Manuscripts Department
Library of the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
SOUTHERN HISTORICAL COLLECTION
#3344
WILLIAM DUNLAP SIMPSON PAPERS
Inventory
Abstract: William Dunlap Simpson, lawyer of Laurens, S.C.,
served during the Civil War with the 14th South
Carolina Volunteers and in the Confederate Congress.
In 1876, he was S.C. lieutenant governor, and, in
1878, was acting governor until he became chief
justice of the state Supreme Court in 1880. He
married Jane E. Young, daughter of Henry Clinton Young
(b. 1794), lawyer of Laurens, S.C., and Lucy Melissa
Young (1802-1874). William and Jane's children
included William Dunlap, Jr., and Ernest, both
lawyers, and John W., who was a banker in Spartanburg,
S.C., Greensboro, N.C., and Tennessee. John W.
Simpson married Mabel Donald Fleming in 1895.
Correspondence and related items, 1819-1852,
include family and business letters, including an 1849
letter describing the capture of a violent runaway
slave in Alabama. There are also letters of Mary Owen
Dean in Spartanburg, S.C., and her husband Hosea G.
Dean, clerk of the S.C. House of Representatives,
1852-1853. Letters in the late 1850s relate to
William Simpson's law practice. During the Civil War,
most letters, are from William in the field, 1861-
1862, with the 14th South Carolina Volunteers, or from
Richmond, in the Confederate Congress, to his wife
Jane, in charge of the Simpson plantation in Laurens.
In 1876-1879, there are letters to William requesting
political favors and outlining political deals, among
them a letter from Wade Hampton, and to state
Democratic Party activities. Similar letters appear
during Simpson's tenure as chief justice of the S.C.
Supreme Court. After William's death, there are
letters from his son Ernest from a sanitorium in
Battle Creek, Mich., where he was trying to improve
his health. Most letters, 1900-1942, relate to John
W. Simpson's banking career or to Mabel Fleming
Simpson's interest in the history of the Dean,
Fleming, Simpson, Wade, and other families. Other
items include a few writings by family members, who
were particularly intent on defending old southern
ways; legal notes; pictures of family members,
including a strip of photographs of a baby with a
nurse and a homemade calendar for 1899 with
photographs of children; a copy of Tri-Weekly
Guardian, an 1863 news sheet; and a copy of a history
of the Gregg/McGowan South Carolina Brigade (1866).
Online Catalog Terms:
Bankers--Southern States--History.
Confederate States of America. Army. South Carolina Brigade,
Gregg's.
Confederate States of America. Army. South Carolina Brigade,
McGowan's.
Confederate States of America. Army. South Carolina
Volunteers, 14th.
Confederate States of America. Congress.
Courts--South Carolina--History--19th century.
Dean family.
Dean, Hosea G.
Democratic Party (S.C.).
Family--South Carolina--Social life and customs.
Fleming family.
Fugitive slaves--Alabama.
Governors--South Carolina--History--19th century.
Hampton, Wade, 1818-1902.
Health resorts--Michigan--History--19th.
Judges--South Carolina--History--19th century.
Laurens (S.C.)--Social life and customs--19th century.
Lawyers--South Carolina--History--19th century.
Simpson family.
Simpson, Jane Young.
Simpson, John W., 1871-1951.
Simpson, Mabel Fleming.
Simpson, William Dunlap, 1823-1890.
South Carolina. General Assembly. House of Representatives
--History--19th century.
South Carolina. Supreme Court.
South Carolina--Politics and government--1865-1950.
Spartanburg (S.C.)--Social life and customs.
Tri-Weekly Guardian.
Wade family.
Young family.
Size: About 1,900 items (3.5 linear feet).
Provenance: Purchased in 1958; purchased from Doug Mattox of
Raleigh, N.C., in February 1995 (Acc. 95028);
received from Joyce Talton and James Edward Gibson
of Smithfield, N.C., in February 1995 (Acc.
95027).
Access: No restrictions.
