Calvin Simmons Family—Garfield

As a young boy Calvin Green Simmons was the personal servant of Captain W.G. McSpadden who served under General Sherman during the Civil War. McSpadden was discharged in 1864 and took Cal with him to his home in Wisconsin. In 1881 the McSpadden family accompanied by Cal Simmons came to Clark where McSpadden built the Northwestern Hotel on the southwest corner of First and Smith Streets. This was later called the Commercial Hotel, and still later the Adams Hotel. It was located at the present site of the Clark 66 gas station.

An old atlas shows that Cal Simmons was the owner of 60 to 80 acres in Garfield Township two miles west of the Clark Center Church. John Wallen bought the land in 1915, the year that Cal died Kenneth Wallen now owns this property.<

Ruth Larson’s family (the Lars Fjellands) were neighbors and Ruth tld the following: “Mars. Simmons would drive a single horse on a buggy to town and leave the children with us while she was gone. George the smallest boy, would wash and wash his face with soap in an attempt to get his face as white as ours. Mae was my age. Grace was the youngest girl, and Calvin the oldest boy. Some years later Mrs. Simmons took the children and left Cal. My husband, Edwin Larson, lived one-half mile west of Cal and when he went to town he would stop to see how Cal was getting along and would bring him groceries. Cal was getting somewhat feeble by this time. On one occasion when Edwin stopped, Cal went to the window, lost his balance and fell through the window, He was taken to Clark and resided with the Griffins until his death. He was buried in Rosehill Cemetery in the McSpadden lot Mrs Griffin and Mrs. McSpadden were sisters.

For a time Mrs. Simmons and the children resided in a house behind the present City Hall. Reports of where she went from Clark vary. Some say that she went to Abeerdeen, others that she went to Minneapolis to live with relatives., and still others that she lived both at Aberdeen and Huron. Gus Seefeldt reported that one of the boys was back in Clark with a construction firm that built the present Red Owl Building.

Mrs. Roy Mack told that she attended school with Mae Simmons and that their teacher was Henry Foster. She also said that Cal did mason and plastering work.

Iilert Larson, a brother of Edwin, remember the family and told that Mrs. Simmons was present at the time he was born at the farm in Garfield. Mr. Larson reported that Cal was also an entertainer, both as a dancer and singer, and that he was popular with his many Clark County friends.

Simmons and a family Mt. Pleasant are the only black family to have resided in Clark County, according to reports.

Calvin Simmons Marriage Date 12/3/1896(married in Clark County)

Born 1850 Hattiesburg Miss. Died 4/29/1915—Clark South Dakota

Spouse’s name Rosa Bell Jenkens

Born Mt. Victory Ohio

According to the plot map Calvin had 80 acres in Sect 8 Garfield Township S1/1 Sw8- 117-58.

Children

Calvin Born unknown

Mae unknown

William George Born 9/18/1901

Grace unknown