Family & Descendants of Thomas & Sarah (Maberry) Simpson of Fayette County, Indiana
July, 2009 – by Don Simpson
July, 2009 – by Don Simpson
Preface
A proper scholarly account should give footnoted documentary support for all claims. It has not been possible due to limits of available time to do that in this present treatment. Therefore the reader is cautioned to be aware that the data below has only occasional source citations. Time constraints prevent checking all sources of data, therefore the following surely must contain some error: caveat emptor, let the buyer (or in this case reader) beware! The information is drawn from the usual sources for genealogy and for the experienced researcher should be apparent without citation. Most of those sources were the federal censuses, the published abstracts of county marriage records, published cemetery records and such. In addition I have in some cases, copied data from “Family Trees” on Ancestry.com and the reader is probably aware that much in that source is not to be trusted for accuracy. Even so, some of those trees seem to be more trustworthy than the usual and contain good data that can be helpful and speed the process of finding records of individuals & families.Some of the families below have been relatively easy to document while others have required much searching and have been the source of much frustration. In some cases the census records of a family do not agree from one census to another and cause great uncertainty even when supplemented by other records. In other cases the vital & tombstone records are problematic. Despite all these, the descendants of this couple have generally left a host of good records that help in documenting their family history. This treatment does not attempt to find or recount all such records and hopefully some of the readers will have additional records that they will be willing to share. The author would appreciate receiving suggestions, corrections or additions to the following but be aware it may not be possible to post corrections or revisions with any promptness: I do work on many other genealogy projects unrelated to these people.
Origins.
Research to determine the origin and ancestry of Thomas Simpson, Sr., of early Fayette County, Indiana, has so far been unsuccessful. Evidence so far gathered is contradictory and of questionable accuracy. Nevertheless, certain pieces of information seem to be correct, in particular the identity of his wife and her origin, though her parentage is not certain.Thomas was married to Sarah Maberry (or Mabry) about 1793, though no marriage record is known nor the location where the marriage took place. One possibility is that it may have occurred in central or western North Carolina where some of the early marriage bonds have been lost. Discussion of Sarah’s possible origin and family are in a separate Maberry report (below).
Evidence for the origin of Thomas is taken from the 1880 census entries for their surviving children and from published biographical sketches of some descendants. Most of these sources agree that Sarah was born in Virginia (a few say North Carolina), but disagree as to Thomas’ birthplace. At least two of the children thought that Thomas was born in Maryland while at least two others thought he was born in Georgia. It is even possible that he was born in one of the Carolinas but it is not yet possible to be certain of any of these. It does appear that Dr. Solomon Simpson may have had a somewhat more detailed knowledge of his father’s origin, but his claim cannot yet be confirmed. He stated that his father was born in Georgia and that his grandfather had been a soldier in the American Revolution and had served under General Francis Marion. General Marion’s field of operation was in South Carolina where he resided, but since the force that he commanded was a kind of “Guerilla” force there are problems in trying to confirm service under his command. The mode of operation was for General Marion to call on volunteers to come to his command and after a battle or operation to disband, melting back into the countryside. Thus there were no known records or lists kept by the General or his officers. Later work by historians in South Carolina has resulted in lists of those for whom there are pay vouchers preserved at the state archive but those do not specifically state the command under whom the service was performed. Such lists that I have seen do not include any Simpson.
From the birthplaces of the children and from information in the biographical sketches of two sons, it appears that Thomas & Sarah were resident in North Carolina about 1794, then were in Tennessee for several years, then arrived in the southwest corner of Ohio about 1804 or 1805. From there they moved into what is now Jennings Township of Fayette County, Indiana, in about 1809. Fayette County was not created until 1819 so that the earlier records of them such as the marriages of the children, are found in the parent counties even though they probably occurred in what later was Fayette County. When they first moved into now Fayette County they were then in old Dearborne County which has lost some of it’s earliest records, especially the earliest land records. In 1811 Franklin County was created and they would have been in that county until 1819 when Fayette County was created. They did not move from the original farm in Jennings Township, but the county boundaries were changed by creation of new counties and that accounts for their appearance in records of those counties.
Thomas was buried in Little Simpson Cemetery in Jennings Township, Fayette County as are several of his descendants & their spouses. While there is no listing of a tombstone for Sarah she is probably also buried there. The published record of that cemetery is in “Old Cemeteries, Fayette County, Indiana,” by the Indian Hill Chapter, Daughters of the American Colonists, Connersville, Indiana [no publication date]. The record for him is: “Simpson, Thomas, First Settler on Simpson Creek Age 74 y, 13 da., 2-5-1848.”
The Children & their Families.
1. Tabitha (Simpson) Dawson.
The censuses of 1850, 1860 & 1870 are consistent in all listing Tabitha’s birthplace as North Carolina. Her tombstone in Whiteneck Cemetery, Pleasant Township, Grant County, Indiana, has “died Nov 26, 1874, age 80 years, 10 months, 22 days.” From that a birth date of 04 Jan., 1794, is calculated. She was married 26 March, 1818, to William Dawson. Since Fayette County, Indiana, was not created until 1819, the part they were resident in was still part of Franklin County and the marriage was recorded there.
At the 1820 census they were listed resident in Old Brownsville [now Waterloo] Township of Fayette County. Waterloo Township adjoins Jennings Township on the north and they were probably only a short distance from the farm of Thomas & Sarah (Maberry) Simpson which was in Jennings Twp.
A biographical sketch of their grandson, Isaiah Dawson, indicates that William & Tabitha were in Wayne County in 1826 when their son (Isaiah’s father), Nathan Dawson, was born. By the 1830 census they were in Rush County, Indiana, and sometime before 1840 they moved on to Grant County, Indiana.
