The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-04-25
The AeOlian.
Memoir.

Memoir.
The following memoir of Simeon
Simpson was read at his funeral, by
Rev. M. Redskey:
The subject of this sketch was born
in~Warren county, Ohio, near Lebanon,
February 13, 1916. His death occurred
at very early hour on the 18th of
April, 1896, at which time he was 70
years, l month and 20 days old. When
q young man he came to Leesburg and
began business at his chosen occupation,
that of q tailor.
In the spring of 1912, he united in
marriage with Martha Butler. Except
ing eight years, which were spent on q
farm in Clinton county, they have lived
in Leesburg since their marriage.
Seven children were born in their
family. Three died in infancy, and
four remain to mourn the loss of their
father, and to comfort and bless the
mother in her bereavement. For many
year9 they bad been keeping hotel. The
generous hospitality which the house
dispensed made it deservedly popular
with the travelling public. Something
over year ago, the infrmities of age
and his feeble health compelled the
retirement of Mr.. Simpson from public
life. He leased the house and removed
to his private property, where his re.
naming months were spent in the quiet
enjoyment of domestic life. He was the
Oldest citizen of our village.
He has been identified with the town
and its various enterprises longer than
any man in it. He was good citizen,
an upright man, and emphstically a ma
of peace. He was from early life, iden.
titled with the Universalist Church, and
held his membership at Blanchester at
the time of his death. The Society
having gone down here many years ago,
he was deprived of the fellowship of his
brethren, and the privilege of attending
divine worship with them. He was an
excellent neighbor, and, from the social
walks Of life, he will be greatly missed.
Brother Simpson was one OF the oldest
Masons in Highland county, and the
last surviving charter member of Lees.
burg Lodge No IS. The record shows
that he was initiated an Entered Ap.
prentice in Hillsboro Lodge, Sept. 81,
1889. Passed to the degree of Fellow
Graft, Oct. II, 1889, and raised to the
sublime degree of a Master Mason Nov.
16, 1889. By this record we see that
for fifty five years and six months, he
has squared his life by the "moral
CODE" which to we'll informed Mason
means more than an outward conform.
ity to the rules OF the order.
"For modes of faith let graceless zeal.
OTIS fight. His can't be wrong whose life
in the right"
His zeal for the cause of Masonry was
manifest in the interest he took in the
organization of Leesburg Lodge, No. 78
In the fall of 184l he rode on horseback
all the way to Circleville to procure the
dispensation under which this Lodge
was instituted. His horse foundered
and gave out on the way. He left him
with farmer, and procuring another
proceeded on. Returning, he found the
horse had sufficiently recovered to be
able to bear him home again.
Enough "reminiscences could be gather.
ed from friends and neighbors to fill Z
volume. But time and space will moi
permit their use on this occasion.
The closing months of Brother Simp
sons life we're months Of suffering and
pain He bore 1t all with patience and
fortitude. On Tuesday before his death
he spoke to his faithful wife about the
condition of his health and expressed
the belief that he would not recover
This was the only reference he made te
the subject Of his departure.
TO family and neighbors and iriendi