W. J. Simmons
Encyclopedia
William J. Simmons was an ex-slave who became Simmons College of Kentucky
's second president (1880-1890) and for whom the school eventually was named. Simmons greatly developed Howard University
's teacher training programs when he took over the school. In addition, he was a writer, journalist, and educator. In 1886 he became president of the American National Baptist Convention, one of the organizations that would merge to form the National Baptist Convention, USA. He was elected president of the Colored Press Association for his work as editor of the American Baptist, a newspaper in Louisville, Kentucky
.
on June 29, 1849. He and his mother fled slavery for the north, finding refuge in Bordentown, New Jersey
. From 1862 to 1864 he served as an apprentice to a dentist
. He served in the Union Army briefly, and returned to dentistry after the war. In 1867, he joined a Baptist church in Bordertown. The congregation helped him through college. He attended Madison University
, Rochester University, and Howard University
, from which he graduated in 1873. He worked briefly in Washington D.C. at Hillside School.
The following year, he and his new bride moved to Ocala, Florida
where he became principal of Howard Academy and served as the pastor of a church. He served there until 1879. He was ordained that year and moved to Lexington, Kentucky
where he pastored the First Baptist Church
. The following year, he became president of the Normal and Theological Institute, which he worked for a decade. This grew into Simmons College of Kentucky
. Simmons published Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising in 1887 while serving as the school's president. He died on October 30, 1890 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Simmons College of Kentucky
Simmons College of Kentucky, also referred to as Simmons College and Simmons Bible College, is a private, co-educational college located in Louisville, Kentucky. Founded in 1879, Simmons College is a historically black college...
's second president (1880-1890) and for whom the school eventually was named. Simmons greatly developed Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
's teacher training programs when he took over the school. In addition, he was a writer, journalist, and educator. In 1886 he became president of the American National Baptist Convention, one of the organizations that would merge to form the National Baptist Convention, USA. He was elected president of the Colored Press Association for his work as editor of the American Baptist, a newspaper in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.
Biography
He was born a slave in Charleston, South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
on June 29, 1849. He and his mother fled slavery for the north, finding refuge in Bordentown, New Jersey
Bordentown, New Jersey
Bordentown City is in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 3,924. Bordentown is located at the confluence of the Delaware River, Blacks Creek and Crosswicks Creek...
. From 1862 to 1864 he served as an apprentice to a dentist
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
. He served in the Union Army briefly, and returned to dentistry after the war. In 1867, he joined a Baptist church in Bordertown. The congregation helped him through college. He attended Madison University
Madison University
Madison University is a non-accredited distance learning college located in Gulfport, Mississippi. The state of Mississippi considers Madison an "unapproved" college. Madison is also listed as an unaccredited and/or substandard institution by four other U.S. states...
, Rochester University, and Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
, from which he graduated in 1873. He worked briefly in Washington D.C. at Hillside School.
The following year, he and his new bride moved to Ocala, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
where he became principal of Howard Academy and served as the pastor of a church. He served there until 1879. He was ordained that year and moved to Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
where he pastored the First Baptist Church
First Baptist Church
-Alabama:*First Baptist Church , listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Baldwin County, Alabama*First Baptist Church, East Thomas, listed on the NRHP in Birmingham, Alabama*Gardendale First Baptist Church...
. The following year, he became president of the Normal and Theological Institute, which he worked for a decade. This grew into Simmons College of Kentucky
Simmons College of Kentucky
Simmons College of Kentucky, also referred to as Simmons College and Simmons Bible College, is a private, co-educational college located in Louisville, Kentucky. Founded in 1879, Simmons College is a historically black college...
. Simmons published Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising in 1887 while serving as the school's president. He died on October 30, 1890 in Louisville, Kentucky.
External links
- Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising. Cleveland, Ohio: Geo. M. Rewell, 1887.
- Smith, Jessie Carney (Editor). Notable Black American Men. pp 1066–1077. Gale Research Incorporated. Detroit, Michigan. 1999.