William died in 1844 and is buried in Whiteneck Cemetery, Pleasant Township, Grant County, Indiana. Tabitha was listed in that township on the censuses of 1850, 1860 & 1870. At the 1870 census she was listed in the household of her son, John A. Dawson, but the biographical sketch of Isaiah states she died at the home of son, Nathan Dawson. Tabitha is also buried in Whiteneck Cemetery in Grant County. The cemetery listing is found in a DAR publication on Inidana Cemeteries and is on FHL microfilm #849,923.
The children of William & Tabitha Dawson, as known to me at present, were: Thomas, b. ca. 1819; Henry, b. ca. 1821; Garrison, b. ca. 1823; William, b. ca. 1825; Nathan, b. ca. 1827; Sarah Jane, b. probably ca. 1929; John A., b. ca. 1831; & Margaret, b. ca. 1836.
2. Nathaniel Simpson.
There are still several gaps in our knowledge of the family of Nathaniel & Morning (Ramsey) Simpson. Nathaniel was married in 1817 to Morning Ramsey and the marriage was recorded in Franklin County, Indiana, though it probably occurred in what is now Fayette County. The creation of Fayette County in 1819 was mostly out of old Franklin County with some out of old Wayne County. Marriages performed in what is now Fayette County in 1817 would have been recorded in one of the parent counties; in this case Franklin County. On the 1850 census Nathaniel was listed as age 57 but it seems more likely he was about age 55. That census entry has his birthplace as Indiana which is surely not so, and evidence from the census records of his children is conflicting and uncertain. Since Nathaniel’s sister, Tabitha, was recorded on three censuses as born in North Carolina, it is possible Nathaniel could have been born there also or perhaps in Tennessee.
Nathaniel & family were on the 1820 census in Delaware County, Indiana, and at the 1830 census in Shelby County, Indiana. Their location at the 1840 census was probably somewhere in Missouri but they have not been found yet on that census. At the 1850 census Nathaniel was living with a daughter & son-in-law in Atchison County, Missouri. Based on the listing of neighbors it appears they were probably in the northern part of Holt Township near the Iowa line. Nathaniel has not yet been found on later censuses nor on any death or cemetery record. Nothing is known to me about the death or burial of his wife, Morning (Ramsey) Simpson.
The children of Nathaniel & Morning known to me at present were: Thomas R., b. 15 May, 1820; Elizabeth, b. ca. 1822; Maria, b. ca. 1824; George W., b. 08 Feb., 1830; Nathan Powell, b. 28 April, 1832; Jesse Franklin, b. 28 April, 1834; John Keeny, b. ca. 1837; & Joshua, b. ca. 1839. In addition, several listings on Ancestry.com include three daughters, Ermilla, b. 1818; Sarah, b. 1818; & Sabetha Ann, b. ca. 1828, but for these three I have seen no record whatsoever. Nathan P. & Elizabeth remained in Atchison Co., MO, while the others moved elsewhere, Thomas R. & George W. to Bates Co., MO, Maria, Jesse F. & John K. to California, and Joshua I have not been able to trace. The middle names for Jesse and John are taken from the “Great Register of Voters” of San Joaquin County, California [FHL film #977,281].
2a. Thomas R. Simpson.
Thomas R. & wife, Casandra (Fulton) Simpson, had at least 8 children based on census records. Thomas & Casandra are buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Bates County, Missouri. Their children (as known to me at present) were: Cynthia Caroline, b. ca. 1841; Elvira, b. ca. 1846; Thomas C., b. ca. 1852; Sophia E., b. ca. 1854; James N., b. ca. 1857; Jefferson Davis, b. ca. 1861; Danna, b. ca. 1863; & Lee P., b. ca. 1868.
2b. Elizabeth Simpson.
Elizabeth was married in Missouri probably about 1842 (no marriage record known to me) to Samuel Clevenger. At the 1850 census they were in Atchison County, Missouri, Samuel as age 34, born MO, a teamster, and Elizabeth, age 26, b. IN. Living with them was Elizabeth’s father, “Nathan Simpson,” age 57, b. IN (sic., should probably be NC), also a teamster, and his younger Simpson children. That census lists two children for Samuel & Elizabeth Clevenger, a daughter, age 7, whose name is uncertain, and a son, George W., age 3, both born in MO. The 1860 census lists Samuel Clevenger as living with Benjamin & Maria (Simpson) Fugitt in San Joaquin Co., CA, but I have not found any listing of Elizabeth or the children. Nothing more is known to me about this family.
2c. Maria Simpson.
Maria was married in Atchison Co., MO, on 08 April, 1847, to Benjamin Fugitt. The 1850 census shows that their daughter Emily was born about 1848 in Missouri and daughter Elizabeth about July 1850 in Nebraska Territory. By 28 Sept., 1850, they were recorded on the census living at Diamond Spring, El Dorado County, California. Living with them was Maria’s brother, Jesse F. Simpson, age 16 (see below). Benjamin & Maria were listed on the 1860 census in Elkhorn Township of San Joaquin County, CA, and on the 1870 census in Liberty Twp., San Joaquin Co. I have not found them on the 1880 census though their son, John Fugitt, was listed then still in Liberty Twp. The children of Benjamin & Maria that are known to me at present were: Emily J., b. ca. 1848 in MO; Elizabeth, b. ca. July, 1850 in Nebraska Territory; Mary, b. ca. 1852 in CA; & John, b. ca. 1854 in CA.
