Home Page

Francis Lafayette Simon with his family

Circa 1913 (Left to right) Mollie, Libby, Bertha, Alice, Jennie, David Dinwiddie (seated), Francis Lafayette, John Wright, Hallie (in front), Francis Lewis, George Miller, Belle, Baby Wesley, Walter

The Simon family originated in Lignières, a village in Canton Neuchâtel, Switzerland. They immigrated to the US in the 1850’s and helped found Neuchatel, Kansas. Surviving the hardships of the Kansas prairies, these hardy pioneers left descendants who now reside in almost every state.

What would bring the Swiss all the way to Kansas?
Just like many other immigrant groups, the Swiss were motivated by hard times at home and the prospect of opportunity in America. Making their way across France, they boarded ships at Le Havre and sailed to New York to seek their fortunes in the new world. As French speakers, they were attracted to settlements where other French speakers were already gathering. Ohio and Indiana were popular destinations.

And, once there, seeing much of the land already taken, they could decide to go by boat all the way to Leavenworth, Kansas. From there, the Oregon trail beckoned. Neuchatel, Kansas, is located very near the Oregon trail. In fact, a popular camping ground for the pioneers was at Alcove Springs, just outside of Marysville, Kansas. If you visit Neuchatel, Kansas, and Neuchâtel, Switzerland, you’ll see many similarities. While there is no mountain view in Kansas, the rolling hills and sunflowers are very reminiscent of the land our ancestors left behind.

The Oregon Trail proved too tempting for some and many of our family members went on to Oregon and other places in between. The Santa Fe Trail was also an option. It was not terribly far to go south and pick up the other significant trail heading out of Kansas to adventures further West.

20 responses to “ Home Page ”

  1. Margee' Simon Morris says:

    Looks great! Always wanted to start a website for my branch of the Simon Family.

    Can’t wait to see what comes next on your site! 🙂

  2. Welcome to the GeneaBloggers family. Hope you find the association fruitful; I sure do. I have found it most stimulating, especially some of the Daily Themes.

    May you keep sharing your ancestor stories!

    Dr. Bill 😉
    http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/
    Author of “13 Ways to Tell Your Ancestor Stories” and family saga novels:
    “Back to the Homeplace” and “The Homeplace Revisited”
    http://thehomeplaceseries.blogspot.com/
    http://www.examiner.com/x-53135-Springfield-Genealogy-Examiner
    http://www.examiner.com/x-58285-Ozarks-Cultural-Heritage-Examiner

  3. Jim Sanders says:

    I just found your blog through Geneabloggers. Welcome to Geneabloggers.

    Regards, Jim
    Hidden Genealogy Nuggets

  4. Carol Sapp Mueller says:

    I am a shirttail cousin on the Phelps side. My Mother was Sybil Irene (Sapp) Phelps daughter of Frank Burt & Eva Lena (Irwin)Phelps. Grand Daughter of Franklin Hannibal & Frances Lucille (Bates)Phelps. From some of my Mother’s writings I know that her Great Grandparents were Hannibal & Nancy Phelps but have not been able to find any information about them. The sites I have found with Franklin Hannibal have listed Charles Henry & Maryette (Soper) as the G-Grandparents. I have not been able to find where that wrong information came from but it is prevalent. Any in information would be appreciated!

    • admin says:

      We have the same ancestors noted in our file as you. That info came directly from one of Fred and Elva’s grandchildren and we don’t have any more details. One question that has occurred is if Charles Henry Phelps is actually Charles Hannibal Phelps and perhaps he had married two or three times. The census has not been helpful in clarifying. We will continue to research and hope you will keep us posted as well.

  5. Carol Sapp Mueller says:

    Thanks you for getting back to me. As things unfold I will get back to you.
    Carol Mueller

  6. Kaye Vensko says:

    You sent a message through Find A Grave regarding Helen K. Berndt memorial # 88224824, information you have on the family. You signed it cousin so I’m assuming you are a relative of hers. If so I would be happy to transfer the memorial to you.

    Kaye

  7. Don Outram says:

    Hello, I see in Ancestry.ca a Simon Family Tree listed. I’m hoping this is the same tree. It has a Wylfred Leslie Hamilton b.1902 Yorkers,Westchester,NY,USA. d.18 Jan 1948 St.Petersburg,Florida; m.1946 Beatrice Alvena Phillips b.29 Jun 1905 Coboconk,Ontario,Canada in Toronto; Daughter…Leslie Carol Phillips b.23 Dec 1947 Toronto,Ontario listed. My aunt is Beatrice Phillips & I’m looking for info to give to their daughter Leslie who was adopted out right after Wylfred’s death by her mother. In Wylfreds obits it mentions a brother..Dadhne & a sister..Mrs.Hammont Tate. I would appreciate any info you might be able to give us. Thanks Don Tory Hill,Ontario,Canada

  8. Diana Junod Weir says:

    Is this the same Simon family that married into the Junod family. I am the the 3X
    great granddaughter of Peter David Junod. His father was Jean Pierre Junod(1745-1832)
    Mother was Jean Madeleine Simon(1757-1828). Hoping I’ve made a connection. Just
    starting my ancestry.

    Diana

  9. Pierre A Plauzoles says:

    Hello.

    This site has a huge amount of terrific information, and I am hoping that some of it might help break down a rather resistant (!! :-((( …) brick wall.

    I am looking for information on one of my father’s ancestors, Louise Mélanie Simon (1859-1887), who married Jean Charles Marie Hyacinthe Faguer, most likely in Paris and between 1877 and mid-1883 (their daughter Marie-Louise Faguer was born in late October 1883). Unfortunately, I have no more data on her than that, and this branch of our family is one in which what genealogical records were kept conscientiously are far from complete, with a large proportion of them including no other data than the person’s first and last name, and birth and death dates — and some don’t even have that much!! 🙁 Obviously, it goes without saying that any information will be ***very welcome!!***
    Thank you in advance.

    • admin says:

      If you have a confirmed Swiss ancestry for Louise Mélanie Simon, we can do some checking. However, our database does not include any people of the name Faguer. Simon being such a common name, there are Simons in almost every country in the world. But, the ones related to us came from Switzerland. Good luck with your research!

  10. Ariel says:

    My husband last name is Simon and I’m trying to find out how he got that last name. You see he’s Mexican and comes from Mexico and the last name is not a very common. Any help will be greatful. ?

  11. Grandmomof7 says:

    Still trying to find death date of Alcide August Simon, last known to live in Echo/Stanfield, Oregon, Umatilla County.
    Just this week found two land patents he had in that area, but still cannot find when and where he passed and where he is buried. Been working on this many years.

  12. Arthur Kean says:

    Interesting reading. Does anyone have any information on Walter Simon born about 1920 and married to Elfriede Margarete Kriegel. Elfriede was the daughter of Fritz Kriegel and Marta Friese. Would appreciate some help with this side of our family tree. Thank You. Arthur Kean

  13. Bonnie Reid says:

    Does any anybody have any info on a Robert and Margret Simon(s) from Minnesota? Thanks in advance.

Leave a Reply

[Top]