History of Donzella Rosetta Simmons Riseling
This is recounted by Jennie
Simmons Carter, daughter of Harry Paxton Simmons and sister to my grandfather,
Howard Lester Simmons, but later she calls herself Hazel. I note there are some
discrepancies in names and some dates are missing. Will fill in later; heck,
the typing took me hours. After reading some of the turgid prose, I took some liberty
in tightening it up.
This story begins a few years prior to Donzella’s birth
(author notes that “all names, dates and places are correct”, but there are
discrepancies, i.e., David Smith Simmons
is actually Davis).
Jennie says, “The bits of information prior to her birth, and up to the age of
her recollection were told to her by her mother and in turn to me by her,
together with bits of her life after she was old enough to remember.”
When one went “out west” to seek his fortune in Iowa as it was
called in those days, many of them went to Cherokee County. Davis (Doc)Smith and Mary Simmons and their one and a half year
old son were among them, and they left their friends and relatives in Sonestown
(Sullivan County) Pennsylvania, and started west in the spring of 1868.
Davis was the seventh son of Jacob and Jane Simmons’ family
of nine children, eight boys and one girl, and his wife, Mary Sophia (Sperry)
Simmons, was one of a family of eight, five boys and three girls. Davis and his
four brothers served his country in the Civil War; two of his brothers were
killed in action. (See postscript for further information.)
When the Davis Simmons family started west, they had very
little money, so they worked along the way, and finally by train and then by
covered wagon drawn by oxen they reached the home of Henry E. Huntsinger in
August 1868. Simmons and Huntsinger had been comrades in the Civil War.
Huntsinger had invited the Simmons, and at they stayed at the Huntsinger’s until
they had built a house on their own land. Both men homesteaded land, Mr
Huntsinger where Selley Barnes lives in Pilot Township (at the time of this
writing), which had been named by Mr Simmons, who was the first settler in
Silver Township.
The Huntsinger family home was a crude, one-room log
house, with a small windowless loft accessible
only by a ladder. It had a fireplace that
was used for both comfort and cooking; the cooking being done by the most
primitive methods. However, the Huntsingers were more fortunate than most as
they did have a floor, even though the boards were very wide. They were very
comfortable for a pioneer family. During the Simmons stay, the men slept in the
loft and the women and children in the lower room.
Three weeks after the Simmons arrived, their second child was born on September 13,
1868: Donzella Rosetta Simmons. Donzella, or Donnie as she was called, was the
second of seven children, five daughters and two sons, the sons being named for
Army officers whom their father Davis held in very high regard. The children
(must find the B/D dates):
Harry Paxton (deceased)
Donzella Rosetta Riseling (deceased)
Millie Luverne Scott (moved to Colorado Springs, CO)
Cora Dell Bruner (moved to Alexandra, VA)
Nellie Florence Tracey (deceased)
Mary Belle Simmons (died at thirteen years)
After Davis and Mary settled, more friends and relatives came
to Iowa, including Walter Simmons, the Ungers, Burks, Stevensons, and
Penningtons, who were all distantly related.
At the time of
Donzella’s birth, the town of Cherokee was not even a dream as it was only a
fort and Pilot Rock, was truly a pilot rock, as it guided the weary travelers
to pioneer homes, where he could have a night’s rest before travelling onward.
In those days, no white person was refused entry, but given whatever food --
often only cornbread and wild game --
and a night’s rest. Very often Donzella and her sister Luverne slept on
the floor so some weary traveler could have their bed.
The mail was delivered once a week to the home of James
Warburton, who then lived on the farm later occupied by William Mann. Later, this “post office” was moved to Roger’s
Mill, which was on the north side of the road west of Roger’s River Bridge.
(The mill was run by a wheel in the
river and, at the time of this writing, part of the dam for the mill could
still be seen when the river is low.) This post office was called Pilot Rock
and served the surrounding community for several years. At that time, the
nearest town was Dennison, and Sioux City was a source of supplies.
Many an Indian passed the Simmons’ home, sometimes just one,
but usually several in a group. If men were at home, the Indians did not stop very
long, but they took anything that appealed to them if only the scared women
were at home. On one occasion, soon after the Simmons moved into their new
home, a group of Indians came to the house when Davis was not at home. Mary was
really afraid of them. They were trying to get clothing. One Indian said to
her: “Papoose so high – cost none.” He measured the size with his hands, which
was the same size as Harry Paxton at the time. Harry was fortunate enough to
have a coat. (hmm, end of story is missing.)