2d. George W. Simpson
George was married first on 20 Jan., 1850, in Atchison County, MO, to Caroline Kinder and they had 4 children: Sarah, b. ca. 1851; Mary, b. ca. 1852; Benjamin, b. ca. 1854; & Nathaniel, b. ca. 1856. Caroline died about 1857 and George W. married second on 23 Feb., 1858, in Atchison County to Malinda Chapman. George & Malinda moved to Bates County where they had two sons, Thomas Benton Simpson, b. ca. 1859, and John Albert Simpson, b. ca. 1861. George & Malinda may have moved, shortly after the birth of John Albert, to Nemaha Count, Nebraska. When George enlisted in the Kansas Cavalry unit in July, 1863, the record says he was a resident of Brownsville, Nebraska.
George W. Simpson served during the Civil War as a private in Company G, 2nd Regiment, Kansas Volunteer Cavalry (Union). That regiment was mainly active in the area of northwestern Arkansas and northeastern Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). His service record says he “died of disease at Fayetteville, Arkansas” on 23 Nov., 1863. After George’s death Malinda married Ira Parker and lived in Nemaha County, Nebraska. At the 1870 census their household included her two Simpson boys, Thomas B. & John A. Simpson. Malinda Parker, later applied for a pension based on George’s service and as guardian of his children. I do not know what happened to the children of George’s first marriage.
2e. Nathan Powell Simpson was married in Atchison Co., MO, on 8 Jan., 1851, to Margaret B. Martin. They were listed on the censuses of 1860 through 1900 living in Polk Township of Atchison County. Most of their children remained in that area or in adjacent parts of Iowa and are buried in Cemeteries there. Nathan died 17 Feb., 1907, and Margaret on 3 May, 1904. Both are buried in Grange Hall Cemetery in Polk Twp., Atchison Co. Combining census and cemetery records it is possible to compile a list of the children in this family. Also, there is an excellent listing of the family by an anonymous contributor in “One World Tree” on Ancestry.com. That source has much data on the families of the children. It does err in listing David R. Simpson as a son when he was actually a grandson and son of George R. & Julia (Milsap) Simpson.
The children as known to me at present were: Francis Maria, b. 26 Dec., 1851, d. 01 Aug., 1906, buried in Grange Hall Cem.; Nathan Thomas, b. 30 Jan., 1853, d. 25 Oct., 1929, bur. Grange Hall Cem.; Marshall (known only from the listing on Ancestry), b. 25 July, 1854, d. 25 July, 1854; William Huston (also known only from the Ancestry listing), b. 26 July, 1855; George R., b. Jan., 1857 (at the 1910 census, George R., age 52, was living in Thayer Co., Nebraska, with his widowed daughter-in-law, Anna, widow of David R, and grandson, George, age10 months); Mary Catharine, b. Nov., 1859, d. June, 1919, buried Grange Hall Cem.; Jeanette B., b. 24 May, 1862, d. 1 Jan., 1936, in Page Co., Iowa; John Henry, b. 08 Dec., 1863, d. 30 March, 1934, in Freemont Co., Iowa; Susan Retta, b. 8 Nov., 1865, d. 20 Nov., 1952, bur. Grange Hall Cem.; Elnora, b. 10 Nov., 1867, d. 21 Nov., 1891; Charles M., b. 22 Dec., 1869, d. 4 Nov., 1941, Freemont Co., Iowa; Magetia (Maggie), b. 4 Jan., 1872, d. 28 April, 1882, bur. Grange Hall Cem.; James Albert, b. 24 March, 1874, d. 23 June, 1850, buried High Creek Cemetery, Polk Twp., Atchison Co., MO; Jessie Joseph, b. Dec., 1877, d. 11 April, 1939, Johnson Co., Iowa.
2f. Jesse Franklin Simpson was listed in his father’s household in Atchison Co., MO, when the census taker visited them on 26 Aug., 1850, though he may have already left home to join his sister & brother-in-law, Benjamin & Maria (Simpson) Fugitt on their trip to California. Jesse F. was listed again on the 1850 census on 28 September when the census taker in Diamond Springs, El Dorado County, California, visited the household of Benjamin & Maria (Simpson) Fugitt and listed him living with them. Benjamin & Jesse were listed with occupation as miners and since this area was part of the goldfields it is likely they had joined the Gold Rush to California and perhaps made the trip overland between July & the end of September.
Jesse was married in San Joaquin County, California, in 1854 to Sarah Jane Thompson, daughter of Bernard & Clarisa (Herriman) Thompson. At the 1860 census they were in Elkhorn Township of San Joaquin County and by 1870 they were living in the town of Stockton. On the 1880 census they were living in Jackson County, Oregon. There are several pedigrees in Family Files on Ancestry.com that include Jesse and most give his death as 1880 but that is probably because that is the last federal census that lists him. Jesse is mentioned in Jackson County Court records as having attended court in 1888 and was then living about two miles from the Jacksonville courthouse. I have seen no record of him after that date and it is likely he died between 1888 & 1900.
2g. John Keeny Simpson was married in San Joaquin County on 7 Nov., 1859, to Roxana Clark. On the 1860 census John K. & Roxana were living in Elkhorn Township, he was listed as age 23, born in Missouri, she as age 16, born New York. At the 1870 census John & family were still in San Joaquin County and John was listed as age 38, born Missouri. His wife was listed as Rosanna, age 31, also born Missouri. Presumably the ages on the 1870 census are wrong and Roxanna was there written as Rosanna. Their children on the 1870 census were Milton H., age 9; Lucy A., age 6; Maria, age 4; & Eliza, age 2, all born in California.
John is listed on the San Joaquin County Great Register where each years entry gives his full name, birthplace (Missouri) and residence within the county. The great registers for this county are preserved and available on microfilm from 1867 to 1898 with some years missing. Beginning in 1867 & up through 1877 he is listed in Liberty Township, then in 1880 he was in the Village of Acampo which is located just north of Lodi. By 1888 he was in Stockton and on the 1890 register he was no longer listed. The county death register [FHL film #1,845,025] lists the death on 13 Sept., 1890, of a John Simpson, age 55, male, married, “nativity unknown;” cause of death - accidentally run over; reported by Dr. Wm. S. Reade, Coroner. I think this is probably for John Keeny Simpson even though the age is about nine years too young.
