From Proud Heritage, Volume I by DCPA, currently out of print.
Edward McGregor Simpson, Jr. is the son of Edward McGregor Simpson, Sr., who was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1907. Edward Senior was the son of Thomas Moore Simpson born in Marshall, Texas, in 1852 to Elizabeth Geils Dillard Simpson and Judge James Albert Simpson. After James Albert Simpson died, the widow, Elizabeth Geils Dillard Simpson, married Robert S. Rosser in Fort Smith, Arkansas, in 1856. It has been said by family members that Elizabeth and Robert Rosser came to Dallas perhaps in the early 1860’s. They brought the Simpson children by Elizabeth’s first marriage. These were J. B. born 1846; a daughter, “Mitt”, born 1854; Thomas Moore Simpson born 1852; plus at least one other boy.
The present Edward Simpson’s grandfather was Thomas Moore Simpson, already mentioned. His great grandmother was Elizabeth Geils Dillard Simpson (later Rosser). She was buried by her son, Thomas Moore, on the Simpson plot in old Greenwood Cemetery.
Thomas Moore Simpson was allowed by his mother to bring his own personal slave from Arkansas. Edward Simpson, Sr. remembered as a child seeing the old slave at his home, visiting his father in Dallas, probably in 1916. Thomas Moore was an early day engineer and farmer.
J.B. Simpson, Thomas Moore’s brother, was sent to Yale, according to reports of family members. He became a lawyer in Dallas and founded a prosperous law firm. He was known as Colonel Simpson and was editor of an old Dallas newspaper called The Herald, according to uncles of Edward Simpson, Jr., and the Dallas Historical Society. He (J.B.) was president of one of the early state fairs. A tall obelisk at Fair Park stands, showing on one side a list of business men of Dallas and on the other side a list of presidents of the State Fair. J.B is the first listed.
At one time in J.B. Simpson’s life, he lived on Simpson Street, named for him. There was a Simpson Circle at the Texas State Fair grounds. At another time, he owned the Simpson home located on Harwood at the southwest corner of Main Street.
“Mitt” Simpson, older sister of Thomas Moore Simpson and great aunt of Edward Simpson, Jr. (charter member of the present, reorganized Pioneer Club) was married to J. B. Adoue, Sr., founder of the National Bank of Commerce. “Mitt” Simpson Adoue seems to have been a philanthropic person. She lived at the corner of Maple and McKinney Streets for many years, where she owned property.
Another significant bit of information was that Elizabeth Geils Dillard Simpson Rosser and Robert S. Rosser had a daughter, Roberta Lee Rosser, who was the half-sister of Thomas Moore Simpson. She married Henry Coke in Dallas around 1884. She is buried on the Coke plot, Greenwood Cemetery. Later her son was buried beside her. He was Henry Coke, II.
The sixth generation of Edward Simpson Junior’s branch of the Simpson family is now living in Dallas. The lineage is as follows: Elizabeth Geils Dillard Simpson Rosser, Thomas Moore Simpson, Edward McGregor Simpson, Sr., Edward McGergor Simpson, Jr., Edward Junior’s niece, and her children.
By Mrs. Edward M. Simpson, Sr., Dallas
