My Genealogy Hound

John W. Simpkins, of Edina, Mo., is a native of Marion County, Ind., and was born February 26, 1831. He is a son of Elias D. and Eliza A. (Keeler) Simpkins, natives of Madison County, Ohio, and Whitehall, N. Y. The father was an early settler in Indiana, and a millwright by trade, which business he followed in that State. He married his wife in Indianapolis. This lady was a member of a pioneer family of Indiana. In 1841 Mr. and Mrs. Simpkins immigrated to Missouri, and the father engaged in milling in Randolph and Macon Counties. He owned a large farm in the latter county, upon which he died December 7, 1849. The mother was then married to William Cooper, but died in 1855. No children were born to this marriage. The following are the children of the first union who are living: John W.; Augustus K., ex-sheriff of Pike County, Ill.; Foster, of this county; Mary Ann, wife of Prof. Leonard Fowler, of this county; Ellen, wife of Caleb Heisington, of Knox City. Our subject was ten years old when he came with his parents to Missouri. He soon left home and learned the miller’s trade in St. Louis. The first mill he owned was in Darke County, Ohio, but afterward he built and operated a saw mill in Scott County, Ill. In 1877 he returned to Missouri, and erected a saw and grist mill at La Belle, in Lewis County, and in 1881 came to Edina, and purchased the old Edina Mills, which he operated two years, and then built the saw and corn mill which he now owns, and in 1886 built the grist mill adjoining, and is operating both successfully at the present time, and intends to soon replace his old buhrs with the new roller system. December 7, 1851, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Partridge, a native of New York, by whom he has two children: Hattie and Rollie D. Mr. Simpkins is a Democrat in politics, and was a soldier in the Confederate Army during the late war. Himself and family are members of the Methodist Church South, and considered one of the prominent and successful families of the town.