2h. So far I have no information on what happened to Nathaniel & Morning’s youngest son, Joshua Simpson. He was listed on the 1850 census as age 10, born MO, in the household of his father in Atchison Co., MO.
3. Joshua Simpson (son of Thomas & Sarah Simpson).
Joshua was born about 1797 in Tennessee and died in 1845 in Wabash County, Indiana. He was married on 5 Aug., 1819, in Wayne County, Indiana, to Betsy Martin, b. ca. 1798 in Kentucky, d. 29 Sept., 1875, and is buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Chester Township, Wabash Co., Indiana. Sometime between 1830 & 1840 Joshua & Betsy moved from Wayne County to Wabash County settling in Chester Township.
After Joshua’s death, Betsy married second on 28 March, 1850, in Wabash County to George N. Neff. George & Betsy continued to live in Chester Twp. of Wabash County where they were listed on the censuses of 1850, 1860 &1870. Betsy was past childbearing age when married to George and all his Neff children were by his first wife.
The known children of Joshua & Betsy (Martin) Simpson were: Jesse H., b. ca. 1820; Aaron M. b. 18 Sept., 1822; George W., b. ca. 1825; James C., b. ca. 1827; Andrew H., b. ca. 1830; Rebecca A., b. ca. 1832; Sophronia H. b. 20 July, 1834; & Louisa, b. ca. 1836.
3a. Jesse H. Simpson was married on 7 April, 1847, in Whitley Co., IN, to Ann M., whose maiden surname is not known to me. Ann was a widow with three Swihart children, the two oldest having been born in Ohio, the youngest in Indiana. Sometime after 1853 Jesse & Ann moved to Iowa. They were listed on the Iowa State Census of 1856 living in Jefferson County, and were still in Iowa when their daughter, Frances T., was born in about Dec., 1859 or Jan., 1860. However, by July, 1860, they were living in Champaign County, Illinois, where they were listed on the US census living in the Village of Tolomo. They were still in that village at the 1870 & 1880 censuses. Jesse & Ann’s children based on the censuses of 1850 through 1880 were: Herbert E., b. ca. 1848; Willis P., b. ca. 1852; Jessie A. (female), b. ca. 1854; Frances T. (female), b. 1859 or 1860; & Lizzie T., b. ca. 1863.
3b. Aaron M. Simpson, b. 18 Sept., 1821, Wayne County, IN, d. 5 Aug., 1896, probably in Monroe Twp. of Kosciusko County, IN. He was married 14 Oct., 1849, in Wabash Co., IN, to Ann M. Hagmire or Hogmire, b. 10 Feb., 1823, in Maryland, d. 10 Jan., 1883. At the 1850 census Aaron & Ann were listed adjacent the household of his mother & step-father in Wabash County. On the censuses of 1860 through 1880 they were listed in Monroe Township of Kosciusko County. The “Combination Atlas Map of Kosciusko County,” published in 1879 by Kingman Brothers has a short biographical sketch of Aaron which stated that he was the first Justice of the Peace in Monroe Township. It also stated that he & Ann had been parents of five children of whom only one, daughter Olive, was still living (1879). The listing of their children is taken from census and cemetery records. They were: Irena, b. 7 Jan., 1851, d. 10 Feb 1860; Daniel J. Simpson, b.17 Feb., 1852, d. 18 Jan., 1876; Amelia B., b. 8 Feb., 1854, d. 22 Feb., 1860; infant daughter, b. & d. unknown; & Olive Prudence, b. ca. 1863. Though all this family probably died on their farm in Monroe Township, Kosciusko County, they are all buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Chester Township of Wabash County, Indiana.
3c. George W. Simpson was born ca. 1825, and was married on 17 Jan., 1847, in Wabash County to Caroline Johnson. On the 1850 census George & Caroline were listed in Wabash County adjacent his brothers Aaron and Jesse H. At the 1860 census they were living in Washington Township of Chickasaw County, Iowa. I have not found this family on the 1870 census but by the 1880 census they were in Beloit Township of Mitchell County, Kansas. I have not found record of this family after the 1880 census.
The children as listed on the censuses of 1850, 1860 & 1880 were: Amanda, b. late 1847; Ellen, b. 1849; Mary, b. ca. 1851; Sophronia, b. ca. 1853; Henry, b. ca. 1855; Betsy, b. ca. 1857; Ida, b. ca. 1861; Ernest, b. ca. 1863; William, b. ca. 1866; Herbert, b. ca. 1868; Katie, b. ca. 1873; & Hattie, b. ca. 1875.
3d. James C. Simpson was born ca. 1827, and was married on 6 Oct., 1851, in Wabash County to Martha Ann Hall. On the 1860 census they were living in Jenkins Township of Mitchell County, Iowa, and on the 1870 were in Ellis Township of Hardin County, Iowa. By 1880 they were living in Plum Creek Township of Mitchell County, Kansas. I do not have record of them after the 1880 census
The known children of James & Martha were: Elizabeth, b. ca. 1852; Susan, b. ca. 1854; Henry, b. ca. 1856; Sarah, b. ca. 1857; Joshua, b. ca. 1859; Andrew, b. ca. 1861; George, b. ca. 1863; John, b. ca. 1868; & Louisa, b. 1870.
