alameda (Rowe) Simmons.  Rolin was the youngest of three children.  His two older siblings, Alta and Estel, were his half siblings.  Martha had been married to Thomas Sager previously in a marriage that ended in divorce.  After meeting and marrying Clay, Rolin was born.  I don’t remember there ever being any talk of “half brother and sister”, Alta and Estel were simply his sister and brother.

Here Rolin is 7 years old and eating ice cream on the 4th of July.  Look at those shoe’s!

The only thing that I know about his childhood years is that the family lived in the Ontario, Oregon area and his dad was a farmer.  By the 1930 census, the family had moved to Oroville, California and Rolin’s dad was doing bridge work.  Rolin was 12 that year.

(Clay, Martha, and Rolin Simmons- photo taken late 1930’s or early 1940’s)

When Rolin was 21, he married Leoma Nesta Dallas in Reno, Nevada on December 23rd, 1939.  The couple made their home in Mineral, California where Rolin was working as a miner.

Leoma and Rolin Simmons in front of the first house they lived in in Elgin, Oregon. Taken somewhere between 1947 and 1952.

Rolin and Leoma’s first daughter, Marvelene Jean, was born in Oroville, California on February 2nd, 1941.  A son, Philip Clay, followed the next year on June 14th, 1942, in Redding, California.

The family had moved to Redding and Rolin was working on the construction of Shasta Dam.  He worked in the rock quarry that was being used to build the dam.  Rolin was 24 years old.

The family was growing!  Next came a daughter, Janice Sharon on January 9th of 1944, (my mom!), then Judith Leoma on May 24th, 1945.  The youngest child born into the Simmons family was Randy Neil born on the 10th of July, 1946.

In the summer of 1947, the Simmons family moved to the northeastern corner of Oregon, to Elgin.  There’s much that I don’t know about why they choose to move there and what Rolin did in their early years in this part of Oregon.

For a few years when my mom was a teenager, the family had moved to Wallowa and Grandpa and Grandma had a hardware store there.  I believe they only lived in Wallowa for about two years.

When I was growing up, Rolin was a contractor and they owned and operated Elgin Hardware, later known as Simmons Supply and Lumber.  I loved going in to the hardware store and helping grandma.  She would put us to work doing inventory, counting out the nails one by one.  It has only occurred to me as I’ve gotten older, that she was simply keeping young hands busy and out of her way.  Sneaky, Grandma, sneaky.

This is the house in Elgin where my Grandparents raised their family and the one that I have so many memories of myself.  Behind the house, there was a fire-pit with Grandpa’s great big fat hotdogs roasting away and long stone benches that were so cool to lay on on a hot summer day. So many cousins running around, so much love.

Que once again my grandfather coming home from work, his lunch box swinging in his hand and a twinkle in his eye.  His grandkids accost him, hoping for one of those special candies that he always has in his lunchbox.  He chases us a minute, affectionately tells all his “poopdecks” to simmer down, and goes inside to place a kiss on grandma’s cheek.

I remember him as a fairly quiet man with a dry sense of humor.  Gruff at times, but never really meaning it.  Grandpa was a collector of stamps, of coins, of books.  I loved going in his office and looking through his books full of the art of Charles Russell and Norman Rockwell.  The times when he would sit with me, his big magnifying glass in hand, and tell me about his stamps were some of my favorite times.

Those special candies that were always in his lunchbox were because Rolin was a diabetic and needed them for when his blood sugar would dip too low.  One of my earliest memories is getting up in the morning after having stayed the night with them, to find Grandma boiling Grandpa’s needle on the stove and then giving him his insulin shot.

Grandpa had a way about him, a special spark that made each one of us feel special. For me, he said he loved my biscuits and always asked that I make them for him.  Now, I know I wasn’t a spectacular cook, but Grandpa knew that I liked to do it, so he always made me feel like I was the best biscuit cook this side of the Mississippi, quietly, simply by asking me to bake them for him.  It was just his way.

Rolin passed away far too soon.  He had his health struggles;  arsenic poisoning in the mine in 1941, diabetes diagnosed when he was in his mid-thirties, carbon monoxide poisoning on a job in the 1970’s, a stroke about 1980, then he frostbit a toe and, being stubborn, didn’t go to the doctor until it was too late.  They were going to need to amputate, but before that could happen, Rolin suffered a heart attack while in the hospital and passed away.  It was the 17th of February 1982.  He was only 63 years old.  I still remember that evening like it was last week.  My heart was broken. He is forever missed.

