Lew Simmons was born in New Castle, Pa., August 27, 1838.
J. H. Surridge was one of the prominent singers of minstrelsy. His first appearance was with Hart and Simmons’ Minstrels early in 1863. That same year he joined the Morris Minstrels, and in 1865 was with Raynor’s “Christy’s.”
In April, 1866, he opened with J. H. Clifford’s Great American Minstrels; April 17, company closed at Troy, N. Y. September 10, 1866, he opened with Sands and Herbert’s Minstrels.
With Sweeny, Hussey and Felton’s Company, he sailed for Hong Kong, October 11, 1866; storm tossed he returned to New York five days later; another five days he again set sail for Ireland and England, opening in London, December 5, 1866. Early in 1867 he went to play an engagement with “Pony” Moore and his associates, also in London.
Mr. Surridge arrived back in the United States, November 23, 1868, and shortly after joined Kelly and Leon’s Company at their New York theatre. He continued with them when they opened in Chicago, March 2, 1869, and subsequently was one of Kelly and Leon’s “Associated Artists,” after these two performers went to England.
Later Mr. Surridge joined Hooley’s Minstrels in Brooklyn, N. Y., and with Susie Galton’s Opera Company played the Dutch comedy part, succeeding W. H. Crane.
On April 17, 1871, he opened in New York City with Newcomb and Arlington’s Minstrels.
January 22, 1872, he became a member of Arlington, Cotton and Kemble’s Minstrels in Chicago, and continued with them about three years, after which he joined E. M. Hall, E. M. Kayne and Ned Wambold’s Minstrels, April 10, 1875. That same year Mr. Surridge rejoined Kelly and Leon’s Company, and continued with them when in February, 1878, they sailed for Australia. He returned in February, 1879, and joined M. B. Leavitt’s Company in San Francisco.
In the Summer of 1879 he entered the hotel business at Rockaway Beach, N. Y., and in the Fall of that year joined Pat Rooney’s Company as manager.
The following season of 1880-81, was at the London Theatre in New York. In the Fall of 1881 he went to Hopkins and Morrow’s Theatre in Providence, R. I., for a brief stay, leaving there to join Haverly’s Minstrels, where he remained but two weeks, when he joined M. B. Leavitt and continued with him as manager for the latter’s attractions until 1883, when he went to London, England, with “Evangeline,” in which he played Catharine; this engagement was followed by one with Moore and Burgess’ Minstrels, also in London.