3e. Andrew H. Simpson and his family have been the most difficult and confusing of all this Simpson clan to assemble, and there is much uncertainty in the following account. The reader should use it with caution. Andrew was born ca. 1831, and was married to his first wife, Nancy Darrow, daughter of James & Mary Darrow, on 19 Oct., 1851, in Wabash Co., IN. It is certain, based mostly on tombstone data, that they had the following children: Jane, b. 22 Aug., 1852, d. 6 April, 1871; Mary, b. ca. 1854 [based on age at 1860 census; no tombstone known]; Jasper, b. 13 April, 1856, d. 8 Feb., 1870; Newton, b. 17 April, 1858, d. 2 Dec., 1876; George, b. 23 Nov., 18?? [probably 1860; see below], d. 2 June, 1862. The transcription of the tombstone data for George is “George, son of A. H. & N. Simpson died June 2, 1862, age (3)-6-9.” The placing of 3 in parenthesis seems to indicate uncertainty in reading and probably should have been 2 (see discussion below of the 1860 census. These children, excepting Mary, are all buried in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Chester Township, Wabash County, Indiana. The recording of this cemetery is published in “Cemetery Records for Pleasant, Chester and Paw Paw Townships, Wabash County, Indiana,” compiled by Lester H. Binnie, 1970. Additional children of Andrew H. who were probably by Nancy were: Mary, b. ca. 1863; Ida, b. ca. 1866; Arthur, b. ca. 1867, d. 1920, Mitchell Co., KS; & Eva, b. ca. April, 1870.
This family was still in Wabash Co. at the 1860 census living next to Andrew’s mother & step-father, George & Betsy (Martin, Simpson) Neff, but the census entry is confused, listing Andrew as “Alonzo H. Simpson,” and his wife as “Eliza.” The children listed there are: Jane, age 8, Mary, age 6, Jasper, age 4, & Newton, age 2. George is not listed there and was probably born after the census was taken; presumably on 23 Nov., 1860. If the wife in this household was Nancy then there were additional children but if she was a second wife named Elizabeth then the children born after 1860 were her’s. Evidence that she was Nancy is the tombstone for son, George which says he was a “son of A.H. & N. Simpson.”
Some researchers on the Darrow family have listed on Ancestry.com that Nancy died 10 May, 1871, in Wabash County though I have not seen any record to confirm that. The 1870 census, taken on 21 July, adds to the uncertainty by listing the children without the parents and in listing all persons by initial rather than by name. These children were still living next to Andrew’s mother & step-father; the same location as at the 1860 census. The listing there was: “Simson,” J[ane]., female, age 18; N(should be M[ary], female, age 16; M(should be N[ewton], male, age 12; M[ary again?], female, age 7; I[da], female, age 5; A[rthur], male, age 3; & E[va], female, age 4/12.
I at first thought that the first Mary may actually have been the Mariah Simpson who was married to Louis Signs on 19 Oct., 1875, in Wabash County. This couple were listed living in North Manchester, a village in Chester Township, at the 1880, 1900 & 1910 censuses. However, a biographical sketch of Lewis Signs in a history of Wabash County states that his wife, Mariah was a daughter of a Richard Simpson. On the 1880 census Mariah indicated her father was born Ohio and on the 1900 that he was born Maine. Thus it is clear she was not a daughter of Andrew H. Simpson.
Andrew was married again on 19 Dec., 1871, in Wabash County to Mary L. Butler. Their children (as known to me at present) were: Fanny G., b. ca. 1872; Nellie M. [listed on the 1900 census as Hellen M., b. Aug., 1876], b. ca. 1876; & a daughter [listed on the 1880 census as unnamed baby (female), but on the 1900 census as “Mary A, daughter, b. April, 1877"] b. ca. 1877. It is unlikely that Andrew would have had more than one daughter named Mary living at the same time (even if by separate wives) so there may be much error in the listing of the children on the census records.
At the 1900 census Andrew, his last wife, & two daughters were listed in Beloit Township of Mitchell County, Kansas. Andrew’s second (or third ?) wife, Mary (Butler) Simpson, died 21 March, 1884, and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Beloit, Mitchell Co., KS. Andrew was married in Mitchell County to his last wife, Lydia Rickard, on 8 Oct., 1885. Andrew died there on 22 Dec., 1904, and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery.
3f. Rebecca A. Simpson was born 15 March, 1832, & died 12 March, 1877. She was married in Wabash Co. on 5 Nov., 1856, to Cornelius McPherson (b. 10 Sept., 1831, d. 28 Jan., 1886). One source on Ancestry.com seems to indicate that both were buried in Spring Creek Cemetery in Kosciusko County. Birth & death dates are copied from “Wise Roots” in Family Trees on Ancestry.com.
The children of Cornelius & Rebecca McPherson as shown on census records were: Samuel, b. ca. 1857; Mary E., b. ca. 1860; Emma R., b. ca. 1862; Oliver M., b. ca 1864; George W., b. ca. 1866; Isaac C., b. ca. 1868; Harriet, b. ca. 1870; Heber N., b. ca. 1872; & Anna L., b. ca. 1876.
3g. Sophronia H. Simpson was born 20 July, 1834 & died 23 May, 1856. She was buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Chester Township of Wabash County, Indiana. The birth date is calculated from the age at death as given on the tombstone.
3h. Louisa Simpson was born 24 Aug., 1836, and died 5 Aug., 1910, in Kosciusko County. She was married in Wabash County on 5 March, 1854, to Nelson B. Norris. Nelson & Louisa were on the censuses on 1860, 1870, &1880 in Monroe Township of Kosciusko County. At the 1900 census Louisa, a widow, was living in the town of Pierceton in Kosciusko County.
Based on census data, Nelson & Louisa Norris had the following children: Alice V., b. ca. 1855; Sophronia E., b. ca. 1857; Edgar W., b. ca. 1860; Jenny A., b. ca. 1864; Anna M., b. ca. 1866; & James W., b. ca. 1868.