Related Collection: William D. Simpson Papers, Special
Collections, Duke University.
Copyright: Retained by the authors of items in these papers, or
their descendants, as stipulated by United States
copyright law.
Table of Contents:
Biographical Note
Series Descriptions
Series 1. Correspondence and related items
Series 2. Other papers
Series 3. Pictures
Shelf List
INTRODUCTION
Biographical Note
William Dunlap Simpson of Laurens, S.C., was the son of Dr.
John W. Simpson. He was graduated from South Carolina College in
1843. He studied law with and became the partner and son-in-law
of Henry Clinton Young of Laurens.
Simpson served in the state legislature, and, during the Civil
War, was aide to M. L. Bonham, on active duty as lieutenant
colonel with the 14th South Carolina Volunteers, and member of
the Confederate Congress in 1863. After the war, he practiced
law at Laurens and ran successfully for lieutenant governor, with
running mate Wade Hampton, in 1876 and 1878. During his second
term, he served as acting governor, and, in August 1880, before
the expiration of his term, was named chief justice of the state
Supreme Court.
Simpson married Jane E. Young, daughter of Henry Clinton Young
(b. 1794), lawyer of Laurens, S.C., and Lucy Melissa Young (1802-
1874), daughter of John M. and Jennie Nisbet Young of Iredell
County, N.C. William and Jane's children included William
Dunlap, Jr., and Ernest, both lawyers, and John W., who was a
banker in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. John W.
Simpson married Mabel Donald Fleming on 25 September 1895 in
Spartanburg, S.C.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series 1. Correspondence and related items
1819-1951 and undated. About 1,400 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Subseries 1.1. 1819-1852
About 70 items.
Chiefly letters of members of the Simpson family and their
Young, Dean, and other relatives. Among these are letters of
Jane Young Simpson's parents Lucy Melissa Young (1802-1874) and
her husband (and cousin) Henry Clinton Young (b. 1794) of
Laurens, S.C., including some relating to Young and Wright,
Henry's law firm. There is also a March 1849 letter to Lucy from
a relative in Mobile, Ala., that describes the capture of a
violent runaway slave.
Many of the letters 1828-1847 were written by Mary Owen Dean
in Spartanburg, S.C., and her husband Hosea G. Dean while she
tended the farm and he traveled on business. In 1851-1852, Hosea
wrote of legislative and other events in Columbia, S.C., where he
served as clerk of the South Carolina House of Representatives.
Folder 1 1819-1845
2 1846-1850
3 1851-1852
Subseries 1.2. 1853-1865
About 130 items.
Dean and Young family materials continue during this period,
especially from Hosea G. Dean, who serve as clerk of the South
Carolina House of Representatives at least through 1853. The
first William Dunlap Simpson letter appears on 8 February 1853.
This and other 1850s letters relate chiefly to Simpson's business
deals and legal activities, particularly 1858-1859.
During the Civil War, there are family letters written to Lucy
Young in Iredell County, N.C., giving details of conditions on
the homefront. Most of the letters during this period, however,
are from William in the field, 1861-1862, where he served as aide
to M. L. Bonham and as lieutenant colonel with the 14th South
Carolina Volunteers, to his wife Jane Young Simpson, who was in
charge of the Simpson plantation in Laurens, S.C. On 6 February
1863, William wrote that he had qualified as a member of the
Confederate Congress, and, on 24 February 1863, he wrote from
Richmond of his hope for a speedy peace. In late 1863 and
through 1864, William wrote of his social and legislative
activities in Richmond, inquired about conditions on the
plantation, and lamented his long separation from his wife and
family.
Folder 4 1853-1860
5 1861
6 1862-1863
7 1864-1865
Subseries 1.3. 1866-1890
About 580 items.
The Fleming family, of which Mabel Fleming Simpson was a
member, makes its appearance in 1866 with a legal document from
Laurens, S.C. Papers through 1874 include family letters to Lucy
Young and a few business letters of William. From 1874 to 1876,
almost all of the materials relate to William's legal work in
Laurens and to his political career.