Rolin is buried in the cemetery at Elgin, Oregon between his beloved wife, Leoma, and his daughter, Janice.   I remember standing at the graveside after my grandmother’s burial, when it was only the family left, and in a moment of lightness my uncle quipped, “Poor Daddy.  Now he’ll never get any rest.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please please share your memories and I’ll add them in right here.

“The summer of 1980 I worked for my Grandpa Simmons. He was building a small shop just a few blocks from Grandma and Grandpas house. I was 15 at the time and had my drivers permit. Grandpa tried to teach me to drive his stick shift “Scout”. He had the patience of a saint. I killed it every time so we would walk the short distance to the job site.
One of my favorite Grandpa quotes is “You’ve got to get up early to get ahead of me.” ” – Stacey Sannar Roth

” He was a very caring and loving father. He worked very hard to support a family of seven. Sometimes we would not see him for one to two weeks at a time. He would be working out of town, doing construction. When he did return home, he would always have a surprise for us. One time it was a wild caught Badger, it was so mean. He wanted us to learn about it and then he took it back and let it loose. I was about 7 or 8 at the time.  He taught us so much. I truly miss him a lot.” –  Judy Simmons Hulse

“I remember Rolin as you aptly described him. He was a hard -working, soft-spoken man. He was very polite and helpful in his store.
I have fond memories of teenage years with Jan, Judy and Phil.
The greatest gift Rolin and Leoma gave me is a wonderful sister-in-law Judy, whom I dearly love. Such good memories!” ~ Elaine Hulse Durrer

“Daddy was diagnosed with diabetes when I was about ten years old. He was also allergic to wool, so couldn’t wear wool socks. Just a few more tidbits for you.” ~ MJ Simmons

 

Clay Taylor Simmons

Clay Taylor and Martha (Rowe) Simmons, taken in Ontario, Oregon in 1939.  This picture is one of my favorites.  It reminds me of the classic American Gothic painting and just seems so iconic.  Clay Taylor Simmons is my great grandfather. He was known in the family as “Taylor”.  I don’t know much more about him, or Martha either, so if anyone reading this knows more, please share!

Clay “Taylor” was born on November 8th, 1882 in Millville, California to Shelby Huggins and Nancy Jane (Newton) Simmons.  Sometime around 1890, the family moved to Harney county, Oregon where Taylor’s father passed away when Taylor was sixteen years old.

My uncle, Randy Simmons, recently shared this picture of great-grandpa with me.  It is amazing to me to be able to really see his face for the first time, to look into his eyes. He looks like a serious man, pensive almost.

On January 22, 1917, Taylor married Martha Alameda Rowe Sagers in Vale, Oregon. He was 34 and she was 29. It was the first, and only, marriage for Taylor and the second for Martha. From what my uncle has told me, the couple had known each other for many years. Martha had been schoolyard friends with Taylor’s sisters and he had always had a crush on her. It wasn’t until she was divorced with two small children that the two of them connected.

In 1918, Taylor registered for the draft for World War I.  From that draft card, I know that he was a farmer and he was of medium height with a slight build, light blue eyes and brown hair.  I like that we can see his signature on this card.

1918 also brought the birth of my grandfather, Rolin Clay Simmons.  He joined the family on February 20th of that year.

In both the 1900 and 1920 censuses, Taylor was listed as a Farmer. The family was living in Harney county, Oregon in 1900, still there in 1918 on the draft record, but then listed in Malheur county, Oregon in 1920.  By the 1930 census, the Simmons family had moved to Oroville, California where Taylor was listed as a laborer doing bridge work.  He was 48.

My aunt, MJ Simmons, told me that Grandpa Taylor was allergic to the sun. Because of that, he always wore a blue chambray shirt buttoned up to the neck and down the wrists, along with a big hat to shade his face whenever he was outside. She said that he had sunstroke a couple of times, as well.

Martha Alameda Rowe Simmons – May 15th, 1940, Oroville, California.  Uncle Randy also shared this picture of great-grandma with me.  She looks so happy in this picture. Again, I’m thrilled to see her face.  

When Taylor was 61, his wife, Martha passed away in Redding, California where he lived until his death in 1953 at 70 years of age. He is buried in the Redding Cemetery.

From The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, CA) – dated July 4, 1953:

REDDING, Shasta Co. – Funeral services were held for Clay Taylor Simmons, 70, who died in a local hospital. 

 Interment was yesterday in the Redding Cemetery under the direction of the Meininger-Dusel Mortuary. 

