Simmons, William

Simmons, William, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in Mason County, Ky., June 24, 1798, and removed with his parents the next year to Ohio.

He was converted in 1816, licensed to preach July 17, 1820, and received on trial the same year by the Ohio Conference. In his early ministry he traveled over extensive territory; and in 1825, besides being pastor of the church in Detroit, Mich., he served as presiding elder of a district including the whole of that state and a part of Northern Ohio. His relation to his conference, during fifty-four years, was always effective. He was an agent of the Freedman's Aid Society for a number of years, up to the time of his death, Aug. 6, 1874. For several years he was president of the trustees of Xenia College. See Minutes of Annual Conferences, 1874, p. 102.