James El Simmons

James El Simmons with first wife,
Corrine Elizabeth Graham

My Maternal Great-Grandfather, James El Simmons, the son of James C. "Jim" Simmons and Celia Anna Yates, was born 22 February 1870 in Marion County, Mississippi.

He married Corrine Elizabeth Graham on 06 September 1889 in Marion County, Mississippi.  She was born 06 October 1870 in Marion County, Mississippi, the daughter of Albert & Mit Graham.  They had the following children:  Sons- Albert, Jesse, Walter William, Lemuel, Rufus Elmore and William Houston; Daughters- Francis Ada, Mary Leona and Claudie.  Corrine died 17 November 1910 in Lamar County, Mississippi at the age of 40 years after giving birth to her son, William Houston.  James El was left a widower with nine children to care for.  

James El Simmons

He remained single, working on the farm and caring for his children for five years.  He then met and  married Harriet Woodard on 15 December 1915 in Walthall County, Mississippi, the daughter of Thomas Riley Woodard and Minerva Warden.  Harriet had previously been married as well, and she had four young children of her own.  Harriet's first husband, Simon Smith, had divorced her then married her sister, Mary Woodard.  There was 13 children in the combined families of James El & Harriet, but they had not completed their family tree yet.  James El & Harriet had three children together- sons Woodrow Wilson and Andrew "Smokey" and daughter Bertha Lollita.

James El, known by his family as simply "El", remained with Harriet until his death on 28 December 1937 in Lamar County, Mississippi. He is buried in an unmarked grave in Grantham Cemetery, Lamar County, Mississippi.

Marriage Record- James E. Simmons and
Corine Graham, Marion County, MS

Death Record- J.E. Simmons