Simmons, a retired farmer, was a native of Oak Run, Shasta County. He had lived near Buckeye, Shasta County, 13 years and succumbed Wednesday. 

 Surviving are his sons, Rolin and Estel Simmons, both of Elgin, Ore., and a daughter, Mrs. Alta Josephson of Prospect, Ore.

(Note: Estel and Alta were actually Sagers – Martha’s children from her previous marriage.)

(Clay Taylor Simmons is my great-grandfather on my mother’s side of the family.)

Shelby Huggins Simmons

Shelby Huggins Simmons was born in White county, Tennessee on September 8th, 1831 to James and Margaret (Plumlee) Simmons. Shelby was the second born of ten children. It must have been a busy household! About the time he turned 10 years old, the family moved to Carroll county, Arkansas, where his father was a farmer.

On the 1850 federal census, Shelby was 18 years old and working alongside his father as a farmer. Six of his siblings were also living at home.

In 1854 Shelby married Darlutha Jane Daughtery and the couple headed west.

Their oldest daughter, Truckee Margaret was born on the trip while they were in Truckee, California.  She is the baby in the picture above.  I remember my grandfather talking about his Aunt Truckee when I was small and telling us the story of her name.  Here is a note that Aunt Truckee wrote herself and some wonderful person shared on ancestry.com.

On April 15, 1855, Darlutha not yet ninteen but married and five months pregnant and her husband, Shelby N. Simmons, left Carroll County, Arkansas for California.  From the D.A.R. Pioneer records we learn that Darlutha delivered her baby en route:

 “I was born at Truckee August 19, 1855, in a covered wagon as my parents, Mr.  and Mrs. Shelby Simmons, were coming from Arkansas to California with my grandfather, Capt. Hill Daugherty, at the head of the party.” ~Mrs. Truckee Rose 

The Simmons were in Millville, California in Shasta county for a number of years.  Six more children were born to the family –  James C., Sarah E., Ida P., Hill H., and Henry B.

The next time I find a mention of Shelby is in the October 15th, 1859 edition of the Shasta Courier newspaper in Shasta, California. He is simply listed in a long list of gentlemen who each have at least one letter waiting for them at the post office.

Shelby made a mention in the newspaper again on January 18th, 1861. This time it was in the Daily National Democrat of Marysville, California where he is mentioned for having arrived for a stay at the St. Nicholas Hotel.

When the census taker came around on August 13, 1870, the Simmons family owned their farm near Millville, California. It was valued at $500. Shelby was farming the land and Darlutha was listed as a housewife. We all know what hard work that was with five young children under foot!

Sadly, Darlutha passed away in 1874 at the age of 38.  The couple had been married for 20 years and Shelby was left a widower at the age of 42 with a handful of teenagers and small children at home.

Darlutha is buried in the Millville, California cemetery.

Three years later, at the age of 46, Shelby married Nancy Jane Newton who became my 2nd great-grandmother. The couple married on February 15, 1877 in Carroll county, Arkansas. I find it interesting that Shelby had been in northern California for many years, but went back to Arkansas for his new bride.  I think that they left for California right after their wedding. By the 1880 census, anyway, the family is back in Millville, California where Shelby is once again farming. Two of his children from his first marriage, Ida and Henry, are at home. Shelby and Nancy have had two more daughters, Izora and Cora, and Nancy’s youngest brother, Pulaski A. Newton is with them, working for Shelby as a hired hand.

Shelby and Nancy had five more children. My great grandfather Clay Taylor Simmons was born in Millville in 1882, and was the fourth of those seven. The others were – George W., Arminda, Ackie L., and Maude R. All told, Shelby had thirteen children between his two marriages.

Sometime between 1886 and 1890, the Simmons family moved to Harney county, Oregon to an area known as The Narrows and raised livestock.

The Narrows is located in the gap between the two lakes, right where the red star is. Both Harney Lake and Malheur Lake are not traditional lakes, but more of wetlands.

This is a picture of me at the area known as The Narrows in October of 2021.

Shelby Huggins Simmons died on November 26th, 1898 at the age of 67.  Nancy continued to raise stock on their farm until her own death in 1907 of stomach cancer.  They are buried side by side in the cemetery in Burns, Oregon.

“Not Lost, But Gone Before”

Me – Paula Sannar Niziolek – visiting my 2x great-grandparents grave in October of 2021.

