(From HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1883, Page 633)

Dow Simmonds is the present recorder of Worth Co., Iowa. He was born in Dodge Co., Wis., Sept. 7, 1851. His par­ents were George H. and Mary B. (Hartwell) Simmonds, who were married in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1845. Soon after that date they settled in Dodge Co., Wis., where the father engaged in farming. A few years afterward he removed to Oconomowoc, Wis., where he engaged in the drug business. Leaving Wisconsin in 1 868 he located in Appanoose Co., Iowa, and at the present time resides in Eldora, Wapello Co., Iowa. Dow lived on a farm until nine years of age, and attended a common school until fourteen years of age, when he entered his father's store as a clerk, removing to Iowa in 1868, where he worked for two years on a farm. In 1870 he began business for himself, and meeting with reverses, he disposed of his drug business in 1873 and entered the employ of J. P. Early, of Albia, Iowa, who was at that time the leading dry-goods merchant of Monroe county. He remained with Mr. Early until Novem­ber, 1877, when he removed to Northwood, and was deputy postmaster one year. He then accepted a situation in the collection department of L. S. Butler's law office, where he remained until elected recorder of Worth county in the fall of 1880. He was married Sept. 7, 1871, to Ida V. Cole, daughter of A. J. Cole, of Worth Co., Iowa. Mr. Simmonds is a member of the I. O. O. F., and also North­ern Light Lodge, No. 266, A. F. & A. M., of Northwood. Though a young man in the county, he has bright prospects, and thus far he has been master of the situa­tion and improved them.

Transcribed by Gordon Felland, Feb. 5, 2006