Ralph Simpson's conversation with Weyman
Penn Simpson on 9/10/2003
Weyman was only 2 years old when his father
murdered Vic Dowis, and was told the story at the time of his mother's death in
1958. His father told this story to Paul, Weyman, Alex Jr., and
Herbert. Some new and interesting information came from this
discussion. The Simpson farm was on Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth.
Some of the land was given to the Church and cemetery which stands there
today. Weyman remembers plowing that land.
The story of the phone call to Alex Sr.
just before he left the house is wrong because they did not have a phone in
1923 and, in fact, did not have a phone when they left that house to move to
south Georgia in 1936. He remembers the Dowis farm as being about 6-7
miles away. Weyman also says that Dr. O. O. Simpson (Alex Sr.'s uncle)
was very upset with the innocent verdict for sheriff Dowis and on the
courthouse steps offered $10,000 to anyone who would kill Vic Dowis (this was a
fortune in 1922).
Apparently, Alex Sr. did collect this
money after killing Vic. Dr. O. O. Simpson was considered wealthy and
owned a car which he had a problem driving. One day to stop the car he
tried to pull up on the wheel as if driving a horse and buggy, and the car
didn't stop. Instead it went into a field and that was the last he drove
his car, which sat in a shed and was never driven again. The chickens
roosted on this car and he called it the most expensive chicken coop in Georgia.
Vic Dowis moved to Kentucky shortly
after the verdict to escape the threats to his life, but returned about 6
months later. He had a wife and 3 children in Duluth and did not want to
live a life on the run. The day of his death, he went to plow the fields
near the Chattahoochee River. He told his mother it would be a good time
to plant some pumpkin there, but he doubted if he would be around to eat any
pumpkin pie. There were several attempts on his life and he was usually
protected by his father or some brothers. This time he went to plow the
field alone.
Alex. Sr. killed Vic with 2 shotgun
blasts at short range to the head. Alex claimed that neither shot
missed. When the sheriff arrived to investigate the murder, he followed
some footprints to the river. The footprints went into the river and he
stated that there was no way to follow them from there.
Contributed by Wanda Snyder
17. OLIVER OGLETHORPE7 SIMPSON
(WILLIAM RANDOLPH6, JOHN5, GEORGE4, GEORGE3,
RICHARD2, JOHN1) was born 11 Nov 1860 in Walton Co., GA, and
died Mar 1943 in Atlanta, Fulton Co, GA128. He married (1) SARAH
ELIZABETH BOLTON129 19 Jul 1880 in Gwinnett Co., GA130, daughter
of DAVID BOLTON and MARGARET ROSS. She was born 22 Sep 1860 in Gwinnett
Co., GA131, and died 04 Aug 1886 in Gwinnett Co., GA131. He
married (2) LESLIE ALICE BOLTON132 17 Oct 1886 in Gwinnett Co., GA132,
daughter of DAVID BOLTON and MARGARET ROSS. She was born 31 Dec
1868133, and died 20 Aug 1890 in Gwinnett Co., GA133. He
married (3) MARTHA RUTH RAKESTRAW134 06 Oct 1891 in Norcross, Gwinnett
Co., Georgia135, daughter of GAINUM RAKESTRAW and SARAH SAMMON.
She was born 07 Aug 1870 in Gwinnett Co,, GA136, and died 30 Dec
1955 in Gwinnett Co., GA137.
Notes for OLIVER OGLETHORPE SIMPSON:
One of 7 directors of the Bank of Norcross when it was first established.
About 1895 he built a house at 297 N.
Peachtree across the street from G. T. Rakestraw. As his family grew, he
built a larger home next door about 1910. His son, Ollie and his wife
Anne McClure married and moved in the first house his father built. They
lived there for many years and some of the great-grandchildren still live there
(2000). (Source "Norcross" p. 364 pub 1999 ed by Irene Crapo & Martha Adams)
Dr. O.O. Simpson died in an Atlanta hospital last Thursday after a
brief illness. Funeral and burial at Mount
Carmel Methodist church. Survivors: wife, 1 son: O.O. Simpson, Jr.
