U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Simms, Merideth J. (1862-1935) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 764-765 MERIDETH J. SIMMS, a leading citizen of Montgomery, Fayette County, West Virginia, president of the County Court, and a member of the business firm of Simms & Harmon, wholesale bottlers and ice manufacturers, was born April 9, 1862, in Nicholas County. He is a son of F. P. and Eliza (Simms) Simms, both natives of Fayette County, whose grandfathers were cousins, the family being numerous on the Gauley River, where the great-grandfather, William Simms, settled when he migrated from Eastern Virginia. At that time the country was wild and uncultivated, the inhabitants being only wandering Indian tribes and the savage beasts of the forest. In 1895 the father of our subject, a son of William Simms, removed from Fayette County to Nicholas County. His wife is a daughter of Charles Simms, of the Gauley River country. They reared a family of nine children, all of whom survive and are counted among the valued citizens of that section. Merideth J. Simms was reared in his native locality and attended the common schools. At the age of 21 he accepted a position as bookkeeper in a store and retained the position for about five years. He was only 25 years old when his prominence in the Republican party attracted attention, and he was appointed postmaster at Montgomery, by the late President Benjamin Harrison. In 1892 Mr. Simms was elected a member of the Board of County Commissioners, serving with so much efficiency that he secured the re-elected at the succeeding occasion. He has been prominently identified with political affairs in the county, was sent to Philadelphia as a delegate when McKinley and Roosevelt were nominated, is a member of the Republican Congressional Committee of his district and has not been absent from a county convention for years. At Philadelphia his prominence was recognized by his appointment on the committee on rules and order of business. Since 1898 he has served as president of the County Court, making a very fine officer. On July 5, 1886, Mr. Simms was united in marriage to Alwilda C. Ransom, of St. Albans, and their children are named as follows: Forest E., Ira, Maud Merideth and Eugene. ------------------------------------------------------------------- DEATH CERTIFICATE, Kanawha County WV, #6790 FULL-NAME: Meredith Jonathan Simms BIRTH-DATE: April 1, 1860 BIRTH-PLACE: Fayette Co., W.Va. DEATH-DATE: May 2, 1935 AGE-AT-DEATH: 75y-1m-1d DEATH-PLACE: 616 Columbia Blvd., Charleston, Kanawha County, WV USUAL-RESIDENCE: 616 Columbia Blvd., Charleston, Kanawha County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Widowed (A. Ransom) FATHER: Frank Simms (born in Fayette Co., W.Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Chr. Myocarditis / Arterial hypertension INFORMANT: Ira Simms (of Charleston, W.Va.) BURIAL: Mountain View, Cemetery ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Kanawha County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/kanawha/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------