Benton Co., AR - Biographies - William H. Simpson

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William H. Simpson, son of John and Rachel (Fite) Simpson, was born in 
Knox County, Tenn., October 26, 1830. The father was a native of 
Virginia, born in 1785, was reared in that State and came to Tennessee 
among the pioneer settlers of that State. He lived in Knox and McMinn 
Counties to the very exceptional age of one hundred and one years, 
retaining strength of both mind and body up to the last, and could 
ride on horseback to within a year of his death, which was caused by 
apoplexy, January, 1886. He was a farmer all his life. The mother was 
born in North Carolina in 1800, and died in McMinn County, Tenn., in 
1860. The father was a member of the Baptist Church eighty-five years, 
a member of the Masonic fraternity eighty years, and was probably the 
oldest Mason in the United States at the time of his death. The mother 
was also a member of the Baptist Church. They reared six children: 
Margaret, widow of a Mr. Monroe, of Tennessee, living on the old 
homestead; Andrew J., died during the war; Rebecca, who is living on 
the old homestead in Tennessee; Julia, wife of W. McKisey, and James 
M., who also resides on the old homestead in Tennessee. William H. 
Simpson remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age, and 
in January, 1855, he married Miss A. J. [p.893] Triplett, who was born 
in Tennessee in 1838, and who bore him seven children: Alexander N., 
William O., A., Tennessee (deceased), John L., Ollie A., Sterling P. 
and Mand. After marriage Mr. Simpson ran a wagon-shop in Tennessee for 
two years, and in 1856 he moved to Texas, where he remained until 
1866, when he came to his present farm, which is situated two miles 
from Siloam Springs, and consists of 280 acres 220 under cultivation. 
March 14, 1887, Mr. Simpson had the misfortune to lose his faithful 
companion. She was a member of the Baptist Church, as is also Mr. 
Simpson. He is a master Mason, having been a member of that lodge for 
twenty-eight years, and has always been a Democrat in his political 
views.