Biography

"SIMONTON, James William, journalist, born in Columbia county, New York, 30 January, 1823 ; died in Napa, California, 2 November, 1882. He went as a lad to New York city, and was educated at the public schools there. At twenty years of age he was engaged as local reporter on the "Courier and Enquirer." Within a year or two he was sent, with Henry J. Raymond, to Washington as congressional correspondent, and he continued as such until 1850, winning, by his ability and conscientiousness, the confidence and esteem of Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, Thomas H. Benton, and other statesmen. In the autumn of 1851, when the New York " Times" was founded, he was one of the original proprietors with George Jones, Henry J. Raymond, and others, and soon went to Washington again as its correspondent, as well as the correspondent of New Orleans, San Francisco, and Detroit journals. His letters, entitled "The History of Legislation," were really a record of the times, and drew wide attention. He became part owner in 1859 of the "Evening Bulletin" in San Francisco, where he lived for years, and subsequently of the "Morning Call," of the same city, retaining his interest throughout life. Having returned to New York, he was chosen in 1867 general agent of the associated press there, and discharged the duties of the office for fourteen years, when he resigned on account of delicate health. He then retired to his California vineyard, and died there suddenly of heart disease."