The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-15

ucl and his younger brother, David, be-
gan work at once in a planning mill and
a glass factory. and their combined
earnings amounted to only sixteen dol
lars a month. With this their mother
kept the family together. In the year
1864 they moved to Il small place near
Philadelphia. known then as Tansboro,
hut which has since been changed 10
Wilson. Here with two other brothers,
David and John, the subject of this
sketch secured work in glass factory.
and in addition to his work in the glass
factory. Samuc! sold papers morning
and evening. This gave them an in
come of forty dollars month. In the
spring of 1865 the family moved to Fis-
lenville. n. j.. a little town of about 500
inhabitants, but now a beautiful hOr-
Ough of 400 inhabitants named Clay
ton.
In 1S6, Mrs. Simpkins married a Mr..
Aaron Daniels, but in three months af-
ter she was again left a widow. Mr..
Daniels died of apopleXy of the heart
and was buried on the tenth of April,
1867. From that time the children, five
in number, have been scattered i'm diff
ferent parts of the country and have
seen but very little of each other.
David went to Brighton, n. j.: Morris
to English Creek near Atlantic City;
and Anna, the only sister to Port Nor
ris. n. j. John and Samuel remained
at Clayton.
ON Sept. 13. 1871. Samuel was ap-
prenticed to the firm of Moore Bros,
To learn the glass blowers trade. on
December is he was converted and
joined the Trinity Methodist Episcopal
church in Clayton, under the PASTOR
ateShip of the Rev. George II. Kitchens.
In the following spring he was elected
superintendent of the Sunday school,
which position he held for eight consec-
utive years. On the twelfth of NOvem-
Der. 1872, he was appointed as class
leader for Young Peoples class. and
held the position while he remained
there. on January 3D. 1873, he was mar
ried to Mary f.. Jackson, of Clayton.
In the year of 1880 moved to Salem, N.
j.. and became member of the old his
toric Walnut street church. In 1889
was licensed to preach the gospel by the
Rev. f. f. Hill. presiding elder of the
Brighton district of the New Jersey
conference. He at once began to pre-
pare himself for this work, and after
five years of preparation was about
to become member of the New Jer-
sey conference when he decided that he
ould be unequal to the requirements
Of the charge. He therefore secured
position in the glass factory at Hawley,
this state, and began work at his trade.
In February, 1885, Rev. j. V. Newell,
pastor of the Methodist Episcopal
church at Hawley and member of the
Wyoming conference, without consult
ing Rev. Mr.. Simpkins, recommended
him, with the concurrence of the quar-
terly conference, to be admitted to the
travelling connection as a member Of
the Wyoming conference, and on April
IS. 1883. he was admitted to the confer
ence at Oneonta. and he has served the
following charges: South Canaan. two
years; Moscow five years. and is now
serving his second year at the Peckville
First Methodist Epso opal church.
Rev. Mr.. Simpkins is an eloquent
preacher: is liberal. genial and COM
panionable, and Is popular as a pro-
gressive citizen as we'll as clergyman.
The membership of the Peckville church
has largely increased during his term
as pastor. and as he is in the prime
of vigorous manhood a life of useful
ness is doubtless before him.