Sacramento County

Biographies

GUSTAVUS LINCOLN SIMMONS, M.D.

One of Sacramento’s most distinguished physicians of former years was the late Dr. Gustavus L. Simmons, whose death, on October 7, 1910, was a distinct loss to the community which he had honored by his life and labors for nearly sixty years. He was well equipped in medical knowledge, was skilled in practice and during all the years of his professional career here commanded the unreserved confidence and respect of his fellowmen.

Dr. Simmons was born in Hingham, Plymouth county, Massachusetts, on the 13^th of March, 1832, and was therefore seventy-eight years old at the time of his death. He attended the local schools and Derby Academy, in Hingham, and in 1849, when seventeen years of age, decided to come to the gold fields of California. Embarking at Boston on the brig “Caracoa,” he sailed around Cape Horn, his plan being to join a brother-in-law, Dr. Henry B, May, in San Francisco. After a voyage of four months, he reached his destination remaining for a few months in San Francisco, and then removing to Sacramento during the great epidemic of cholera then prevalent. Here he joined Dr. May in the establishing of the old Boston drug store, which was located on J Street, between Front and Second streets. Here also he took up the study of medicine and later, in order to properly equip himself for its practice, he returned to the east and entered the Tremont Street Preparatory Medical School, in Boston. Later he became a student in the medical school of Harvard University, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1856, after which he returned to Sacramento, where he practiced medicine and surgery to the time of his death. He received prompt recognition as a trustworthy physician and during all the years of his professional career in this city stood in the front ranks of those whose lives were devoted to the public welfare. For twenty years he served as commissioner of lunacy, one term as county hospital physician and also as United States pension surgeon. He was the first secretary of the city board of education who also acted as school superintendent, and he was the president of the board of trustees of the Marguerite Home for Old Ladies. He was a charter member of the Sacramento County Medical Society and belonged to the California State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

Dr. Simmons was married to Miss Celia Crocker, a daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Peter Crocker. To them were born three children, Dr. Gustave Crocker, Celia May and Dr. Samuel Ewer, who is represented on other pages of this work. Mrs. Simmons passed away September 23, 1926. She was a woman of strong character, an ideal wife and mother, and was beloved throughout the wide range of her acquaintance. Dr. Simmons was a man of high professional ideals, was closely devoted to his life work and

commanded the grateful regard of hundreds who had benefited by his ministrations.

Transcribed by Debbie Walke Gramlick.

Source: Wooldridge, J.W. Major History of the Sacramento Valley California, Vol. 2 pgs. 387-388. The Pioneer Historical Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.

Sacramento County Biographies