Elmer Frederick Simons

            Elmer Fredrick was born on March 7, 1884, in Brent, Washington, the son of George and Elizabeth Jeannette Simons. He was the fifth child born to the family and the first born in the new log home built facing a canyon leading to the Columbia river. Elmer would have grown up along side his older brothers, learning the work of farming and all other chores of the pioneer farmer in the northwest. He possibly attended some schooling in the one-room school houses, either at Brent or Mountainview, the later established close to the Simons farm.

            Sometime before the turn of the century, the Simons family purchased the Blackfan place and built a large frame house for their growing family. By August 1901 there were sixteen children born to this family. But just over a year later Jenny Simons died of an infection from a miscarriage.

            On November 30, 1905, Elmer married Stella Cheley. Stella was one of the first teachers at the Creston School. Elmer and Stella (nicknamed "Tot") settled in the log cabin home that George and Jenny had occupied before they had moved to the Blackfan place and Elmer worked for his dad.

In 1913 George Simons died after a sudden heart attack. Elmer was the oldest son still on the farm so he continued to manage the Simons estate.

Stella and Elmer had five children: Loy, Lyle, Donovan and Gwendolyn. The children were born and raised on the original Simons homestead. Elmer and Tot were more than just caretakers of the land. They also provided an open house for extended family gatherings. As early as 1933, families were congregating at the homestead for Thanksgiving potluck dinners. Margaret Simons relates how she and Virgil, Elmer’s nephew, lived one summer in Elmer’s bunkhouse, or "the "Honeymoon Cottage" as it was called because several newlywed couples had lived there."¹

Elmer continued farming the land, buying shares from family members when they became available. As his health failed, Elmer turned the work over to his son Donovan. Elmer died in October of 1954. It was after Donavan’s death in 1960 that Hilary Kunz began to farm the land, and later his son Lary Kunz took on the mantle. When Lary retired, Elmer’s granddaughter Sally Bean (daughter of Gwen) and her husband Jim continued to manage the family farm and do so until today (2008). At this writing, the land has been under Simons family management for one-hundred twenty-seven years.

After Elmer’s death, Stella moved to Creston. She remained active in her community and church. Stella died in 1970 at the age of ninety-three.

Elmer Simons

1884 - 1934

Sherman Cemetery, WA

Stella A. Simons

1877 - 1970

Sherman Cemetery, WA