When Walter James Simmons was born on 22 March 1883, in Franklin, Missouri, United States, his father, Seth Simmons, was 28 and his mother, Eliza Catherine Northcut, was 27. He married Julie Elizabeth DeClue on 23 April 1905, in Washington, Missouri, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 2 daughters. He lived in Potosi, Washington, Missouri, United States in 1930 and Potosi, Breton Township, Washington, Missouri Territory, United States in 1940. He died on 27 July 1969, in Fredericktown, Madison, Missouri, United States, at the age of 86, and was buried in Potosi, Washington, Missouri, United States.