She was a daughter of Jonathan Simmons and Dorothy Evelyn "Eve" Bridgwater. She was married first to Etham Richmond Lynch, with whom she had Emily Francis Lynch, May Velma Lynch, Aaron Richmond "Dick" Lynch (adopted and name changed to Robert Shinn and then to Aaron Richmond Shinn), and Anna Rachel Lynch (adopted and name changed to Roberta "Bobbie" Shinn). She married second Alvin Henry Kissick, and had Alvin Henry Kissick, Jr. (name later changed to John E. Barnum, Jr.), Ira James "Ike" Kissick, and Tressie May "Tess/Trixie" Kissick. She married third John Judson Emil "Powder River Jack" Barnum, with whom she had a stillborn child. There is no headstone or marker on her grave.
She is buried at the side of her husband, J. J. E. Barnum, but has no grave marker of her own.