Obit: Simmons, Martin (1900 – 1903)
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Surnames: Simmons

---------Source: NEILLSVILLE TIMES (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 12/04/1903

--------- Simmons, Martin (17 NOV 1900 – 24 NOV 1903)

(Loyal Tribune)

The dwelling of W. W. Simmons, northwest of the Beaver town hall (Clark Co., Wis.), was burned to the ground Tuesday noon with its contents and their three-year-old son Martin. Mr. Simmons was at Butternut running camp, leaving his wife, two sons and a chore boy to care for things. Just before noon the chore boy was asked to help some hunters bring a deer from the wood not far away. Mrs. Simmons was busily engaged washing, while the older boy was away to school and the young one was playing happily in the house. The cattle go out, and Mrs. Simmons ran to get them. She was only gone a few moments, but before she could get back to the house she found it bursting into flames and by the time she got to the door the flames were leaping from all openings, making it impossible for her to get in to save the boy or anything to wear.

How the fire originated is a mystery, but it is supposed it must have caught in the roof or upper part of the house, or else that the boy got hold of something inflammable so that the fire made quick work. The charred remains of the child were found in the pantry under a shelf, where he had evidently run for protection from the death dealing flames. The neighbors had hurried to the scene as soon as possible, but had too far to go to save anything.