4. Thomas Simpson, Jr.
A biographical sketch of Thomas & family was included in “History of Fayette County, Indiana,” published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, in 1885. In it he is called “Maj. Thomas Simpson, retired, Waterloo Township,” and his birth was given as 20 June, 1800, in Tennessee. It further states that he was married 2 Aug., 1826, to Joanna S. White, daughter of Joseph & Mary (Heaton) White. It does not say where they were married and I have not located that marriage record.
Thomas & Joanna are buried in Springersville Cemetery in Waterloo Township, Fayette County. From the data on their tombstones their births & deaths are: Thomas b. 20 June, 1800, d. 27 Aug., 1887; & Joanna, b. 2 Dec., 1805, d. 2 Jan., 1896. That cemetery record is published in “Old Cemeteries, Fayette County, Indiana.”
They were listed on the censuses in Fayette County from 1830 through 1880. On the 1880 census the birthplace of Thomas is given as Tennessee, for his father “born Maryland” & mother “born Virginia.” This agrees with the account in the biographical sketch in so far as the birthplace of the father but for the mother he there gave North Carolina. For Joanna it gives birthplace as Ohio, her father born Maryland, & mother born Pennsylvania.
The biographical sketch says that Thomas & Joanna were parents of eight children, “Three of them are now (1885) living: Nancy F. Thompson, Elizabeth W. Cris, and Mira M. Smalley. The deceased are Sarah E., Mary H., Cynthia A., Amanda M. and Salome.” The children’s data as known to me at present is based mostly on census, marriage & cemetery records and is as follows.
4a. Nancy F., b. ca. 1827, married 10 Sept., 1850, Fayette Co., to G. C. W. Thompson.
4b. Sarah E., b. ca. 1829, married 26 Aug., 1849, Fayette Co., to Oliver H. Fullen, probably died between 1850 & 1860, Hendricks Co., Indiana.
4c. Mary H., b. 29 Aug., 1834, died 15 Oct., 1868, buried in Springersville Cem., married 7 Oct., 1860, Fayette Co., to John H. Schriver [Schriber on marriage, but Schriver on censuses].
4d. Elizabeth W., b. ca. 1837, married 27 Dec., 1855, Fayette Co., to John M. Christ.
4e. Cynthia A., b. ca. 1839.
4f. Amanda M., b. unknown, probably died before the 1850 census.
4g. Mira M., b. 1844, d. 1927, buried in Springersville Cem., married 11 Nov., 1862, Fayette Co., to Edward M. Smalley.
4h. Salome, b. unknown, probably died before the 1850 census.
5. William Simpson.
William was born 20 July, 1802, in Tennessee, and died in Fayette County, Indiana, on 7 Feb., 1883. He is buried in the Little Simpson Cemetery, Jennings Township, Fayette County. He was married first to Sarah Turner in Fayette County on 11 April, 1823. The marriage record gives her name as Sarah Sutton but the biographical sketch of their son, Francis M. Simpson, says she was Sarah Turner, daughter of Amos & Sarah Turner. No Amos Turner can be found that matches her parents but an Amos Sutton was listed on the 1820 census near Thomas Simpson in Jennings Township. Other elements of the sketch of Francis M. Simpson exhibit errors and it seems more likely his mother’s maiden name was Sutton rather than Turner. Sarah died 21 July, 1843, and is buried in the Little Simpson Cemetery. William was married second to Ada Gabia (or Galey?) in Fayette County on 3 Nov., 1844. Ada died 2 Oct., 1886, and is also buried in Little Simpson Cemetery.
William & Sarah had 8 known children; John J., b. 30 April, 1824, d. 9 Aug., 1865, Grant Co., IN; William J., b. ca. 1828; Benjamin F., b. 4 Jan., 1830, d. 20 Feb., 1906; Thomas M., b. ca. 1832, d. 16 Jan., 1865; Sarah J., b. 01 March, 1834, d. 6 May 1834 [1833 fide tombstone but that is unlikely]; Elizabeth, b. possibly ca. 1836?; George W., b. ca. 1838; & Francis Marion, b. 15 Sept., 1840.
William & his second wife, Ada (Gabia or Galey?) Simpson had seven known children: Henry C., b. 30 April, 1846; Joshua T., b. ca. 1847; Lydia Jane, b. ca. 1849; Sarah E., b. ca. 1853; Nancy, b. ca. 1859; Daniel, b. ca. 1861; & Oliver P. Morton Simpson, b. ca. 1863.
The children of William & Sarah.
5a. John J. Simpson was married in Wabash County on 5 Dec., 1848, to Phelinda Leach who was born ca. 1830 in Ohio. By the 1850 census they were back in Fayette County, but soon thereafter moved to Pleasant Twp., Grant County, & lived near the Dawson & Sutton relatives. John died in 1865 & is buried in the Whiteneck Cemetery in Pleasant Twp. By the 1870 census Phelinda and the three surviving children were living just a few miles further north in the village of Somerset in the southwest corner of Wabash County. In 1880 as Filenda Simpson she was in Noble Twp., Wabash County with son Francis, age 18, & a daughter, Mary, age 9 (?).
Based on census and cemetery records their children were: William, b. 3 March, 1857, d. 11 Sept., 1864, bur. Whiteneck Cem., Pleasant Twp., Grant Co., IN; Eliza Emeline, b. 13 April, 1858, d. 4 April, 1877, bur. Whiteneck Cem.; Ada, b. ca. 1860; Francis (male), b. ca. 1862; & T. Minnie, b. 9 March, 1863, d. 11 Sept., 1864, bur. Whiteneck Cem.
5b. William Jackson Simpson was married to Sarah Fiant on 16 Sept., 1849, in Fayette County. At the 1850 census they were living in Fayette County next to John & Elizabeth (Simpson) Honeus, and with them were two Fiant women, presumably Sarah’s relatives. At the 1860, 1870 & 1880 censuses they were resident in Ervin Township of Howard County, Indiana.
