Francis Simmons settled in the town of Johnstown, New York, in the early part of the nineteenth century. He purchased a tract of land which he converted into a farm and which he cultivated during the active years of his life. He prospered and was considered one of the most progressive and energetic farmers of that period. He added another tract to his original purchase, making an estate of about two hundred acres, which he left to his posterity, and which is still held in the family name. He built and operated a flour and grist mill, and also a saw mill, and erected a beautiful house, which later became the residence of his son, Andrew Dye Simmons. He was a devout Presbyterian, and a Whig, later joining the Republican party. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew Dye. Children:
- Andrew Dye, see forward.
- Polly Ann, married James McKee, had a son, Frank J., who married Ora Hanson, and has a daughter, Nancy.
- Asenath, married Eliphalet Veeder; children:
- Anna, married William Graves, and has a daughter, Bertha;
- Elizabeth, married David Graves;
- Cora, married William Wirtman, and has a daughter, Julia.
- Alburtus, married Margaret Marcellus; child, Minnie, married H. B. Arthur.
- Martha.
- May.
Francis Simmons died in 1854, and his was the first burial in Prospect Hill cemetery.
(II) Andrew Dye, eldest child of Francis and Elizabeth (Dye) Simmons, was born at Rockwood, January 29, 1828, died of heart disease, in 1902. He grew up on the home farm and engaged with his father in farming and milling operations. Upon his succession to the property and business, he converted the old mill into a modern one, and engaged extensively in lumbering and manufactured lumber. His mill was equipped with modern woodworking machinery, and supplied his section with sashes, blinds, doors, etc., used in the erection of private and public buildings. He was an energetic, progressive and prosperous manufacturer, and bore an unblemished reputation. His business grew to be one of the most important enterprises in that section of the country. In 1830 he removed to Gloversville, and settled with his father on what has since that time been known as the Simmons place. He was a member of the board of water commissioners which gave to the city of Gloversville its present water supply and system of distribution, and built the poor house reservoir, and Mr. Simmons was the last surviving member of that board. He was an active Democrat, earnest and ambitious in all he undertook, but devoted to his home. From 1872 until his death he served as trustee of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Simmons married, February 23, 1859, Mary C. Carmichael. Child:
- Frank Peter, born December 29, 1860; educated in the public schools and is now a stock broker in New York City; he married Gertrude E. Fox, born in 1866; children,
- Francis G., born in 1893, and
- Andrew C., born in 1894.
Charles Carmichael, grandfather of Mrs. Simmons, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, where he married Helen White. Immediately after the marriage he came to the United States with his bride and settled at Johnstown, New York, where all their children were born. Children: Peter, see forward; Mary, Helen, Christian, John and Isabella. Peter, eldest son of Charles and Helen (White) Carmichael, married Jane, daughter of John and Mary (McCullum) McVean, who were the parents of: John, Alexander, David, Duncan, Peter, Margaret, Mary, Jane, mentioned above; Ellen, Christine and Barbara. Peter and Jane (McVean) Carmichael had children:
- Charles, died at the age of thirty years.
- Mary C., married Andrew Dye Simmons, as mentioned above.
- John, died at the age of forty years.
- Helen, married John Hutton (first wife); children:
- Jennie, married Spencer Wiser, and has John and Kenneth;
- Helen;
- Mary, married Truman Perkins;
- Jessie.
- Peter, married Sarah Trainor.
- Christie, married John Hutton (second wife).
- Daniel Alexander, married Mary Creighton.