In 1876, there are a few letters to William as lieutenant
governor of South Carolina, chiefly relating to political deals
and favors. Legal and political materials continue through 1877,
when William served as president of the South Carolina Senate,
and into 1878, when William as acting governor received many
letters requesting political favors and outlining political
deals. Also in 1878, there are a few letters relating to state
Democratic Party activities, and a small number of letters about
routine family affairs.
In 1879, political and legal papers continue. Included is a
19 April letter from Wade Hampton discussing political issues and
a 28 September letter from a poor women asking the governor to
send money to support her children.
On 25 May 1880, there is a notice that William is to become
chief justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court, and, on 1
September, there is a copy of his letter resigning the
governorship to assume his position on the bench. A 23 December
1880 letter from W. R. Balch, managing editor of The American,
who was interested in learning how northern Republicans could
help southern Democrats. The letter includes a survey of
questions relating to carpetbaggers, the position of African
Americans in the Democratic Party, and other issues.
Patronage letters continue, sometimes directed to William as
governor and sometimes to him as judge. On 19 August 1890, there
is the first letter from Mabel Fleming, and, on 30 December,
there is a letter lamenting the accident that lead to William's
death.
Folder 8 1866-1872
9 1873-1876
10 1877
1878
11 January-May
12 June-December
1879
13 January-March
14 April-May
15 June-September
16 October
17 November
18 December
1880
19 January-March
20 April-July
21 August-December
22 1881-1882
23 1883-1886
24 1887
25 1888-1889
26 1890
Subseries 1.4. 1892-1899
About 145 items.
Materials during this period chiefly relate to Simpson family
members, including William's widow Jane and sons William Dunlap,
Jr., Ernest, and John W. Most of William, Jr.'s letters are
directed to Jane and discuss routine family affairs. Ernest's
letters relate to legal deals until October 1897, when he wrote
long letters from a sanitorium in Battle Creek, Mich., where he
was trying to improve his health through diet, exercise, and
"warm electric baths." On 25 September 1895, there is the
announcement of the wedding of John W. Simpson and Mabel Donald
Fleming in Spartanburg, S.C. By late 1897, letters show that
John was assistant cashier at the National Bank of Spartanburg.
Items in 1898 and 1899 document the beginning of Mabel's life-
long interest in family history.
Folder 27 1892-1895
28 1896
1897
29 January-July
30 August-December
31 1898-1899
Subseries 1.5. 1900-1951
About 425 items.
Materials in this period relate almost exclusively to Mabel's
interest in family history. Included are replies to her letters
requesting information about various family lines--among them the
Boatwright, Dean, Farrow, Faust, Fleming, McDonald, Middleton,
Rutherford, Simpson, and Wade families--from relatives,
professional genealogists, and others.
Among the letters not relating to genealogy are a few in 1926
that show that the Simpsons had moved from Spartanburg to
Greensboro, N.C., where John worked for the Atlantic Bank and
Trust Company and served as vice president of the North Carolina
Bankers' Association. In 1934, letters show that John had moved
his family to Morristown, Tenn., where he was receiver for the
First National Bank. A letter of 18 June 1936, documents Mabel's
winning a Pontiac car and 1,000 gallons of gasoline in Proctor &
Gamble's Ivory Flakes Contest. Letters 1940-1942 show that the
Simpsons had moved back to Greensboro. Materials in 1951 are
condolence letters relating to John's death.
Folder 32 1900-1904
1905
33 January-March
34 June-December
35 1906-1913
36 1914-1919
37 1920-1922
38 1923-1924
39 1925-1931
40 1932-1933
41 1934-1937
42 1938-1939
43 1940-1942
44 1951
Subseries 1.6. Undated
About 50 items.
Chiefly letters relating to Mabel's interest in genealogy.
Folder 45-46
Series 2. Other papers
1843-1950s. About 375 items.
Folder 47 Certificates, diplomas, and school reports,
1843-1925: items relating to the education of
and honors received by various family members.
