Erastus Simmons  was born November 14, 1822 in Canada , and died May 30, 1906 in Mt. Leonard, Saline Co., Missouri , son of Jonathan Simmons and Minerva Reynolds [Photo].  He was married on November 1, 1846, in Canada, to Elizabeth Millard who was born on January 16, 1825, in Canada, daughter of _______ Millard and Rebecca ________.  Little is known of Erastus' father, Jonathan. He was a New Yorker who settled in Canada and may have been a Loyalist. Also, he may have been politically vocal and transported to Tasmania during or after the troubles in Canada in the 1830's. His wife, Minerva, is found later as the widow of a Mr. Smith and living with her son (and Erastus' brother) Robert Palmer Simmons, in Ontario, Canada. Minerva was one of the first children in the Reynolds families to be born in Canada after their move from New York to Ontario. Her father, William Reynolds, Jr. [Photo] was the son of William Reynolds [Signature] and Elizabeth Mudge [Signature]. The senior William was a Loyalist during the Revolutionary War. His wife's brothers were patriots, or rebels, depending on your point of view. William's allegiance, his service as a Coronet in the King's American Dragoons [Standard] and free land in Canada, were obvious factors in his decision to move his family to the then wilds of frontier Ontario. They were the first white settlers in their immediate area and prospered for several generations.

Erastus settled in Lobo Township in Middlesex Co., Ontario. He was granted a [patent] in 1854, built a brick home, and farmed until 1867 when he sold the property to John Treharne. [Deed] This was followed by a winter trek to Missouri, crossing rivers on ice, and stopping in DeKalb Co., Missouri, for one crop. Erastus took his family to Saline Co., Missouri, the following year, and settled permanently near Sweet Springs, where his two youngest children were born. There were 13 children and all survived to adulthood except Milton who died in 1871 at the age of 14. The remaining children, except old maid Emily, married and had families of their own.

Eliza died September 4, 1891 in Sweet Springs, Saline Co., Missouri . [Funeral Notice] Erastus remarried in 1895 to the widow, Sarah E. Lamb.

1. Elery Simmons [Feb. 19, 1848 - Dec. 13, 1892] m. Nancy Howe
2. Emily Simmons [May 22, 1849 - Sept. 06, 1943] never married
3. Jonathan Simmons [Mar. 12, 1851 - Nov. 14, 1932] m. 1) Elizabeth Ann Jackman, 2) Dorothy Evelyn Bridgwater
4. Charles Simmons [Dec. 12, 1852 - Sept. 8, 1923] m. Sarah Jane Fulkerson
5. Seth Robert Simmons [June 16, 1855 - October 22, 1907] m. Martha Ann Fulkerson
6. Milton Jestus Simmons [1857 - 1871]
7. Elizabeth Jane Simmons [Apr. 25, 1859 - Nov. 17, 1885] m. Oliver Price.
8. Clayton Hugh Simmons [Feb. 21, 1861 - Sept. 23, 1940] m. 1) Clara Alice Wheeland, 2) Sarah Lou Stafford
9. Margaret Rosanna Simmons [June 1864 - Mar. 15, 1926] m. William H. Tackett.
10. Mary Susanna Simmons, [June 1864 - 1906] m. Cosby B. Tackett.
11. Olive Ethleen Simmons [Mar. 8, 1866 - Feb. 7, 1957] m. John William Ferguson
12. Anna Minerva Simmons [Sept. 5, 1868 - Mar. 21, 1937] m. John C. Bigler
13. Nancy Elizabeth Simmons [Apr. 9, 1871 - June 13, 1956] m. David D. Lewis