Elder A. S. (Ves) Simmons

     Among our most dearly loved and appreciated pastors of the first half of this last century was Brother A. S. Simmons, who was commonly called, "Ves," by his friends.   His name was Andrew Sylvester Simmons, and he was born in Coos County, Oregon, May 11, 1874.   When a boy his parents moved to a farm in Eastern Oregon near the small town of Mayville, and there at the Mayville Baptist Church, while still a young man, Ves Simmons gave his heart to Christ and was saved.

     We do not know who may have pastored or preached for the Mayville Baptist Church in those days, but surely they were Spirit filled, godly men, for out of that church at about the same time four were saved who later became faithful preachers of the gospel.   These were:   Fred Brown, John Samples, and the two brothers, Frank and Ves Simmons.

     April 19, 1899, A. S. Simmons was married to Victoria Maude Margaret Hankens at the Mayville Baptist Church, Elder C. R. Lamar performing the ceremony.   Sister Simmons had been born in Roseburg, Oregon, May 30th, 1881, and upon the death of her parents there she had been sent to live at an uncle's place on a farm near Mayville.

     To Brother Ves and Sister Maude Simmons there were born seven children, Margaret Alice in 1900, Bertha Evangeline in 1901, Charles Kenneth in 1904, Francis Louise in 1906, Frank Christopher in 1908, Harold Edgar in 1912 and Paul Joseph in 1921.

     After their marriage the Simmonses lived for a time in Mitchell, Oregon, where Brother Simmons worked in a flour mill, then they returned to Mayville to farm.   Later on he worked in Wheeler County at Winlock in a sawmill run by the Nelsons, and here he attended church in Fossil, where about 1917 he surrendered to God's call and began preaching the gospel.   He was ordained by Fossil Baptist Church, and his first pastorate was at Mud Springs Baptist Church near Madras, Oregon, where he began work in the month of December, 1920.   In 1921 this church entertained the Middle Oregon Baptist Association in a meeting that was a great blessing.

     In June, 1924, Brother Ves Simons accepted the call to First Baptist Church of Goose Lake, New Pine Creek, Oregon, where he pastored until 1927, when he was called to the Cloverdale Baptist Church, Cloverdale, Oregon.   Here he remained as pastor for almost ten years.   In 1936 he accepted the call to Lone Pine Baptist Church near Terrebonne in Central Oregon, and he remained there until ill health forced him to resign in 1941.   He passed away November 25, 1944, at McMinnville, Oregon, where he is buried.

     During a large part of his life as a minister Brother Simmons fought a daily battle with the affliction of diabetes, having always to keep on a strict diet.   In this his wife helped him, preparing special foods and weighing out portions on scales.   In spite of this he never complained, but always rejoiced in the Lord, and he was always ready with encouragement and help for others.   He touched many lives in blessings during his ministry.

     I first remember Ves Simmons and family when they attended the association at Union Baptist Church, Sheridan, Oregon, in 1923, at which time their son Harold, and I were playmates.   I felt a great loss after he was stricken and died a few years later at the early age of 18.

     The Simmons family were all beautiful singers, and when Ves and Frank and their wives got together, they very often sang together as a quartet, "The Simmons Quartet," it was called, and was very much enjoyed at church gatherings in those days.   Sister Maude Simmons was often requested to sing as a solo the song, "When They Ring Those Golden Bells For You and Me," and I have never heard anyone else sing it so beautifully.

     Brother Simmons also played the violin and often used it in leading singing.   He would often wave the violin bow to start folks singing, then he would join in with sweet violin music.

     I shall never forget the association in Portland in 1934 and Brother Simmons singing, "Christ Is All."   He began singing softly:

     Stronger and stronger his voice became till he closed his book and looking toward heaven sang the last chorus;

     There was a reverent hush all over the congregation, while men and women all were wiping tears from their eyes.

     ~~John R. Blalock

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Tom Blalock Webservant edit@BaptistLandmarks.org