Their children based on the census records were: Elizabeth H. A., b. ca. 1851; Francis A. (male), b. ca. 1857; Sarah Ellen, b. ca. 1859; William H., b. ca. 1862; & Marion T., b. ca. 1808.
5c. Benjamin F. Simpson, b. 4 Jan., 1830, d. 20 Feb., 1906, is buried in Little Simpson Cemetery, Jennings Township. He was married 31 Aug., 1851, in Fayette County to Melinda Jane Strong, b. 22 Feb., 1831, d.19 Jan., 1899, buried in Little Simpson Cemetery.
There is a biographical sketch of Benjamin on page 316 of the History of Fayette County published by Beers in 1885 (cited above). It states he was the son of William Simpson and that “he was married, August 31, 1851, to Jane, daughter of Richard and Susanna Strong, after which he learned the plasterers’ trade, which in connection with farming, he has followed twenty six years.” It further stated that he had fifteen children “and those now living are Frank, Nancy, Susan, Emma, Charley, John, Thomas, Alvah, Vincent G., Josephine, Rosa. The deceased are Mary, William D., Henry A. and Alice.”
The children based on the listing in the sketch, census, and cemetery records are as follows. Franklin, b. abt 1852; J. A. (daughter), b. 29 Oct., 1853, d. 25 Sept., 1854, [known only from the tombstone listing but possibly the daughter named in the sketch as Mary (?) among the deceased children]; William D., b. 2 Jan., 1855, 16 Jan., 1857; Nancy, b. ca. 1856; Susan, b. ca. 1858; Henry A., b. 2 Dec., 1860, 11 March 1875; Emma, b. ca. 1862; Adda, b. 1 Feb., 1864, d. 26 Aug., 1864 [possibly the Alice mentioned in the sketch?]; Charles, b. ca. 1865; John, b. ca. 1867; Alva, b. ca. 1869; Thomas O., b. 1871, d. 1923; Vincent G., b. ca. 1873; Josephine, b. ca. 1875; & Rosa, b. ca. 1879.
5d. Thomas M. Simpson, b. 8 April, 1832, d. 16 Jan., 1865. These dates are from the listing by Jes Simpson in Ancestry.com. The biographical sketch for his brother, Francis Marion Simpson, said his Thomas M. Simpson died of disease contracted in the army.
5e. Sarah J. Simpson, b. 1 March, 1833, d. 6 May, 1833, buried in Little Simpson Cemetery; known only from the cemetery record.
5f. George W. Simpson, b. ca. 1838. The sketch for Francis Marion Simpson says that George W. died of disease contracted in the army.
5g. Francis Marion Simpson, b. 15 Sept., 1840, was married
The children of William & Ada.
5h. Henry C. Simpson was born 30 April, 1846, died 28 May, 1896, buried in Springersville Cemetery in Waterloo Township, Fayette County. He was married 21 Dec., 1867, in Fayette Co., to Narcissa S. Monger who was born 4 June, 1845, d. 17 Aug., 1887, also buried in Springersville Cem.
5i. Joshua T. Simpson, b. 1847, d. 1924, married on 3 Sept., 1868, Fayette County, to Mary Elizabeth Spitler. Further data on this couple & their descendants is to be found in Jes Simpson’s Family Tree on Ancestry.com.
5j. Lydia Jane Simpson
5k. Sarah E. Simpson
5l. Nancy Simpson
5m. Daniel Simpson
5n. Oliver P. Morton Simpson
6. Sarah (Simpson) Sutton.
Sarah was born about 1804 in Ohio. Her death date is uncertain. A listing of this family on Ancestry.com by Stacy Cox gives her death as 1883 but without location or source citation. She was married in Fayette County in 1823 to Platt Sutton who was born in Dauphin County, PA, in 1795, and died in Grant County, Indiana, in 1864. He is buried in the Prickett Cemetery in Pleasant Township, Grant County. Sarah’s place of death and burial is not yet known to me.
On the 1830 census Sarah was listed as head of household living in Fayette County, Indiana, but by the 1840 census Platt was listed as head of household and living in Grant County, Indiana. On the 1850 & 1860 censuses they were living in Pleasant Township of Grant County.
Sometime prior to the 1840 census Platt & Sarah moved to Grant County, Indiana where they settled in Pleasant Township not far from where Sarah’s sister, Tabitha (Simpson) Dawson was living. Platt received a patent for a quarter section of land in Pleasant Township in 1849 but they probably were living on it long before the date of the patent.
The children of Platt & Sarah (Simpson) Sutton as known to me at present were: Sarah Jane, b. abt 1832; Elizabeth, b. ca. 1834; Thomas, b. 04 April, 1836, d. 5 Dec., 1869; Electa, b. ca. 1838; William H., b. ca 1840; Jessie P., b. 11 Dec., 1842, d. 6 April, 1848; John, b. ca. 1843; Amanda, b. ca. 1847; Nancy J., b. ca. 1850; & Mary E., b. ca. 1852. There were probably about three of four other children born 1824 to 1830 for whom I have no information.
7. John Simpson was born about 1807 in Ohio & died 1866 in Montgomery County, Indiana. He was married in Franklin County, Indiana, on 16 Aug., 1828, to Mariah Bastion who was born ca. 1809 in New York. They were probably the couple listed as John Simpson on the 1830 census of Franklin County but by the 1840 census they were listed in Crawfordsville in Montgomery County, Indiana. On the 1850 & 1860 censuses they were listed in Union Township of Montgomery County.
