Philenia Belle Cage Simmons at 99 Years Young

Born: January 29, 1857 in Dent county, Missouri

Died: January 7, 1957 in St. Louis, Misouri

Belle's father was Wilson Cage 1820-1876

Belle's mother was Martha Ann Shuck 1831-1880

Both Wilson Cage and Martha Ann Cage were from Tennesse. Census records from August 21, 1850 indicate Wilson and his first wife living on a farm in Obion county, Tennesse. however, he was born in Smith Tennesse.

My Dad's name is Amel Wilson Simmons. His middle name was the same as his grandfather's first name.

Belle's real mother died when Belle was 12years old. Oddly enough her real mom's name was also Martha Ann...(Martha Ann Nash.) ...from Tennesse also.

Belle Simmons...Aunt Mary's & Grandpa Elliot's Mother

Philenia Belle Cage Simmons...my Great Grandmother

Mrs. Belle Simmons died 22 days before her 100th birthday. Belle died at the home of her daughter, Mary Simmons with whom she had lived for the previous 22 years.

The Cedar Grove mail route

The Simmons' farm totaled 360 acres and it apparently was in the Simmons name for quite a while. My Great Aunt Belle recalled Civil War soldiers from both the North and the South traveling thru the area and she told of soldiers taking chickens and livestock for their meals. Belle was a young girl at the time of the war, but remember she lived to be 99 years old. Belle passed away in about 1957-8. She was the mother of my Aunt Mary Simmons. I believe Belle was a generation older than my grandfather Elliot.

The mailing address on the postcard from my Dad to Jack was the "Cedar Grove Route." My Dad would tell me that the farm location was south of Salem and between Jadwin and Eminence. Cedar Grove is in northern Shannon county near the Current River.

I found this map from 1895 on the internet and thought it appropriate for this post because it could be very close to the time that Elliot was born. Also, there is a good chance that Belle may have still been living on the farm then.