ROBERT EDWARD SIMPSON Hon. Robert Edward Simpson, register in chancery for Lauderdale county, Ala., was born on a farm in that county on the 23rd of November 1871. He is the son of Preston Simpson and his wife, Catherine Jackson. Preston Simpson was born in a farm in Madison County AL and has followed farming most of his life. He enlisted during the war as a private in Colonel Malone's regiment, the 8th Ala. Cavalry, Capt. John Lester in command. That regiment was a part of Wheelers' command, and he was with it two years. He and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, in which he is an elder. He is 62 and his wife 57 years of age; both are well and favorable known pioneers of the county. Retiring from active work, they are now residents of Florence; four children have been born to them; Mattie C. a teacher of high standing and qualifications in the Alabama Agricultural school at Hamilton; she has taught very successfully in other schools and is a charming lady; she is a graduate of the State Normal college of Florence; the second is Paul, a United States railway postal clerk, who runs between Chattanooga and Memphis; Preston Jr., is in the real estate and insurance business at Memphis; and Robert Edward. Preston Simpson was the son of John and Cassa (Capshaw) Simpson, being one of seven children born to that worthy couple; he and two sisters survive; Preston, Robert and William Simpson, three brothers, enlisted at the same time in the same regiment, the two latter dying within a few days of each other from the ravages of an epidemic that visited the regiment while in Mississippi in 1862; Robert was about 23 and William 19 years of age at the time. Catherine Jackson was the daughter of A.E. Jackson and his wife Cynthia Phillips, who lived in Lauderdale County, Ala. Her father was a native of Virginia, but moved to Alabama with his parents when a child; Catherine was one of 12 children, of which number there are eight surviving. Robert Edward Simpson was educated at the State Normal college of Florence, graduating in the class of 91. He taught very successfully for several years, and then studied law, being admitted to the bar by the supreme court of Virginia in February 1896, returning to Florence soon after. He was admitted to practice here, but read law several years, going into the office of Simpson and Jones, one of the leading law firms of Florence. He has since practiced under his own name and without a partner. Mr. Simpson enlisted as a private in the 3rd Alabama infantry, National guard, Company B, June 1, 1896. He was commissioned second lieutenant of the company April 12, 1898 and May 1, 1898 he was commissioned second lieutenant in the First regiment, Alabama volunteer infancy and and severed through the Spanish American war. The Regiment was in camp mostly at Miami FL. He was commissioned captain of Co B, 3rd Inf. AL Regiment, National guard Nov. 29, 1899 and June 2, 1902 was commissioned major of the same regiment. The 3rd Alabama regiment National Guard was the first Alabama regiment to volunteer after war with Spain was declared and was called the First regiment of US volunteer infantry. Major Simpson was elected to the legislature for the session of 1900 - 01, and served on the ways and means, the military and the mining manufacturing committees. He was not a candidate for re-election as he desired to return to his office and resume the practice of law. He has been a continuous practitioner of Florence ever since, and has an excellent practice. He was appointed register in chancery in January 1903 and is county guardian for Lauderdale. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson are members of the Presbyterian church. He is also a member of the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and of the Woodmen of the World, and has passed through all the chairs of the latter order. He was married Nov. 12, 1901 to Katie McFarland of Florence. She was the daughter of the late Capt. Robert McFarland and his wife, Mrs. Kate McFarland, who lived at Florence AL for many years; Captain McFarland was an attorney of Florence and a Confederate soldier, now deceased; his widow is a resident of Florence. Mrs. Simpson died Oct. 10, 1902 aged 22 years. Major Simpson is well read in law, is enthusiastic and energetic and is numbered among the rising young lawyers of northern Alabama. He is hospitable, genial and courteous and has received many tokens of preferment from his friends as his rewards. He comes from good old pioneer families of Alabama. Notable Men of Alabama/ 1904 / Joel Campbell DuBose * * * * * Robert Edward Simpson, son of Preston Simpson and his wife Catherine Jackson Simpson was born near Florence, Lauderdale County, Alabama, November 23, 1871. His grandfather and grandmother were John Simpson and Cassia Capshaw Simpson, who came from Virginia to Alabama settling in Limestone County near Athens, there being eight children in the family, four of whom were lawyers. His mother Catherine Jackson was a daughter of A. E. Jackson and Cynthia Phillips Jackson. The parents of A. E. Jackson also came from Virginia to Alabama in 1800 settling near Florence. Preston Simpson, the father of Robert Edward Simpson, enlisted in the 8th Alabama Cavalry Capt. John Lester’s Company, of the Confederate States of America, with Colonel Malone in command, and served until the close of the Civil War. Robert Edward Simpson grew up on his father’s farm near Florence, attending the common schools until he entered the state normal college at Florence, graduating in the class of 1891. After teaching school several years he went to Richmond, Virginia, where he studied law and was there admitted to the bar in February, 1896. In the summer of 1896 returning to Alabama, he was there admitted to practice law. Soon thereafter he enlisted as a private in the Spanish-American War in Company B. 3rd Alabama Infantry, National Guards. On May 1, 1898, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in Company B in the same regiment, serving throughout the war. After the close of the Spanish-American War, he was commissioned as Captain of Company B, 3rd Alabama Regiment, National Guards, and in June, 1902, was commissioned Major of the same regiment. He was elected to the Alabama Legislature, session of 1900-1901, serving on the following committees: Ways and Means, Military and Mining and Manufacturing. He did not seek reelection but returned to the active practice of the law. In 1905 he removed to Chicago, Illinois, where he engaged in the practice of the law for about three years. From there he came to Oklahoma in 1908, settling at Tulsa. Remving from there in 1911 he settled at Henryetta being elected City Attorney in 1912, and County Attorney of Okmulgee County in 1914, and reelected as County Attorney in 1916. In 1917 the Legislature having created a Superior Court for Okmulgee County he was appointed by Governor R. L. William as Judge of said court. Serving out the appointive term he was reelected for a full elective term. Having served out a part of the elective term he resigned to resume the ’active practice of the law, forming a partnership with R. B. F. Hummer and R. L. Foster under the firm name of Simpson R Foster with offices at Okmulgee and Henryetta. This partnership was dissolved in, 1923, Judge Simpson continuing alone in the practice of the law at Okmulgee until his death on August 17, 1929. He is buried at Courtland, Alabama. On October 2, 1911, he was married to Miss Caroline Harris of Courtland, Alabama. Two sons born to them, Robert Edward, Jr., on February 4, 1914, and Jack Harris on April 8, 1916. His widow and his two sons survive him, as well as his aged father and a sister and a brother. He was a member of the Masonic Order and Knights of Pythias, holding his membership in both lodges in Florence, Alabama, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at Okmulgee and a Democrat. He served his country in war and peace faithfully and ably and leaves a heritage of a life well lived. Source: Fred E. at Rootsweb World Connect - http://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v007/v007p487.html p. 493