R.H. Fanders portrays George Simons, frontier artist during Florence's 150th Birthday Bash 2004. George Simon's sketches were on display at the Loft Gallery at the Florence Mill.*
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George Simons was the cook for General N.P. Dodge. George accompanied Gen. Dodge on many of the excursions and projects that he carried out. During these times, George would pull out his sketch book, and document what he saw. He added some comments at the bottom of the sketches, and generally added his name, and most of the time, he shorted his name George to Geo.
George Simons arrived in Kanesville (Council Bluffs), Iowa in 1853. He documented what he saw by sketching. He witnessed the pioneers passing through, those that stayed, and what they built. He sketched it all. His artwork contains rare images of our past, such as William Brown's Ferry that crossed the Missouri River from Kanesville to the new territory on the west banks.
George Simons sketch of the Mormon Pioneers traveleing west using Handcarts was the inspiration for our logo, created by Linda Meigs, owner of the Florence Mill.
During Florence's 150th Birthday Celebration (2004), R.H. Fanders portrayed George Simons.