Robert Lee Simpson, my grandfather and William's first child, born on September 15, 1866 married Rose Ella Sherron on November 27, 1887. Grandpa bought 52 acres from the Aaron Simpson heirs in 1887 and built a home. The deed records show that during the time between 1887 and 1918 he acquired some 90 acres of land, 11 acres being a portion of the William Simpson property acquired in May of 1918.

The original house that Grandpa and Grannie built was destroyed in the tornado of 1925, but the house that was rebuilt still stands today on Mt. Vernon Road. It was remodeled by Lynn and Terry Pitts who bought the property in July of 1989. Recently, the property was sold by the Pitts into five acre tracts.

The tornado of 1925 was a terrible catastrophe and touched the lives of many families in the community. Grandpa was injured and never really recovered. Grannie and Aunt Rosie, their youngest daughter and the only child at home, sought shelter in a ravine behind the house. A large rock hit Grannie in the top of her head, leaving a large scar from the injury. Their oldest daughter Willie Holmes and her husband Charles were both killed. Each of their three children living at home were injured. Their home was down the hill from Grandpa's home. It seems that Grandpa held on to a post and managed to survive the horror of the storm. There are so many stones concerning the storm....Irma Holmes McFadden, one of the surviving children has a terrible scar on the calf of her leg where a stick went completely through her leg. My Mother and Daddy had gone to work in Indianapolis, Indiana for the winter. Times were really difficult and they sorely needed the money. Uncle Charlie Durham and Aunt Mattie moved in the house along with their children. Selma Durham Nixon remembers vividly the day the storm came through... .It was an event that is remembered today by many people. When this devastating thing happened to our family, Mother and Daddy came back to the farm and never left again.

Grannie Ella and Grandpa Bob had a large family, also. However, only six of their thirteen children lived to adulthood. There were seven little boys who either died at birth or soon there after. There are seven markers in the Mt. Vernon Cemetery where the children are buried.

Their children were:

Willie born October 12, 1988 Died March 18, 1925 married Charlie Holmes
Children: Ida, Delbert, Irma Dewey and Bertha

Eva Susan (Susie) born November 17, 1890 Died Jan. 1963 married Willie Hunter
Children: Miller Carson, Janice and Parson

Gertrude born April 13, 1895 died August 13, 1975 married Alva Asariah Martin
Children: Artice and Edith

Alvie born September 27, 1902 died January31 1985 married 1) Cass Fisher
Children: Sarah, Cletis, Oneida, Eddie
Married 2) Wally Fletcher

Jessie born Oct. 31, 1897 died May 25, 1955 married 1) Edith Presnell
Children: Pete and Yvonne
Married 2) Eva Dempsey
Children: Sonja

Rosalea Born Feb. 10, 1916 died October 1997 married Vernon Parrish
Children: Dowell and Larry

Grandpa Bob died on April 19, 1930 and is buried in the Mt. Vernon Cemetery. After his death, Grannie lived on at the farm with Aunt Rosie, the youngest daughter, until she was married in November of 1930. After her marriage, Grannie lived in the house until it was sold in 1947. During that time she had different families who lived with her, one being my cousin Harold Martin and his family. She would spend the summer months at the farm and with the daughters who lived in Tennessee and then would go to Indiana and stay with the children there since their houses were warmer for the winter.

Grandpa was a very good carpenter and helped build many houses in the community. Charles Ray Durham remembers that he help build the Mt. Vernon School in 1920, and I know he helped build our house here at the farm. I have his nail box and hammer at Heritage Acres. Just recently, when Janice and Robert Reddick, a granddaughter, had to go to the nursing home, Robert was kind enough to let me have Grandpa's beautiful big rocker to keep at Heritage Acres.

Joe and I were married in March of 1950, and Grannie was able to attend our wedding. She went to Crawfordsville to spend the winter with Aunt Alvie and family and died there on October 3, 1950. She is buried in Mt. Vernon Cemetery.

I was so fortunate to have grown up knowing my aunts, uncles and cousins. All of our families were very close and compatible. Some of my fondest memories are centered around visits from the families who lived in Indianapolis. Today, we remain a very connected family.

When Uncle Jesse died in 1955, our Simpson line came to an end, since he did not have a son. I treasure the heritage that the Simpson name has given me and trust that in years to come, my descendants will look upon this document and appreciate the fact that they, too, are a part of this great Simpson name.

Go to Aaron Sanford Simpson Family Album Entry

Go to William Simpson Family Album Entry

Return to Sumner County, TN Family Album