[1] Simmons practiced law in Troy until 1867, when he moved to New York City and became involved in the banking and brokerage business.

You must recognize that you are a representative public body; and in this recognition you must assume responsibilities and perform functions which hitherto the Stock Exchange has not.

You must stand for more than the mere professionalism of buying and selling stocks; you must be more than traders; you are entitled to be a great National body; it is your own fault--and it will be to your own detriment--if you fall short of the opportunities which exist, of demands properly made upon you.

[7] In 1881, he was appointed a Commissioner of the New York City Board of Education by Mayor William Russell Grace.

[2] Reportedly, due to Simmons' efforts, the national flag was placed in all school rooms to "inspire the pupils with sentiments of patriotism and loyalty."

Simmons was one of the closest personal friends of Samuel J. Tilden, who served as the governor of New York from January 1875 to December 1876.

After McKinley won, Simmons was quoted in The New York Times stating:[5] "The triumphal success of McKinley and Hobart relieves the business community of a tension that has been most severe, and gives assurance to all of the maintenance of our Government on the basis of law and order and the payment of all its obligations in the best money of the world.

I believe that the triumph of sound money, the repudiation of a financial heresy, and of Anarchistic doctrines will be of lasting benefit to the country, and will put the stamp of popular disapproval upon the disreputable attempt of the Bryan faction to stir up class and sectional feeling.

The sound-money Democrats have proved themselves to be patriots in this great crisis in our country's history, and the result shows that they have disregarded all their party alliances and have given a loyal support to McKinley and Hobart.

[9] In 1905, he was the first president of the New York City Board of Water Supply (which launched the Catskill Aqueduct project and built the Hillview Reservoir in Yonkers).