(About 15 items)
Folders 48-49 Clippings, 1860s-1950s: chiefly about John W.
Simpson and other family members. Most
clippings are from the 20th century, but a few
of the earlier clippings relate to activities
of William Dunlap Simpson. (About 35 items)
Folders 50-53 Family history/genealogy, 1890s-1930s:
chiefly notes and other items relating to
Mabel Fleming Simpson's interest in genealogy.
Included is material on the Boatwright, Dean,
Farrow, Faust, Fleming, McDonald, Middleton,
Rutherford, Simpson, and Wade families.
(About 200 items)
Folders 54-57 Legal materials, 1870s-1880s: copies of court
papers and notes relating to cases. Most of
the notes were written by William Dunlap
Simpson. (About 100 items)
Writings (About 20 items)
Folder 58 Writings by William Dunlap Simpson,
including a few papers, possibly speeches,
about conditions in South Carolina after
the Civil War.
Folder 59 Writings by Mabel Fleming Simpson,
including "Mother's Day in War-Time,"
about World War I conditions; "Prison
Walls," a short story; and "Lynching as I
Have Known It," a defense of states'
rights.
Folder 60 Writings by others, including "An Appeal
for the Preservation of Old Southern
Customs," by John W. Simpson.
Miscellaneous:
Folder 61 A copy of the Tri-Weekly Guardian (OP-
3344/8), a news sheet published by Charles
P. Pelham, state printer, 14 February
1863; a small undated commonplace book
with miscellaneous clippings, poems, etc.;
an undated funeral register; and a South
Carolina Daughters of the American
Republic badge made of palmetto fronds.
(4 items)
Folder 62 The History of a Brigade of South
Carolinians known first as Gregg's and
subsequently as McGowan's Brigade, J. F.
J. Caldwell (1866).
Series 3. Pictures
1870s-1930s. 113 items (number of images in parentheses).
P-3344/Folder 1 William Dunlap Simpson (2).
Jane Simpson (2).
John W. Simpson (10).
P-3344/Folder 2 Mabel Fleming Simpson and Mabel Fleming
Simpson, Jr., including a strip of three
photographs of Simpson, Jr., with a maid, ca.
1899 (18).
P-3344/Folder 3 Stobo James Simpson (1).
John W. Simpson, Jr. (1).
E. A. Simpson (1).
H. G. Simpson (1).
Mary Ann Dean (1).
Edward Jefferson Dean (2).
L. D. Fleming (1).
Charles Edwin Fleming (1).
N. J. Holmes (1).
Edward Fleming Lucas (9).
Cora Cox Lucas (4).
Gladys Lyles (2).
W. Boykin Lyles (1).
Lester L. Robertson (2).
P-3344/Folder 4 Unidentified people (39).
P-3344/Folder 5 Scenes and miscellaneous, including two images
of an unidentified man in World War I uniform
on a horse and an unidentified woman with a
parasol in front of "our Spartanburg home"
(12).
P-3344/Folder 6 Homemade calendar for 1899 with photographs of
unidentified children (1).
Shelf List
Series 1. Correspondence and related items
Box 1 Subseries 1.1. 1819-1852 (folders 1-3)
Subseries 1.2. 1853-1865 (folders 4-7)
Box 2 Subseries 1.3. 1866-1879 (folders 8-18)
Box 3 Subseries 1.3. 1880-1890 (folders 19-26)
Box 4 Subseries 1.4. 1892-1899 (folders 27-31)
Subseries 1.5. 1900-1919 (folders 32-36)
Box 5 Subseries 1.5. 1920-1951 (folders 37-44)
Box 6 Subseries 1.6. Undated (folders 45-46)
Series 2. Other papers
Certificates, diplomas,school reports (folder 47)
Clippings (folders 48-49)
Family history/genealogy (folders 50-53)
Box 7 Legal materials (folders 54-57)
Writings (folders 58-60)
Miscellaneous (folders 61-62)
Items separated:
OP-3344/1-8
P-3344/Folders 1-6