Page 10 - The Wayne Dispatch

Solving a black history mystery

By Carolyn Marnon subdivision in Westland. After 14 ing to Findagrave.com, Benjamin re-
If you have ever visited Glenwood years of marriage, Susan died, leav- ceived a Bachelor’s degree from De-
Cemetery in Wayne, you might have ing James with a family of small chil- troit Institute of Technology and
noticed a rather large gravestone and dren. When James died, his obituary received his juris doctorate from De-
plot of the Simons family. This im- listed his children as Miss Prudy and troit College of Law. He married Lucy
pressive gravestone caught the eye of Ben Simons of Wayne and Mrs. Mar- Cahoon. He was in law and real es-
Wayne resident and former Wayne garet Norwood of Cherry Hill. It is tate before dying at his home in
Historical Society president Ann unknown how his name came to be Dundee in 1979.
Zimmerman when the group did a James Simons from Sammons. Findagrave.com indicates James
cemetery walk for the community James’s obituary headline read Simons was a Civil War veteran of
several years ago. “Wayne Pioneer Dies Suddenly.” He Company B, 1st Colored Infantry,
Ann wondered who the Simons was 95 in 1924 when he died at his Michigan. This was later redesig-
family was to have such a prominent home on Dewey Avenue after an at- nated to 102nd Regiment United
grave marker. She set out to re- tack of paralysis lasting 3 days. States Colored Troops. USCT was
search James Simons. In her search, Ann’s research of the family led an African-American infantry unit of
she uncovered data from different her to a website that listed James as the Union Army during the American
sources that indicated James could being in the Colored Troops during Civil War.
have been an African American, a Na- the Civil War. She has since been in The search is now on to find a
tive American, a mulatto. touch with the Sons of the Civil War family member descendent of James
James lived 1829-1924. He made group in Dearborn about getting a Simons who can help obtain the
his home in the area that is now the grave marker or dedication for Civil War marker for the gravesite. If
Birch Hill Golf subdivision in West- James to show he was a Civil War you happen to have information that
land, by the current Westland Munic- James Simons veteran. It was recommended to Ann can help solve this genealogical mys-
ipal Golf Course. in Pennsylvania. At age 23, he mar- that she try to find any family mem- tery, please contact Ann Zimmerman
Born in 1829 in Kent County, ried Susan Keys (Grimace is the bers that might still live in the area. at the Wayne Historical Museum.
Delaware to Benjamin Sammons, Sr name used in his obituary). They James had a grandson named Ben- She can be reached at waynehistori-
and Sarah (Miller) Sammons, he moved to Michigan and settled on a jamin Simons who graduated from calsociety@gmail.com or call the mu-
went on to spend his boyhood years farm that is now the Birch Hill Gold Wayne High School in 1923. Accord- seum (734) 722-0113.

Harold Rediske Planning Commission. Harold be- Visitation was held Thursday,
Jr. Retired longed to many clubs and organiza- January 17th, 2019 from 2-9pm at
owner/director of tions including the Wayne Rotary Uht Funeral Home. A funeral mass
Uht Funeral Home, Club, the Wayne Masonic Lodge, and was held at St. Mary Catholic
Westland passed Michigan Funeral Directors Associa- Church, of Wayne Friday at 11am.
away on January tion where he had just been recog- Burial took place at Glenwood Ceme-
16, 2019. Harold nized for 50-years as a licensed tery, Wayne, Michigan.
was a Wayne Me- funeral director. Family requests donation to An-
morial High School Harold is survived by his wife, gela Hospice, 14100 Newburgh Rd,
graduate and was very active in the Claudia Rediske, son, Harold Livonia, MI 48154 or John Bolde
community through the years. He “Howie” (Gayle) Rediske II, daughter Food Depot at St. Mary Catholic
had served in many functions for the Heidi Rediske, and granddaughter, Church, 34530 W Michigan Ave,
City of Wayne, the last being on the Mackenzie Rediske. Wayne, MI 48184.

10 · February 2019 · The Wayne Dispatch