The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Benjamin F. Simpson killed in Cass count.

http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/miami/obituaries/1910s/WS1916.html
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Obituary of B. F. Simpson. Information provided by Marc Doty, mdcdoty@indy.rr.com, 21 April 2007. (Reference: The Western Spirit, Paola, Miami Co., Kansas, Friday, August 18, 1916, page 3, transcribed from the Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, KS, microfilm roll P59)

Note: This obituary is two and a half columns, or 15 paragraphs in the newspaper - with a photograph that takes two columns. Much has been omitted in this transcript. Summarized:

- He enlisted in Co. C, of the Fifteenth Kansas Cavalry, was promoted to Major.

- He was elected to the House of Representatives in Topeka, served as Speaker, and later chosen to the state senate.

- In 1878 he was appointed to the position of United States Marshal for the district of Kansas.

- He was appointed to the Kansas Supreme court commission in 1886, and later became a member of the supreme bench.

"Honorable B. F. Simpson Dead. - A Kansas character without an equal, in many ways, has gone to take its place in the state's history. Ben Simpson died at his home in Paola August 10, 1916, age 80 years, 4 months and 17 days. He was born in Belmont county, Ohio, March 24, 1836.

Mr. Simpson landed in Kansas a few months after his 21st birthday, and at once began to take part in the affairs of the border. From Ohio he made the trip with Wilson Shannon, who was appointed governor of Kansas Territory by James Buchanan in 1857. Shannon was a Democrat and Simpson's father was a Democrat, but when Ben arrived on the scene he at once espoused the Republican cause. After a few weeks at Lecompton and Lawrence, young Simpson came to Paola. On the way here he overtook William R. Wagstaff, another Ohio boy who came to cast his fortunes with the West. The two reached Paola about the same time, Simpson 21 and an ardent Republican: Wagstaff 24 and an ardent Democrat. The friendship formed in these early days continued to the end. They were law partners many years and afterward became brothers-in-law, marrying sisters.

While the county Lykins, as Miami was then called, needed a prosecuting attorney to look after the border outlaws, there was scarcely enough work to keep up the office. Simpson was chosen and served. A year later he was elected to the legislature and later still he was a delegate to the Wyandotte constitutional convention that framed the constitution under which the territory ended its existence and became a state in January, 1861.

On the 15th day of March, 1863, Mrs. Augusta Burford and Benjamin F. Simpson were married in Paola. Mrs. Simpson was the widow of Lewis Burford, and had one son, William, who, by the way, died about two years ago. To Mr. and Mrs. Simpson were born five sons and five daughters. Sue, the eldest daughter, died in infancy; Mattie, in 1885, and Emma in 1888. With their mother, the others are living. Frank Simpson's home is in San Francisco and Benjamin F., Jr., lives there, too. Richard Simpson resides in Kansas City, Missouri; James is in Butte Montana, and Don lives in Winnipeg, Canada. Miss Carrie Simpson is a member of the film censor board with headquarters in Topeka, and Augusta lives with her husband W. E. Brelsford, in Topeka. There are also two grandchildren, Francis J. Simpson, of San Francisco, and LaRiene Brelsford, of Topeka. Mrs. Simpson will continue to live in Paola for some time. Her sister, Mary J. Wagstaff, died in New York some ten years ago, and her two nieces - Miss Lillie Torrey Wagstaff and Mrs. Lillian Kemp - are residents of New York City, their home being Holland House.

The funeral service at the Methodist church in this city was brief. There was a hymn, a prayer by Dr. O. B. Thurston, a short sermon by Rev. G. W. Braden, followed by the journey to the cemetery. This was at four o'clock on Saturday afternoon. August 12th, 1916. No trappings of pomp or glory were in evidence. A silk flag half enshrouded the casket, from which the sword and flowers were removed. Don Brown stepped to the head of the grave with his bugle, and "taps" reverberated above the low rumble of an approaching train down the valley, floating over the trees to John Brown's Lookout in the distance. Dust to dust was softly said, and the Genius of Kansas was given back to earth. "

[Note: Page 143 of Marriage Record Book 1, Miami Co., Kansas, is March 15, 1862, not 1863. ]
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http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/civilwar/Benjamin_F_Simpson.htm

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BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SIMPSON

The Topeka Daily Capital, Pg. 1 & 12, Friday, Aug. 11, 1916

Died: Aug. 10, 1916
B. F. SIMPSON, AFTER 60
YEARS’ PUBLIC LIFE, DIES
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Paola Man First Attorney General
Of Kansas.
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Career as Soldier, Statesman and Attorney
Made Him Prominent
Figure---Speaker of House.
Special to The Capital.

Paola, Kan., Aug. 10---Benjamin Franklin Simpson, Kansas pioneer, statesman, soldier, and the first attorney general of Kansas, died here at 6 o’clock this evening. Death followed an illness of less than one week.

Mr. Simpson was 81 years old and had spent most of his life in Kansas coming here in 1855. He had taken an active part in the political life of the state since it was admitted to the union. Much of his leisure time in late years was spent in writing articles which were invaluable contributions to the history and literature of Kansas.

Mr. Simpson was born in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1836. After receiving an academic education he began the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1857. He came west the same year and opened an office at Paola. The next year he was u county attorney of Miami county. From that time on his time was given largely to the service of the public.

Few men have been more intimately connected with the history of Kansas than Mr. Simpson. He was chairman of one of the most important committees at the famous constitutional convention at the famous constitutional convention at Wyandotte in 1859. He was the first attorney general of the state, having been elected when the state was admitted to the union in 1861. He resigned this office the following July to enlist in the Union army. His military career covered four years and three months, during which time he served with distinction as captain and major of the Fifteenth Kansas cavalry.

Served in Both Houses.

When the war was over he was elected to the state senate. In 1870 he was elected to the house of representatives from Miami county and was speaker of the house during the session of 1871.

Twice he was sent to the national convention of the Republican party and held various committee memberships. He was again elected to the state senate in 1876 and served as chairman of the judiciary committee. He was a member of the committee appointed by the supreme court of Kansas to revise the statutes of the state in 1877.

President Hayes appointed him United States marshal in 1878, an office he held for eight years. Because of his ability as a jurist, Gov. John A. Martin appointed him on of the supreme court commissioners authorized by the legislature of 1887. Since the dissolution of the commission, Mr. Simpson had been engaged in the practice of his profession at Paola.

Two Daughters in Topeka

The surviving members of the family are Mrs. Simpson, two daughters and five sons all of whom were present when death came. They are Mrs. W. E. Breisford and Miss Carrie Simpson of Topeka; Frank, and Benjamin Jr. of San Francisco; James of Butte, Mont.; Don, of Winnepeg, Canada; Richard of Los Angeles, Cal.

The funeral will be held Saturday morning from the Methodist church at Paola.
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Gay

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