JEREMIAH B. SIMPSON, M. D. There is no man more highly esteemed in a community than the medical practitioner, and there is not among all the physicians of Baxter County, Arkansas, one who is held higher in public favor than Dr. Jeremiah B. Simpson. This gentleman was born in Wayne County, Illinois, in 1851 , to John W. and Sallie (Murphy) Simpson, the former of whom was also born there.
The paternal grandfather, William Simpson, was a Tennessean, and a pioneer of Wayne County, Illinois, where he lived and died. John W. Simpson was a worthy tiller of the soil, and while pursuing this honorable calling was cut down by the hand of death in 1880, when about forty-five years of age. His widow still survives him.
Dr. Jeremiah B. Simpson was the second of eight children born to his parents, and his youthful days were spent in attending the public schools of Wayne County, and assisting his father in the duties of the farm. At the age of eighteen or nineteen he began tilling the soil on his own responsibility, but after a time commenced reading medicine under Dr. S. W. Vertreese at Fairfield, and later graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Louisville, having himself earned the money to take him through this institution. In 1873 he commenced the practice of his profession in Ozark County, Missouri, at St. Ledger, but three years later came to Mountain Home, where he has since resided, and where he has built up a practice which is a credit to him and a just tribute to his ability and knowledge of his most important profession. He was for some time associated in practice with A. J. Brewer, then with R. C. Wallace, and also with a brother for three years, the latter, Joseph H. Simpson, becoming his partner after he had read medicine with him for some time. He has had a large and increasing general practice since locating at Mountain Home. and is regarded as one of the most successful and reliable of physicians. He is a member of the board of trustees of the College at Mountain Home, was one of the prime movers in the organization of the same, and as a citizen is public spirited and helpful toward all public interests, for no man has the prosperity and well being of the great mass of his fellow-citizens more nearly at heart than he. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., in which he has attained to the encampment (has attained high rank in the A. F. & A. M.), and is also a member of the K. of H., which he has represented in the Grand Lodge of Arkansas. He is president of the Baxter County Medical Society, and is vice-president of the District Medical Society, composed of Baxter and Marion Counties. In 1882 he was united in marriage with Miss Lugilla Hicks of this county, a daughter of Maj. T. I. Hicks, by whom he has two sons and two daughters. The Doctor and his wife are members of the Baptist Church and move in the most select social circles of their section.