of Norcross, 6 daughters: Miss Lida Simpson, Mrs. J.H. Webb, Mrs. Harold
Carlyle, Mrs. C.E. Kirkpatrick of Norcross, Mrs. C.L. Goforth of Gainesville,
Mrs. C.C. Breithaupt of Atlanta. (source: (Gwinnett) News-Herald - Thursday -
11-March-1943)
1920 Census -
Norcross District. Ollie O. (head), Martha (wife), Loice (dau), Ruth (dau), Dot (dau)
More About OLIVER OGLETHORPE SIMPSON:
Date born 2: 11 Nov 1859, Walton County, GA138,138
Burial: Unknown, Mt Carmel Meth, Gwinnett Co., GA
Census 1: 1900, Pinckneyville District, Gwinnett Co, GA139
Census 2: 1910, Pinckneyville District, Gwinnett Co, GA
Census 3: 1920, Gwinnett Co, GA140
Education: 27 Feb 1882, Diploma from Atlanta Medical College, Atlanta, GA141
Elected 1: Bet. 1890 - 1892, Mayor of Norcross
Elected 2: 1905, Commissioner, Gwinnett Co, GA142
Elected 3: Bet. 1914 - 1918, Mayor of Norcross
Occupation: Doctor in Norcross
Will: 1943, Gwinnett Co, GA143
More About SARAH ELIZABETH BOLTON:
Burial: Unknown, Mt Carmel Meth, Gwinnett Co., GA144
More About LESLIE ALICE BOLTON:
Date born 2: 1869145
Burial: Unknown, Mt Carmel Meth, Gwinnett Co., GA146
Marriage Notes for OLIVER SIMPSON and LESLIE BOLTON:
1887 - married her sister's widower. (Gwinnett Co. Probate records show the date as 1886.
see Book 6 Page 32.)
Notes for MARTHA RUTH RAKESTRAW:
Will - File # I-4221
Appointed daughter Mrs. Ethel Goforth as executor and sole heir.
More About MARTHA RUTH RAKESTRAW:
Date born 2: 08 Aug 1871, Gwinnett Co., Georgia147
Burial: Unknown, Mt Carmel Meth, Gwinnett Co., GA148
Will: 1950, Gwinnett Co., Georgia149
More About OLIVER OGLETHORPE SIMPSON:
Date born 2: 11 Nov 1859, Walton County, GA138,138
Burial: Unknown, Mt Carmel Meth, Gwinnett Co., GA
Census 1: 1900, Pinckneyville District, Gwinnett Co, GA139
Census 2: 1910, Pinckneyville District, Gwinnett Co, GA
Census 3: 1920, Gwinnett Co, GA140
Education: 27 Feb 1882, Diploma from Atlanta Medical College, Atlanta, GA141
Elected 1: Bet. 1890 - 1892, Mayor of Norcross
Elected 2: 1905, Commissioner, Gwinnett Co, GA142
Elected 3: Bet. 1914 - 1918, Mayor of Norcross
Occupation: Doctor in Norcross
Will: 1943, Gwinnett Co, GA143
More About SARAH ELIZABETH BOLTON:
Burial: Unknown, Mt Carmel Meth, Gwinnett Co., GA144
More About LESLIE ALICE BOLTON:
Date born 2: 1869145
Burial: Unknown, Mt Carmel Meth, Gwinnett Co., GA146
Marriage Notes for OLIVER SIMPSON and LESLIE BOLTON:
1887 - married her sister's widower. (
Gwinnett Co. Probate records show the date as 1886. see Book 6 Page 32.)
Notes for MARTHA RUTH RAKESTRAW:
Will - File # I-4221
Appointed daughter Mrs. Ethel Goforth as executor and sole heir.
More About MARTHA RUTH RAKESTRAW:
Date born 2: 08 Aug 1871, Gwinnett Co., Georgia147
Burial: Unknown, Mt Carmel Meth, Gwinnett Co., GA148
Will: 1950, Gwinnett Co., Georgia149
More About OLIVER OGLETHORPE SIMPSON:
Date born 2: 11 Nov 1859, Walton County, GA138,138
Burial: Unknown, Mt Carmel Meth, Gwinnett Co., GA
Census 1: 1900, Pinckneyville District, Gwinnett Co, GA139
Census 2: 1910, Pinckneyville District, Gwinnett Co, GA
Census 3: 1920, Gwinnett Co, GA140
Education: 27 Feb 1882, Diploma from Atlanta Medical College, Atlanta, GA141
Elected 1: Bet. 1890 - 1892, Mayor of Norcross
Elected 2: 1905, Commissioner, Gwinnett Co, GA142
Elected 3: Bet. 1914 - 1918, Mayor of Norcross
Occupation: Doctor in Norcross
Will: 1943, Gwinnett Co, GA143
More About SARAH ELIZABETH BOLTON:
Burial: Unknown, Mt Carmel Meth, Gwinnett Co., GA144
More About LESLIE ALICE BOLTON:
Date born 2: 1869145
Burial: Unknown, Mt Carmel Meth, Gwinnett Co., GA146
Marriage Notes for OLIVER SIMPSON and LESLIE BOLTON:
1887 - married her sister's widower. (
Gwinnett Co. Probate records show the date as 1886. see Book 6 Page 32.)
Notes for MARTHA RUTH RAKESTRAW:
Will - File # I-4221
Appointed daughter Mrs. Ethel Goforth as executor and sole heir.
