Thomas Jacob SIMON **Direct Line**
Born 30 Jan 1873
Reads Landing Mn
Married: 9 June 1896
Wabasha Mn
Died 2 June 1956
Mpls Mn
Father: Theodore William SIMON
Mother Mary Ellen MALLOY
SPOUSE: Catherine WHEELER
Born 11 July 1876
Turners Junction W. Chicago
Died 10 Nov 1944
Mpls Mn
Father:Thomas WHEELERDirect Line
Mother:Jane WELCH
CHILDREN
1. Thomas Jefferson SIMON "Direct Line"
Born 15 Aug 1898
Wabasha Mn.
Died 26 March 1969
place Mpls Mn
Spouse Hattie STENHAMMER
2. William SIMON
Born 30 Nov 1900
Wabasha Mn
Died ABT 1901
Wabasha St Felix Cem
Spouse None
3. Maria SIMON
Born 16 Dec 1903
Wabasha
Died 26 Feb 1982
St Paul Resurrection Cemetery
Spouse Anton PETERSON
4. Edward SIMON
Born 7 Sept 1906
Wabasha
Died 20 June 1971
Mpls Crystal Lake Cem
Spouse Living
born
place
died
CHILDREN
Living
5. Jane SIMON
Born: 12 June 1909
Wabasha Mn
Died May 1986
place Mpls
Spouse None
6. Margaret SIMON
Born 31 Oct 1911
Wabasha
Died May 1987
Mpls
Spouse William SEIVER
born 03 March 1898
died June 1952
Mpls. Mn.
Lakewood Cemetery
No Children
This is where our SIMON family meets the WHEELER'S (finally)
Thomas Simon and Catherine (Kate) Wheeler married in 1896 in Wabasha Mn.
Thomas was a first class cabinet maker and his work can be seen in the government buildings in Wabasha and neighboring Lake City Mn.
Thomas and Kate had six children and according to their daughter Jane "our" Aunt Jane..the family was a very close one and physical discipline in the home was never used...Jane remembered a time when they were given a hammock by their parents..the two youngest fought so much over it, that their mother took it back to the store
The family went to dog and pony shows when they were in town and an exciting time was going to see Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Most of the family clothes were made on a treadle sewing machine (Singer) and some things including food items were ordered from the Sears catalog..these items came from Chicago..and of course the catalog was used for TP for the out house!! A special treat were red bandandas which cost a nickel or small dolls whose arms were wired to the body were 2 for a quarter.
Everything was canned...sugar and flour were bought in 100 pound bags..the family had a garden..the meat was bought at the local meat shop and all cooking was done on a wood stove.
Chicken and dumpling were a family favorite and Thomas always had a marble cake for his birthday.
Some home cures for a sickness were goose grease for aches and pains..rock candy dipped in whiskey, was given to those with sore throats and to cure colds..mother would put cooked onions in cloth and place this one your chest...it would keep everyone far enough away so they wouldn't catch your germs!
The family christmas tree was trimmed with popcorn and homemade decorations and a bucket of water was always near by for when the candles were lite...one year Jane remembers her father Thomas made her a child size buffet and her mother Kate made out of an "Old Joe" flour sack a table cloth for it and Kate had embrodiered it...each child got a Christmas sock with an orange, apple, and assorted nuts in it..and a very special present was a bottle of strawberry pop
In 1921 Thomas and Catherine moved to mpls..progress was slow in coming to Wabasha and jobs were hard to find..the family bought a house at 2413 16th Ave S. Mpls for $2,800..the house has since been torn down...