Connecticut, and was with that company for about ten years. The firm was Bartholomew & Coe, and when they dissolved business Mr. Coe became connected with Swift & Company. They then organized the Mervin Provision Company, located at Hartford, Connecticut, and Mr. Simmons engaged in buying hogs for that company in Pike, Brown and Scott counties, Illinois, for about five years. In 1901, however, he retired from business and has since enjoyed a well earned rest, giving his attention simply to the supervision of his farm property.      Mr. Simmons has figured very prominently in public life in Griggsville and his efforts have been of value in the promotion of community interests. He has filled the office of mayor, of alderman and supervisor and for four years was a member of the state board of agriculture. He has also been president of the Illinois Valley Farmers' Association for fifteen years and has done much to further agricultural interests in this part of the state. He belongs to the Baptist church and gives his political support to the republican party. His life has been active and upright, his actions manly and sincere and in all relations he has won and merited the confidence and good will of his fellowmen. He belongs to an honored pioneer family of the state and the name of Simmons has ever been a synonym for sincerity and fair dealing.                                                        _______________                                                    JOHN  E.  MORTON        John E. Morton, who has been connected in various ways with business interests in Perry and Pike county, contributing to general progress and prosperity as well as to his individual success, is one of the honored pioneer residents of this part of the state. His birth occurred in Todd county, Kentucky, in the 9th of September, 1832, his parents being Charles M. and Mary L. (Hawkins) Morton, both of whom were natives of Virginia. The father was born in 1798 and on the 28th of January, 1825, wedded Miss Hawkins, whose birth occurred June 14, 1802. She died February 19, 1834, at the age of thirty-two years, passing away in Adams county, Illinois. By this marriage there were four children: Ann P., who was born January 21, 1826, and was married December 19, 1844, to George Terrille, who died at the age of fifty years, while his wife now lives in Quincy; Joseph L., born January 31, 1828, died September 1, 1848; Mary Jane, born April 21, 1830, married Oscar Proctor, December 27, 1853. John Edmond, of this review, was the youngest child of the father's first marriage. After losing his first wife Mr. Morton was married September 17, 1835, to Nancy Vernon, who was born March 3, 1804.      It was in the year 1832 that Charles M. Morton purchased a farm in Illinois and the following year he removed with his family from Kentucky to Adams county, settling at Newtown, about four miles from Payson. The journey was made by teams and there were five families in the party -- the Kays, Bernards, Tandeys, Graves and Mortons. Mr. Morton located in Burton township, Adams county, where he first purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land. Subsequently he bought forty acres more which was wild and unimproved and there he carried on general farming. His market at that time was Quincy and there was little money in circulation in the west. He obtained merchandise for his wheat and managed to sell his pork for enough money to pay his taxes. The family shared in all the hardships and trials incident to pioneer life and as the years went by developed a very productive property. Mr. Morton served as town clerk and he gave his political allegiance to the whig party. He held membership in the Baptist church and was a man of genuine personal worth, esteemed by all who knew him. He departed this life July 1, 1874, in his seventy-seventh year, and his second wife died April 23, 1880, also in her seventy-seventh year. The children of the second marriage were: Harriet A., who was born June 15, 1836, and was married July 15, 1869, to Clinton E. King; George William, who was born December 14, 1837, and died December 4, 1838; Henry Clay, who was born May 8, 1839, and was married February 9, 1860, in Missouri to Jane Lightfoot; James Edgar, who was born January 4, 1841, and died August 18, 1861; and Christiana