More About MARTHA RUTH RAKESTRAW:
Date born 2: 08 Aug 1871, Gwinnett Co., Georgia147
Burial: Unknown, Mt Carmel Meth, Gwinnett Co., GA148
Will: 1950, Gwinnett Co., Georgia149
Children of OLIVER SIMPSON and MARTHA RAKESTRAW are:
i.
ETHEL8 SIMPSON, b. Sep 1892, Gwinnett Co., Georgia; d.
Unknown; m. CHARLES L. GOFORTH, 09 Mar 1919, Gwinnett Co., Georgia150; d. Unknown.
More About ETHEL SIMPSON:
Residence: Lived at Gainesville, Georgia after marriage
Notes for CHARLES L. GOFORTH:
1920 Census - Hall County - Gainesville
District - E.D. 99 - Sheet 11 - taken 19-January-1920- residence West Avenue
Goforth,
Charles L. Head
62 SC
SC SC
Dealer, electric supplies
,
Emily Wife
60 GA
SC SC
,
John Son
30 GA
SC GA
Mgr, Hardware store
,
Annie Dau
24 GA
SC GA
,
Ruth Dau
20 GA
SC GA
Bookkeeper, Hardware store
(is this the father?)
43. ii.
OLIVER OLGETHORPE SIMPSON, JR., b. 28 Feb 1894,
Gwinnett Co., GA; d. 12 Mar 1961, Gwinnett Co., GA.
44. iii.
SADIE SUSAN SIMPSON, b. 07 Sep 1895; d. 26 Mar 1994.
iv.
LIDA SIMPSON, b. Abt. 1897, Gwinnett Co., GA; d. 16 Nov
1951, Gwinnett Co., GA.
Notes for LIDA SIMPSON:
Will - File # I-2787
Left everything to mother Martha R.
Simpson or to brother O.O. Simpson. Appointed Mrs. Sadie Webb and Mrs.
Ethel Goforth as administrators.
More About LIDA SIMPSON:
Date born 2: Dec 1896, Gwinnett Co., GA151
Burial: Unknown, Mt Carmel Meth, Gwinnett Co., GA
Occupation: Postmistress of Norcross, GA from 1933 to her death 1951152
Will: 1951, Gwinnett Co., GA153
v. BENJAMIN
FRANKLIN SIMPSON154, b. 20 Aug 1898, Gwinnett Co., GA155; d. 10
Nov 1939155; m. VERA DAVENPORT, 25 Dec 1932, Rome, GA156; b. 29
Oct 1897, Gwinnett Co., GA157; d. 27 Jun 1944157.
Notes for BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SIMPSON:
Lived in Rome, Georgia after marriage.
Played football/baseball for Olgethorpe1917; for University of Georgia 1918; and for Oglethorpe
again in 1920. Played with Bartow in the Florida League in 1921. Coached University School for Boys and
taught classes 1923-4. Studied law and was solicitor general of Piedmont Circuit from 1936 until his
death in 1939. (source p. 172 History of Gwinnett Co. Vol. II 1818 - 1960 by J.C. Flanagan.)
Gwinnett Co. Probate Records:
Petition
Minutes Book T Page 408: B. Frank Simpson d.
10-Nov-1939, no will, wife Vera Simpson
Years Support
YR S Book D Page 161: lived in town of Norcross, NW corner of Peachtree St.
Frank was hearing a court case in
Lawrenceville where one of his friends told him that he should take a break and
go to the doctor - he looked very ill. He went to the doctor and never
returned home - dying of heart trouble. (source: Nesbit, Martha Ruth Simpson)
Admitted to practice law: Atlanta, GA., Fulton County, 1923.
More About BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SIMPSON:
Burial: Unknown, Norcross Town Cem, Norcross, Gwinnett Co., GA157
Education 1: 07 Jun 1923, Atlanta Law School158
Education 2: Georgia Military Academy
Military service: 01 Oct 1918, WWI to Dec , 1918.
Occupation: Lawyer159
More About VERA DAVENPORT:
Burial: Unknown, Norcross Town Cem, Norcross, Gwinnett Co., GA160
Marriage Notes for BENJAMIN SIMPSON and VERA DAVENPORT:
Frank and Vera were sweethearts from an early age. They finally married in Rome, GA because
the preacher, Rev. McKibbon, was a much-loved Methodist minister who moved from Norcross to Rome. (source: Nesbit,
Martha Ruth Simpson)
vi. SON SIMPSON, b. 12 Sep 1900160; d. 12 Sep 1900160.
More About SON SIMPSON:
Burial: Unknown, Norcross Town Cem, Norcross, Gwinnett Co., GA160
45.
vii. LOIS SIMPSON, b. 11 Jun
1903; d. 28 Oct 1981.
46. viii.
RUTH SIMPSON, b. 12 Nov 1905; d. 1997, Cartersville,
Bartow Co., GA.
47. ix.
DOROTHY SIMPSON, b. 12 Feb 1912; d. 24 Mar 1986
