Transcript of the obituary of James A. Simpson as published in the Phoenicia Herald Vol. 1. No. 15 on January 25, 1890

Note:  this is from a very fragile original with a crease in the middle of one of the columns causing a loss of some of the worlds. It also understates by two years the death of his father which was in 1830 not 1828.  The Corner was the old name for the hamlet of Mount Tremper in Ulster County, New York..

James A. Simpson at Rest.

The funeral of James A. Simpson, who died at his residence in this village on Thursday, January 16, 1890, was held in the M.E. Church on Sunday at 11 AM and his remains were intered (sic) in the cemetery at The Corner. The deceased was the son of Peter Simpson, and was born at Dalkeith, Scotland, Sept. 23d, 1816. In the year 1819 Peter Simpson came with his family to America and located at Lexington, N.Y. where He died in 1828 (sic) when James A., the subject of this sketch was but twelve years of age, from which time he was compelled to care for himself; thus it can be truly said he was a self-made man, surmounting every difficulty and achieving success. He attended the district school at Lexington until the death of his father; shortly thereafter he came to the town of Shandaken to work for his brother-in-law, Robert Humphrey, who was then tanning at Big Indian, at the place now owned by Thos. Wey. He remained there until about 18 years of age, when having saved enough money to pay tuition and board he walked to Kingston and attended the Kingston Academy for two terms, at which time he returned to Big Indian for a couple of years, and by hard work and economy, managed to procure funds enough to carry him to Scotland, and while there planted a suit against certain parties for recovery of property belonging to his father, which carried through the courts for 20 years to a successful termination. Returning to Shandaken after an absence of about one year he formed a copartnership with Mr. Newkirk and purchased the tannery formerly operated by Col. Sheppard, located at the mouth of the Woodland valley, and subsequently purchased Mr. Newkirk’s interest and conducted the business himself until 1872 when he was compelled to bring business to a close on account of the scarcity of bark.

He held many positions of trust, being one of the original trustees of the Reformed church at The Corner; represented his town as supervisor in 1852 and also Deputy Internal Revenue collector for this section in 1853. All the positions he filled w___ and honor to himself and the c___e satisfaction of the people. With indomitable will, rarely so well possessed, Mr. Simpson continued to develop the section in which he lived, building many houses, clearing the forest and conducting a store, all of which was under his personal supervision. His life was a busy and eventful one. __the outset of his manhood he had __edness of purposes which was characteristic of him, when he devoted himself to the accomplishment of anything there was no such word as fail. He was a man of strong convictions, of __gging industry and remarkable p___rancy. There are few such men in any community. With strong constitution, a well balanced head, large proportions and a wonderful memory used to such a determined will to succeed in life, Mr. Simpson has left a record worthy of emulation. Kind to the poor, good to his workman, honest to a cent, liberal when just, he was also exacting when wronged. He gave to others that which he claimed A (sic) doer of generous deeds (does.) he has reached the silent haven that all the deceased have reached and where the voyage of every life must end. He knew his work was done yet he bravely awaited the approach of the messenger to summons him to that other shore from which no traveler returns. Kind words can pay attribute to the man who was turned aside neither by envy nor slander, nor scorn, nor fear. He did that which to him was right. The highest __momium that can be pronounced on any man is to testify to his fidelity to d___.

Until within a few weeks of his death he had attended to his duties and although in failing health on account of heart failure his tremendous will power alone sustained him. He fought a gallant fight to the last and death only conquered, three years after he had passed the age allocated to the life of a man. The large throng of his fellow citizens who were present at his funeral attest the high esteem in which ______ ery of woe but the real, earnest manifestations of a people’s sorrow at his death, and of sympathy at his bereaved family. The great I___er who has garnered so many of our  “old land marks” in the past two years and before whose unerring sickle must all sooner or later fall; when It comes to us may each be prepared to leave behind us a record as pure and unsullied. In his home his loss will be severely felt, as he was a most kind and devoted husband and indulgent father. He leaves a wife, two daughters and two sons, also four sisters, Mrs. Casper Decker, of Elmira, Mrs. Geo. Cross, of Pine Hill, Mrs. Benj. Winne, of Kingston and Mrs. C.C. Winne of this Village to mourn his departure.

The January 20th, 1890 bill for his funeral was $75.