If you are ever in Burns and want to visit Shelby and Nancy’s gravesite, you will find them on Pioneer Drive in the cemetery.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur, and Harney Counties

“He grew to manhood in Butte county and there on September 18th, 1883, he was married to Miss Sadie E., daughter of Shelby and Darlutha (Daughtrey) Simmons.  Mr. and Mrs. Simmons were pioneers from Arkansas to that county in 1850, crossing the plains with ox teams. ”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Shelby is my 2nd great-grandfather.  He and Nancy are the parents of Clay Taylor Simmons.)

Nancy Jane (Newton) Simmons

Nancy Jane Newton was born on January 4th, 1845 to William Wilkins Newton and Nancy (Haley) Newton.  Several different census records indicate that she was born in Mississippi. Nancy was the fifth of ten children. By 1850, the census found the Newton family living in War Eagle, Madison county, Arkansas where her dad was a farmer.

When the census taker came around ten years later, in 1860, Nancy was 15 years old and the family was still living in Madison county, but near the township of California. Nancy’s dad was still farming, her mom was listed as a farm laborer, and her oldest brother, George, was working as a mail carrier.

In 1864, when Nancy was 19, her father passed away. By August of 1870, the family had relocated to Prairie, Carroll county, Arkansas, where Nancy, her mother, and five of her siblings were living with her brother George and his family. Like his father, George was a farmer. He was married and had two small children of his own. Eleven in all in that household!

From this picture, you can see that Nancy had light brown or red hair and blue eyes.

Nancy married Shelby Huggins Simmons on February 15, 1877. Shelby was a 46 year-old widower with six children. Nancy was 32 years old and had never been married. Shelby had been living in Millville, California for a number of years, so Nancy packed up and went to California with him.  There, the couple had seven more children, including my great-grandfather, Clay Taylor Simmons, who was born in 1882.

By 1890, the family had moved to Harney County, Oregon where they farmed and raised stock in an area that was known as The Narrows. Nancy became a widow in November of 1898 when Shelby passed away. She was 53 years old.

The Narrows was located in the gap between the two lakes, right where the red star and the words “You Are Here” is. Both Harney Lake and Malheur Lake are not traditional lakes, but more of wetlands.

Two years later, when the census takers showed up again, the Simmons family was still raising stock in the Narrows, but now Nancy was the head of the household and the farmer. Her two sons, George and Taylor were working alongside her on the family farm, while her three young daughters attended school. What a tough lady! From the census, I can see that Nancy’s stepson lived on the next farm over. James Simmons was raising stock in the Narrows as well. His household consisted of one of Shelby’s daughter’s, Ida, and four of her children. I also know from other records that Nancy’s brother, Pulaski A. Newton, was farming in The Narrows as well.  It’s good to see that Nancy had family support nearby, and that they had her.

An old homestead at The Narrows. Photo taken in 2021.

Nancy passed away on May 11th, 1907 from stomach cancer. She was 62.  She is buried in the cemetery in Burns, Oregon next to her husband, Shelby.

The inscription on the headstone says, “Not lost but gone before”

Here I am visiting the grave of my 2x great-grandparents, Shelby and Nancy Simmons, in October of 2021.

If you are ever in Burns, Oregon and want to visit their gravesite, you can find their headstone on Pioneer Drive in the cemetery.

Me at The Narrows – the area where my 2x great-grandparents homestead and raised livestock.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(From the local newspaper, The Times-Herald)

~Died – at her home in this city at 2:30 am today, Mrs. Nancy J. Simmons, aged 62 years.  She had been suffering from cancer of the stomach for several months and her death was not unexpected.  The funeral will take place from the Presbyterian Church tomorrow afternoon at 3 o’clock.  Reverend A.B. Minake will conduct the services.  Deceased was a highly respected pioneer lady of this section.  She was the mother of seven children, all of whom survive her and all have been with her during her last days getting as much aide and comfort as possible.  Her husband died eight years ago.  The children are Mrs. J.V. Cawlfield, Mrs. F.J. Cawlfield, Mrs. W.C. Brown, Mrs. Fred Scott, Miss Maude Simmons, Geo W. Simmons, and C.T. Simmons.  Four step-children James Simmons, H.S. Simmons, Mrs. C.M. Como, and Mrs. S.C. Johnson.  Geo Newton, now residing here, is a brother to Mrs. Simmons.  The Times-Herald regrets its inability to publish an obituary at this late hour, but will give it attention next week.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Nancy is my 2nd great-grandmother.  She is the mother of Clay Taylor Simmons.)