Richard Wright Simpson was the third son and third child born to Richard Franklin and Mary Margaret Taliaferro Simpson on September 11, 1840, on the family farm near Pendleton, South Carolina. His oldest brother, John, was born and died in 1838. Taliaferro 'Tally' N was born in 1839. Richard and Tally were best friends and inseparable companions until Tally's enlistment for Civil War service in 1861 and later death in 1863. Richard 'Dick' also had two younger sisters, Mary Margaret and Anna Tallulah, and a younger brother, John Garlington. Richard was home-schooled before attending Pendleton Academy and graduated from Wofford College in 1861 just prior to his involvement in the Civil War. He served as a private in the Condeferate Army in Company A, Third Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, and in Adams battalion of cavalry from April, 1861, to 1863, when, on account of dysentery disease contracted in the service, he was detailed for special duty until the close of the war. On February 10, 1863, Simpson married Miss Mary Louise Garlington (1843-1910), of Laurens County, South Carolina. of this union ten children were born: Mrs. (Margaret Garlington, 1864-1893) W.W. Watkins, Mrs. (Susan James, 1867-1940) Paul Hamilton Earle Sloan, Jr., Miss Mary Louise Simpson (1868-1960), Mrs. (Anne Ball, 1870-1928) Alester Garden Holmes, Mrs. (Elizabeth Conway, 1872-1949) Samuel Maner Martin, Mrs. (Jean Stobo, 1880-1971) Williston Wightman Klugh, Richard Wright Simpson (Louise Fletcher), Jr. (1874-1953), John Garlington Simpson (1876- ) (Lucy Jones) and Taliaferro Strother Simpson (1878-1941) (Mary Bradford), and Anne Mary Simpson (1871- ). Sons in law Sloan, Holmes, Martin and Klugh were all Clemson Agricultural College administrators and/or professors. From 1863 to 1874 Simpson farmed the family land near Pendleton. In the fall of 1874 he was chosen a member of the State Legislature, and was re-elected in 1876. He was made chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, always a position of great responsibility. Chairman Simpson's services in settling the disordered finances of the State were delicate and difficult. It was while serving in the Legislature that Simpson was appointed a member of the Governor's Staff, with the rank of Colonel of Cavalry, by Governor Wade Hampton. During those days he became convinced that changed conditions made necessary a change in the educational system. He became an earnest advocate of the establishment of an agricultural college. He was the confidential advisor of Thomas Green Clemson - wrote the gentleman's will, was made executor of that instrument, and on the organization of the Clemson Agricultural College of South Carolina was elected chairman of that Board, which position he resigned, on account of impaired health, a few years before his death. His interest in, and devotion to, the welfare of Clemson College are well known to all who are familiar with the history of the first twenty years of that institution. About the time he went into politics Colonel Simpson studied law, was admitted to the bar, practiced at Anderson Court House, and was local attorney for the Southern Railroad and for the Blue Ridge Railway. He was also attorney for the Bank of Pendleton. Colonel Simpson was a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He loved its doctrines and was for many years a Sunday School teacher and superintendent. Colonel Simpson died in a hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, where he had been taken for treatment a few days before, at four in the morning of July 11, 1912. The afternoon of the next day his remains were laid to rest by the grave of his wife, near the resting place of his father and mother and older brothers, in the family cemetery on the farm near Pendlton.