My name is Dean A Simar , I am the fifth generation of the German Emigrant , Ephraim Frederick Simar , who arrived in America about 1790 , he made his home in New Jersey, -- New York, -- and in Pennsylania, where he died in about 1850, probably in Bradford County.

The second generation of this family, who consisted of John, -- Ephraim, -- William, -- and Asher, along with at least four girls, none of which we seem to have an accurate record of.

John, Ephraim, and Asher, headed west, into the western frontier, settleing in Fayette County Iowa, all three bought farms, in the close vicinity of West Union, Fayette County, Ephraim and Asher prospered as farmers on this virgin farmland in Iowa, and lived the rest of their lives there, but after about 15 years in Fayette County, John once again got itchy feet, and felt the urge to move on, this time he took a homestead in northern Kansas, Jewell County, where he homesteaded 160 acres on Ash Creek, probably about 1871, in 1883 he passed away, and one of his daughters (Edith) along with her new husband, (Elias Uptagrafft) took over this farm, and lived there most of their life, both being burried in a cemetery in the area.

My Grandfather, Burton John Simar, was born on this homestead, in 1873, and when his Father died, he went to live with his Uncle Asher Simar, back in Fayette County Iowa, in the late 1800's or early 1900's, he decided to try his luck, hopeing to strick it rich in Eureka Montana, where he staked out a claim, about 1910, with no luck on his claim, he gave it up, or sold it, and went back to Jackson County Minnesota, where he once again took up farming, after a couple years in Jackson County, he relocated to Douglas County, on a farm that became known as the Belle River Farm, about 1915, he again relocated, this time to Todd County, Renting and farming several farms, over the next 6 or 7 years, in the early 1920's he settled on a 200 acre farm, south of Eagle Bend, in Burleene Township, known as the Big Place, he lived there till he took ill in 1938 and passed away.

Several of his sons, bought farms in that area, but one by one, they all sold off their farms, and today none of the fifth generation of Ephraim Frederick are still in the farming business.

Compiled by Dean A Simar, the oldest of the fifth generation.

note -- can be contacted at > dean_simar@yahoo.com <

> See part two <