As a boy John Simmons accompanied his parents to what is now Franklinton, La. His sister Jane maried Colonel James Raulston and remained in Tenn. When British invasion of Louisiana appeared imenent young Simmons joined the 13th La. Militia. In the engagements near the city the British were defeated with great losses. When the emergency was over, John Simmons contacted Colonel Raulston and accompanied him back to Nashville, Tenn. There he met and married Colonel Raulston's niece, Naomi Jared. They later moved to Missouri when the Civil War began. He was a Southern sympathizer and it nearly cost him his life. Threatened with arrest for having served Confederate cavalry in his shop, he refused to be taken. His daughter Elizabeth seized a hoe and, holding its sharp point over the head of the Union soldier whose pistol was leveled at her father, shouted, "Shoot and I will sink this hoe in you brain!" This display of courage and devotion struck at the heart of the Union commander. He ordered his men out, congratulated Elizabeth, saluted and left.
John Simmons died 1 Oct 1868 and was first buried near Thomasville, Mo. His wife Naomi Jared died in Mountain Grove, Mo., 24 Dec. 1876 and was buried in the Old Cemetery. John's remains were later moved and reburied beside her.208
See Letter to CCT from Brig. Gen. P. M. Robinette dated 23 April 1966:
"John Simmons, son of Robert Simmons, and his wife Naomi (Jared) Simmons are buried here in the Old Cemetery. He was living with his father in Louisiana during the War of 1812 and enlisted in the 13th. La. Militia. After the Battle of New Orleans he returned to Tennessee with his brother in law, Colonel James Raulston, commander of the 3d Tennessee regiment of Militia, married and came west." |