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Simmons

Passenger agent at the Tomah Stage Lines' Packsaddle Station,[1] in Nebraska in 1875. (August 13, 1821 – October 31, 1892)[2]

An honest, friendly man, proud of his simple cooking, with a fondness for rattlesnake meat and a distaste for southern fried chicken.[1]

Simmons became passenger agent at the Packsaddle Station in the years after the Civil War.[2] During his time there, he developed a mild case of rheumatoid arthritis in his right thumb, which he believed would flare up when Indians were nearby.[1]

By October of 1872,[2] Mart Fallon and his sons, Wes and Rip, came to the Packsaddle Station with Sam Harris' mining partner, Matson. The Fallons were after the location to the Harris Mine, hidden on Sioux land in the Black Hills. To save his own life, Matson had told them that Sam's wife, Linda, was coming in on the west-bound stage with a map to the mine. Unbeknownst to Simmons, Wes Fallon had killed Matson while Simmons was outside preparing the horses for the stage's next run. Matson's body had been propped up at a table with his hat over his eyes to appear to be asleep.[1]

Bret Maverick arrived shortly afterwards, and Simmons took a liking to him. But after an attack on the station by a band of Sioux and Bret sold a map of the Harris Mine to the Fallons for $15,000 rather than giving it to Mrs. Harris, Simmons felt betrayed and disappointed.[1]

When Sheriff Tibbs from Twin Bluffs came to the Packsaddle Station to arrest the Fallons for their involvement in the murders of Harris and Matson, Simmons told Tibbs of Bret's apparent treachery. Tibbs didn't believe any law had been broken, so did not confront Bret about the allegation. As Simmons was helping other passengers in the east-bound stage, Bret had given Mrs. Harris the $15,000, as was his plan all along. Simmons was again shocked and disappointed when he saw Mrs. Harris kiss Bret passionately before boarding the stage.[1]

As the stage drove away, Simmons expressed his bewilderment over women's behavior. He was pleasantly surprised when Bret gave him a large gold nugget as a memento of their shared ordeal with Linda Harris.[1]

Simmons testified along with Bret on behalf of Rip Fallon at the Fallons' trial, leading to the dismissal of charges against him. Simmons lived out his life working for the Tomah Stage Line and various ranches around Twin Bluffs. He died at the age of 71 of a rattlesnake bite.[2]

See: Stage West