Benjamin Franklin Simpson married Eliza Odom Farver / Tarver
Contributed by Wanda Snyder
Benjamin Franklin Simpson, came to Missouri in 1841, and settled on a farm about one mile north of
Independence, but in 1846, he removed to Independence, where he later became one of the principal merchants.
He was tall, had blue eyes and florid
complexion, was quiet and undemonstrative, but of determined character, it is said
that he never entered into a contest of any nature that was not carried through
to the end.
He had a passion for fine horses, and
often to the disappointment of his godly wife, he would don the ruffled shirt,
stock and his best coat, and leaving her to different meditations, spend the
afternoon at a trial of speed between the best horses of the State, he owned at
this time the fastest horse in Missouri, he called her "Kate
Simpson," in later years however, he disposed of all his racing stock, as
he had become convinced that racing was not in accord with the good morals of
the community.
At one time he sold a number of horses
and delivered them at Westport, and received quite a large sum of money for
them, on his way home he had reached the ford of the Blue river, on his horse,
when he was stopped by two men who grasped the bridle reins on either side and
pointing pistols at his head demanded his money, he raised a heavy cow-hide
whip which he carried and striking each of them across the face he put spurs to
his horse and although they shot at him several times he escaped without
injury.
Of his wife Eliza Odom
Tarver, we learn she was a woman above medium height, of commanding
appearance, of sweet and loveable disposition, and of deep religious convictions,
her ancestors were French Hugenots who fled from France during the Revolution.
Benjamin Franklin Simpson, commonly
called "Frank;" b. November 10, 1796, in Caswell County, NC; d.
October 1, 1851; in Independence, Mo.; m. 1824, in Tennessee, to Eliza Odom
Farver (This name is spelled TARVER and FARVER in this book??)
Eliza Odom Tarver, b. July 25, 1807, in
Tennessee; d. September 9, 1858, in Independence, Mo.
Their children were:
i. ELIZABETH Simpson
marr. 1st. (???) Handy
marr. 2nd Hiram Groves
ii. KATHERINE Simpson
marr. Green Patterson
iii. GEORGE Elliott Simpson, b. February 22, 1833.
iv. SAUNDERS Simpson, d. unm.
v. RICHARD Simpson
marr. Mrs. Mary Birdsay.
vi. JORDAN Simpson, b. 1846.
vii HENRIETTA Simpson, d. in childhood.
viii. MARY Simpson
marr. Joseph Black.
NOTES
Transcribed from: White, Emma Siggins. The Kinnears and Their Kin. Kansas City, MO: Tiernan-Dart
Printing Co., 1916.
The National Society
of the Daughters of the American Revolution, vol. 17, p. 349
Miss Ellen Lee Simpson.
DAR ID Number: 16964
Born in Kansas, Missouri.
Descendant of Col. John Williams.
[p.349] Daughter of George Elliott Simpson and Mary Ellen Young, his wife.
Granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin Simpson and Eliza Odom Tarver, his wife.
Gr.-granddaughter of Richard Simpson and Henrietta Williams, his wife.
Gr.-gr.-granddaughter of John Williams and Elizabeth Williamson, his wife.
John Williams, (1745-99), was a delegate to the Provincial Congress of North
Carolina, 1775. He was colonel of the Ninth North Carolina regiment, 1776, and
was in command at the battle of Guilford Court House. He was born in Hanover
Co., Va., and died in Orange Co., N.C.
Sally (Sarah) Odom m. 18 Aug. 1806
Benjamin Tarver who died 11 June 1824 age 54 years. At the time of her father's
will (in which the spelling appears to be Tarren or Tarrin), they had children
Jordan, James, Bird (?) and Eliza. A gravestone next to Ben Tarver's says Mary
E. Tarver b. 20 June 1821 d. 28 Sept. 1841 - daughter?