Simmons History. 350

1850 Living in Ellicott, Chautauqua, New York with Parents age 24

1880 Living in Jamestown, Chautauqua, New York,


TRIP TO JAMESTOWN, N. Y., LAKE CHAUTAUQUA AND OTHER PLACES.
JUNE 27 TO JULY 4, 1890.
"True friendship's laws are by this rule exprest:
Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest." POPE.

At the hour of 4 o'clock P. M. on Friday, June 27, 1890, I took train for Union City, Erie Co., Penn., where, after arrival, I called on Mr. and Mrs. Anderholt and Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Housnick and their respective families, all of whom I found in good health. From there I walked into the country some two or three miles, in order to pay a visit to my much-loved old Sunday-school teacher, Charles Breed [The names of the members of the Sunday-school class taught by Mr. Breed at the time I speak of are George A. Goodwill, A. S. Goodrich, C. R. Slocum, Franklin P. Waid, Francis C. Waid, and two others, one of whom was named, I think, Andrew Moore, all yet living, except my twin brother, Franklin P., and Andrew Moore. I believe my brother, G. N., was in our class part of the time], whom I had not seen for forty-five years; but learning from his wife that he had gone to Union City, I returned thither, where I found him at the home of his son-in-law, William Hubble, and the reader may well imagine the delight, to me especially, of this our first meeting in nearly half a century of time.
I arrived in Jamestown, N. Y., on Saturday night, and was there well entertained by my cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Colt. On the following forenoon, in company with my cousin, Angeline Colt, I attended the M. E. Church, where we heard Rev. A. C. Ellis preach an eloquent sermon from the text Deuteronomy xxxii: 11: As an eagle stir-reth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings. Comment is unnecessary; but how wonderfully I was helped and blessed in my Christian life, by hearing this ser-mon! We may dine at home and forget it, but when abroad, how we cherish the friend who has given us good coun-sel! What a lesson I learned that day from his description of that noble bird and its care for the young eaglets, then God's care for us! In the afternoon Mr. Frank Simmons and I visited Lakeview Cemetery, where many of our rela-tives rest. Here also repose the remains of ex-Governor Fenton, the inscription on whose vault reads as follows:

IN MEMORIUM
REUBEN E. FENTON,
BORN JULY 4, 1819, DIED AUGUST 25, 1885.
REST IN PEACE.

From the first day I met Mr. Fenton, when introduced to him by Mr. Simmons years ago, I have loved him; and to-day when I looked into the vault I thought of a good man and a true friend gone to his reward. In the evening Mr. Simmons and I went to one of the Baptist Society meetings, which are being held in the Opera House till their new church building is completed. We heard an excellent discourse by Rev. Waffle, the words of his text being: The path of the just shineth more and more unto the perfect day. On the following day I visited William and Martha Cobb, the latter of whom is my cousin; also called on Harvey Simmons, another cousin, who was out hoeing his potato patch. Harvey, who is somewhat older than myself, reminds me not a little of my father, both in looks and in his habits of industry. When I found him in the field I got me a hoe and helped him finish his job, which brought pleasure and satisfaction in full to me, for I wanted to help hoe those potatoes and have a chat about other days. Just as we got through, his brother, Adelbert, and his son, Frank, came in. Here I would say that on Henry Simmons' land I saw the largest field of corn that has come under my notice this season. From there I continued my journey, and on Tuesday morning, July 1, I was traveling by stage, first to Busti (where during the few minutes' wait to change mail, I had time to bid "good-day" to my cousin who keeps the store and post-office there) and then to Jamestown (where in the afternoon I take boat for a trip to Mayville and return). Just as I was going to the boat landing at that point I fell in with an old friend, King D. Fleek, who was raised in our neighborhood, and whom I have known from childhood. His father, David G. Fleek, who still lives near us, has a family of eleven children--five sons and six daughters. King D. Fleek is now owner and proprietor of the "Erwin Hotel," at Lakewood, whither he invited me to come and see him and his youngest brother, Frank, who keeps store there, which I promised to do on my return from Chautauqua [I have often thought of Mr. Fleek, our neighbor. He is such an industrious man, I do not wonder at the enterprise of his children. Mr. Fleek, whose health has not been very good for several years, holds out remarkably well, though this spring and summer he has not enjoyed very good health]. When I reached the latter place I put up as usual at "Matthews' Cottage," and here I learned, for the first time, of the death of my old friend William H. Matthews, who passed from earth September 30, 1889, after an illness of but one day. 129