John & Mariah had no children of their own but from the censuses it appears they raised other children. On the 1850 census their household included David Laughlin, age 10; Josiah Sampson, age 10; and Susan Sampson, age 8. On the 1860 census Mariah is listed as Mariah C. Simpson and in the household were Susan Sampson, age 18, and John H. Sampson, age 1 year. John Simpson left a will in Montgomery County made & probated in 1866 in which he named his wife as “Christie Ann Maria Simpson,” and adopted boy, John Henry Simpson. On the 1870 census the household is listed as “Christian Simpson, female, age 61, b. NY; John Simpson, age 11, b. Indiana; Anthony Bastion, age 57, b. NY; & Henry Bastion, age 14, b. IN. I have not found any of these people on the 1880 census.
8. Henry Simpson
Henry Simpson was born 14 May, 1809, in Ohio, & died 27 Oct., 1858, in Fayette County, Indiana. He is buried in Little Simpson Cemetery, Jennings Township, Fayette County. He was married in Union County, Indiana, on 2 Feb., 1830, to Malinda E. Lemmons who was born ca. 1813, in Kentucky, died 30 Nov, 1891, and is also buried in Little Simpson Cemetery.
This couple were in Jennings Twp., Fayette Co., at the 1840 & 1850 censuses. Sometime after John’s death Malinda moved to Champaign County, Illinois where she was listed on the 1860 & 1870 censuses but by 1880 she was living with daughter Margaret back in Fayette County, Indiana. Malinda left a will in Fayette County which mentioned her children and some of the grandchildren as well at their location at the time of writing the will in 1891.
The children as recorded on the censuses, cemetery records, and in Malinda’s will were: Thomas L., b. ca. 1830; Jefferson, b. 21 Sept., 1832, d. 8 June, 1853, buried in Little Simpson Cem.; Sarah E., b. ca. 1835; James H., b. ca. 1837; Mary Jane, b. ca. 1839; Margaret E., b. ca. 1841; Robert D., b. ca. 1844; John A., b. ca. 1846; Tabitha A., b. ca. 1849; & Samantha J. who is known only from the cemetery record of Little Simpson Cemetery where she is listed as “Samantha J. daughter of H. & M. Simpson,” without dates.
9. Elizabeth (Simpson) Honeas.
Elizabeth was born 29 Sept., 1811, died 16 Aug., 1898, & is buried in Little Simpson Cemetery. She was married 24 Dec., 1835, in Fayette County to John Honeas who was born 11 Aug., 1811, died 6 Jan., 1886, & is also buried in Little Simpson Cem.
John & Elizabeth resided in Jennings Twp., Fayette Co., near her parents and are listed there on the censuses of 1850, 1860, etc. On the 1880 census Elizabeth was listed as born in Indiana, father born Georgia, & mother born Virginia.
Their children as listed in censuses and cemetery records were: William Henry, b. Jan., 1838, d. 16 Dec., 1914; Sarah Ellen, b. 4 April, 1841, d. 10 April, 1871, bur. Little Simpson Cem.; Thomas, b. ca. 1843; Peter, b. 13 May, 1845, d. 19 Dec., 1871, bur. Little Simpson Cem.; James B., b. ca. 1847; Mary E., b. Sept., 1849, d. 8 March, 1857, bur. Little Simpson Cem.; Nancy A. b. 18 July, 1851, d. 20 June, 1854, but. Little Simpson Cem.; & John, b. ca. 1853.
10. Jesse Simpson.
Jesse is mentioned as a child of Thomas & Sarah in the sketch of Thomas, Jr., (see above) but without further data. The only dates for Jesse that I have seen are those posted by Jes Simpson in his Family Tree on Ancestry.com, where he gives Jesse as born May, 1813, died 27 March, 1816. I have not seen the source of this information.
11. Solomon Simpson.
Solomon Simpson was born 15 Feb., 1815, & died 14 May, 1887, in Howard County, Indiana. He was married 15 Oct., 1835, in Union Co., IN, to Lovicia Conaway who was born 27 Feb., 1817, & died 5 April, 1876, in Howard County.
Solomon Simpson was a physician, farmer, & merchant in the Village of West Liberty in Union Township of Howard County, Indiana. The published work called “Counties of Howard and Tipton, Indiana, Historical and Biographical,” edited by Charles Blanchard and published by F. A. Battey & Co., Chicago, 1883, had a detailed biographical sketch which includes the listing of his children with their birth dates. Of special interest in the sketch is the following statement.
“Dr. Solomon Simpson, one of the prominent farmers and merchants of West Liberty, is the youngest of a family of eleven children born to Thomas and Sarah (Mabray) Simpson, natives of Georgia and Virginia, and of English descent. Thomas Simpson came to Indiana in 1809, and settled upon the creek now bearing his name, in Fayette County. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war under Gen. Marion, and he was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Simpson remained upon his farm, near Connersville, until his death in 1847. Dr. Simpson was born February 15, 1815, and was reared on the farm. At the age of twenty, he was married to Lovicia Conaway, born February 27, 1817, daughter of James & Sarah (Sparks) Conaway, natives of South Carolina, and of English descent. Shortly after his marriage Mr Simpson began the study of medicine, and soon entered into a practice which he continued for about forty years, twenty-five of which were spent in Rush County; he sold his farm in 1865, came to Howard County, and purchased 200 acres of land north of West Liberty, where he now resides.”
Their children were: Marilda J., b. 4 Sept., 1836; Mary H., b. 10 Jan., 1838; Daniel W., b. 19 Oct., 1839 or 1840 (?); Sarah A., b. 13 Dec., 1842; R. Henry Lee, b. 4 July, 1845; Marshal T., b. 28 Aug., 1847; John C., b. 2 Feb., 1851; James T., b. 18 Nov., 1852; Solomon Franklin, b. 23 Nov., 1854; Lovicia A. b. 8 July, 1857; & Nancy C., b. 18 June, 1859. The children’s births are given in the sketch cited above.
