Here's a standard 19th century cabinet card that features Charles Simmons (1847-1916). We're related. Charles was a brother of Helen Gregg Simmons Chandler, who was my great-grandmother Greta's mother. So I think that makes him my great-great-granduncle. (Genealogists, please chime in and tell me if there's a better way to phrase that.)
Charles didn't seem to stray far during his lifetime. He was born and died in Wilmington, Delaware. That's also where this photograph was taken, at J. Paul Brown's professional studio.
Charles died on December 22, 1916, and his wife, Mary, died less than three months later, on February 27, 1917. I don't have the full extent of their family tree in front of me, but I believe that Charles and Mary, at the very least, had a daughter named Elizabeth.
Just a coincidence, of course, but Mom and her brother are named Mary and Charles, and my sister's middle name is Elizabeth.
Charles and Mary Simmons were the parents of Elizabeth (6/28/1874-2/24/1937), Charles Simmons Jr., James C. Simmons, Ann Gregg Simmons Carver, and Mrs. Florence D. Baylis. Source: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/160818277
ReplyDeleteCharles and his brother Samuel were in the lumber business. Source: https://books.google.com/books?id=ErRLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA110&lpg=PA110&dq=S.+G.+Simmons+and+Brothers+Company&source=bl&ots=a3TpBtAzpi&sig=q70fx9uRu7FQEIYAiCqcneQO-aY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjYwK-n8pPVAhVH22MKHdp5D9kQ6AEIRTAH#v=onepage&q=S.%20G.%20Simmons%20and%20Brothers%20Company&f=false
Ann's husband was Henry Howard Carver (January 1867-10/22/1946). Source: https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi/http%252522//fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=106557521
All of the siblings are mentioned together here: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/159791489
"Several nieces and nephews" and "grandchildren" are mentioned in the various articles referenced above, so you no doubt have second and third cousins in Delaware.
-- M.F.