Adam Simons
Adam Simons, prominent in the brick manufacturing line at Lima, has been one of the city's leading business men for a quarter of a century. He was born in Seneca County, Ohio, in 1844, and is a son of the late John Simons, who formerly was a substantial and well-known farmer of Upper Sandusky.
Mr. Simons spent all the earlier years of his life on a farm in Wyandotte County, and there obtained his education. In 1872 he left home and removed to Delphos, where he engaged in the manufacture of brick until 1880, when he came to Lima. Here he found an excellent field for his industry and now stands at the head of the brick manufacturers of the city. The quality of his product has done its own advertising, and a canvass of Lima's most substantial structures will prove how large is his local trade.
In 1869 Mr. Simons was united in marriage with Maria Hoffman, who is a daughter of Eli Hoffman, a farmer of Upper Sandusky. They have reared a family of nine children, namely: Frank, who is in business at Lewiston Illinois; Henry, who is the engineer of the Lima central fire department; Charles, who is chief engineer of the LaFayette (Indiana) Traction Company; Minnie, who is the wife of A. McPheron, of Lima; Permilla, who is the wife of E. F. Flaving, of Chicago; Rosa, who is the wife of Byron S. Langin, of Lima, employed in the Lake Erie & Western Railroad office; Bertha, living at home; Earl, who is employed at the Lima Locomotive Works; and Raymond, who is attending school. The inclinations of Mr. Simons' sons have led them into mechanics, where each one is giving an excellent account of himself.
In the late years Mr. Simons has paid little attention to politics. Both he and his wife are members of St. John's Catholic Church.