John P. Simpson Memoirs

Collection

Identifier: A-0091

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

These memoirs cover the time period 1837 to 1845 and tell of Indian fighting, horse stealing, raids of white settlements, and scalping and other atrocities on both sides. He describes life as it was in Fannin County under the constant terror of attack. Excerpts from the Memoirs were published in the 'Bonham News' in the 1880s. The collection is a typescript carbon made from a copy loaned to J. Evetts Haley by Ashley Evans of Bonham in 1933.

Dates

Publication: 1880

Creator

Simpson, J. P. (John P.) (Person)

Language of Materials

The collection is in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research.

Biographical or Historical Information

John P. Simpson was born on October 17, 1806 in Sumner County, Tennessee. In 1836 he came to Texas, settling near Fort Inglish. He was elected sheriff of Fannin County in 1839 and built the first jail there at his own expense. He built the first cotton gin and grist mill in Bonham, and donated land for the courthouse, business district, and a large residential area. In 1843 he was elected chief justice of Fannin County. Simpson devoted himself to reconstructing the history of Bonham and Fannin County and provided a number of historical articles to the Bonham News throughout the late 1870s and early 1880s. He died on January 13, 1884 at his home near Bonham.

"SIMPSON, JOHN P." The Handbook of Texas Online. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/SS/fsi23.html [Accessed Thu Jun 24 15:55:57 US/Central 2004 ]

Extent

0.10 Cubic Feet

Additional Description

Abstract

Memoirs relating mainly to Indian atrocities and retaliations in pioneer Texas (1838-1845), chiefly in Fannin County, by pioneer businessman, sheriff, land owner and county judge John P. Simpson.