Simmons Texas, Live Oak County. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Dr. Charles F. Simmons of St. Louis is the town's namesake. Dr. Simmons, who had made a fortune in the patent medicine business, originally had a huge ranch here. In 1906 Simmons decided on splitting up his 60,000 spread and selling it off to farmers.

First known as Simmons City, the future looked bright. All plots were sold in just over six months. The 1907 population was just 75 and a post office was granted that same year with a school and church built the year after. An one-story brick school was constructed in the late 1930s, only to close in 1946. Local students were sent to Three Rivers.

By 1940 the population had shrunk to a mere 35 and all of the town's businesses had closed their doors by the end of that decade, including the post office. About all that is left of Simmons is what is shown here from

Terry Jeanson's visit in May of 2007.

See Simmons, Texas Historical Marker

Simmons Schoolhouse

"I was in third grade in the Simmons school in 1945-1946. It closed that year. The school was brick but it was one story, not two. The previous school was of wood and had two stories. It burned and, after that, the new school was built. My mother attended the old school. As a teen I helped tear down the brick school building. We salvaged the bricks. My dad and I expanded our farm house with some of these bricks. The Methodist parsonage in George West, Texas was built from some of these bricks. - Philip Hudson, September 24, 2009

Simmons, Texas historical marker
in front of the Community Church.
Photos courtesy Terry Jeanson, 2007

Historical Marker:

Simmons, Texas

Originally ranch land, bought in 1900 by Dr. C.F. Simmons (Wealthy St. Louis manufacturer of "Liver Regulator"), who also built this all-faiths church, 1908.

After Simmon's son and heir died of snake bite, he sold 60,000--acre ranch to 4,200 small farmers and provided buildings for this rural community.

Entrance to Simmons cemetery from the road.
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, 2007

Cemetery in Simmons.
The turnstile keeps the wandering cows from entering the cemetery and eating the grass (or anything else.)
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, 2007.
More Texas Cemeteries

Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact us.