When Grandma Mary saw Indians coming, she gathered her baby
daughter in her arms in fear they would kidnap her. But, once, as the Indians
passed the home of Mr Huntsinger, who knew that Davis Simmons was away, he shouldered his gun and appeared before the
Indians could take anything away. However, the Indians had already eaten some
cornbread and molasses, showed Mary a picture of their Chief, and proceeded to
smoke a peace pipe to show that they were friendly and peaceful. There were 17
in the group, but others passed on without stopping when they saw Mr
Huntsinger.
The Simmons home (initially a log cabin; the real house was
built in 1873) had no plaster for several years, as the pioneers struggled for
the barest necessities and with supplies so far way, plaster for a house was
considered a luxury. (Understand this naught:) This
brings to mind the incident of the children, who brought chalk home from school
that was written on a lath that was already nailed on for plastering. In the morning, their father would make them
lick it off before they could have breakfast.
The schools were few and far between, and education came
from the little country school. Higher schools of learning were unheard of at
that time. Schoolbooks were shared by several youngsters. Once during a cold,
bitter winter when the Simmons kids
wanted to go to school, their father Davis told them that if they could survive
running barefoot to the barn and back, they could go. They did, and they got another day of
schooling, which meant so much to the kids back then.
Social activities consisted mostly of walking a few miles to
visit friends and relatives. Of note, Mr
and Mrs Tommy Stevenson, who celebrated their 60th wedding
anniversary in November 1943, spent their few days of a honeymoon at Uncle Doc
and Aunt Mary Simmons -- not an unusual
trip for an Iowan pioneer couple.
In regards to Davis Simmons’ nickname “Doc”, he was studying veterinary books and the
practice of “horse doctoring”. Although he studied on his own and he never went
to college, many folks brought their sick horses to him. One who came calling
with a lame horse was a man who first called himself Watson, and later said his
name was Oliver Rogers. On learning that, Davis said, “Peggy!” and after much
handshaking they sat down for a good swap of Civil War stories. (???)
The railroad came to Sioux City in 1870 and Cherokee was
born in the same year. In Donzella’s
early teen years, there were many country stores. One was in DeLinn, four miles
east and a mile south of Quimby (at the time of this writing). July 4th
celebrations were held there or in Potter’s Grove, which was two miles two
miles south and three miles east of Quimby. These celebrations were what we
would now call picnics, but there was always dancing and maybe some games or
contests.
The only church then was Mt Zion, a Methodist church. Silver
Church, also known as Good Hope Church, was built about the time Donzella was
14. In her late teens, the railroad was built to Onawa and later the town of
Quimby was founded in the fall of 1887. Grandmother Donzella boarded the men
who built this RR, and later moved into the unfurnished hotel, the first hotel in
Quimby, and served meals there for two years.
One event Donzella recalled was a sick boarder. Not enough
floor was laid upstairs, so the man was brought to stay near the kitchen.
Donzella fixed his medicine, set it on the brush end of a broom and maneuvered
the broom end into the man’s reach. This was likely the first “room service” in
Quimby. (At the time of this writing, this building was occupied by Pinkertown
Implement Co.)
Donzella helped prepare and
serve the first meal in this hotel on November 10, 1887. She left upon marrying
Phillip Riseling at Silver Church on December 22, 1887. Phillip worked in Ohio
before going to Iowa in December 1884. He was of German ancestry and grew up in
Bedford County, PA. His father owned and operated a woolen mill and Donzella
had a coverlet that was woven there. They lived on Erma McMannon’s former farm
for two years, and their first son was born there on January 13, 188?. From
there they moved to Silver Township on a farm previously owned by Art Corrigan.
Their first daughter, Sylvia, was born there on August ???, and Hazel (myself) was born on January 16, 1893.
Simmons Postscripts
Davis Smith Simmons was a private in Company K, 141st
Pennsylvania Volunteers in the Civil War. He was once left for dead on the battlefield
(after the battle of Chancellorsville). He was captured and later exchanged
after being in hospital for some time. He rejoined his regiment and fought in
the battles of Manassas, Catlers Station, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and
Hatches Run, and also served in the Battle of Fredericksburg. He was present at
General Robert E. Lee’s surrender and participated in the Grand Review in Washington, DC.
Davis was wounded several times, including a shot to the skull by a “Minnie
ball”, which he had through the rest of his life.
Charles Mercer Simmons--“Merk”
Uncle Merk was in Troop G of Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders
in the Spanish-American War in Cuba. He was in several battles, including the
La Quasima fight, which was the first of a series of engagements before
Santiago. He was in Manila, the Philippines for about 28 years, where he served
on the US police force and was desk sergeant for 10 years.
***