Quotes:Simmons, Charles Ezra

Boris de Zirkoff

Simmons, Charles Ezra. American physician, specializing in gynecology, b. at Troy, N. Y., Aug. 16, 1840; d. in New York, May 3, 1918. Son of Joseph Ferris and Mary Sophia Gleason, and great grandson of Albertus Simon, who was of Dutch extraction and settled in the colony of Rensselaerswyck, N. Y., on the Hudson River. His brother was a prominent New York financier. After three years at Williams College, 1857-60, Chas. Simmons entered Beloit College, Wis., where he graduated in 1861. He then spent a year at the University of Gottingen, Germany, and in 1862-63 studied at Jefferson medical college in Philadelphia; then he went to the college of physicians and surgeons at Columbia Univ., where he was graduated M.D., 1864. Thereafter he practiced at Troy and New York City where he had one of the largest practices. He was Commissioner of charities and corrections of New York, 1885-95. He was a man of energy and courage, a lover of people and animals, kindly in manner, and acquired a great many friends. He was a member of a great many medical and other societies. In 1865, he had married Sarah Ruby, daughter of Jacob Gould, a banker, a founder of Rochester, N. Y. and its first mayor. They had one son and two daughters.

Dr. Simmons, though an Episcopalian, was interested in various progressive movements; he was present at the formation of the Theos. Society, and became for a time one of its Councillors.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 1, p. 524