Odum Asbury Simpson was the fancy name of a man known much more commonly as "Bud". Bud, sometimes seen as Bud Simpson, and other times as Bud Crider or Krider, was the son of Laura Simpson of Stanly County. His father was William R. Krider of Rowan County and these two individuals could not have been more different.
For starters, Laura was born and lived near the Rocky River in a community known as Cottonville, for its history of fine cotton. She grew up in the home of her grandmother, Sarah Simpson, the widow of Nathaniel Simpson. Her mother, Nancy, was unmarried, and Laura was the second of her 5 children. The widow and her children scraped by, her sons all married and lived closeby, and two were killed in the Civil War, creating new widows among her daughters-in-law. One son became a devout Christian and pillar of the community and a divide was created in the family as the sorrow and blight that followed the war gave some little reason for morality. Survivial was the name of the game and while three of Nathaniels' daughters married three Poplin brothers, the other three filled their mother Sarah's house with fatherless children. Laura had been one of those.
On the other hand, William R. Krider sprang from an old Rowan County stock of businessmen and skilled craftsmen.These Germans began with the name Grieter, which was eventually Anglicized to Krider or Crider. Bob, as he was known, was the grandson of a Phillip Krider, whose family were an educated bunch, Pennsylvania Dutch who had migrated to Rowan County in its earliest days, and his wife Betsy Grinder Krider, whose father, John Grinder, was a Patriot who died in the Revolutionary War. Their son, George Henry Krider, would find work as an Overseer on the Plantations of his wife, Loretta Verble's family, in the years before the Civil War. He fought in the War, and lived to see the light of day past it. He raised his 7 children, including second son and middle child, William Robert, on a farm north of Salisbury in the Franklin Community.
Eventually, George Krider would pack up the family and move to Rockwall County, Texas, leaving William Robert Krider behind. That may have had something to do with one Georgia Ann Hudson, whom W .R. married in 1877. The 1880 census show George and most of his family in the town of Fate, in Rockwall, Texas,while 'Robert' is listed as a farmer in Provindence Township of Rowan County, with his young wife, Georgia and their oldest daugther, Dora, age 1. In those early days, Bob Krider appeared to leas a quiet life. With several family members in law enforcement, Bob sometimes several as a Deputy Sheriff and at other times was paid for leading a jury.
Following this, there appears a string of mysteries in the Krider family. The Rowan County Heritage Book carries several stories on the Krider family, a few involving Bob and Georgia and their family. A few facts emerged, that Bob had two farms near Trading Ford, which is the oldest settled part of Rowan County, in fact, these parts period, long before the town of Salisbury, the piedmonts oldest town, was conceptualized.
In the book, "Rowan County: A Brief History" by James S. Brawley, the author states, " Rowan County was made accessible by a network of two great thoroughfares, one running east and west and the other north and south. The Trading Path stretched from Fort Henry (Petersburg, Virginia) westward into Rowan County where it crossed the Yadkin at Trading Ford, Indians (sic) had made their homes long before the white man penetrated this wilderness.
On his expedition into Carolina in 1672, Dr. John Lederer encountered a tribe of Saura Indians camping there. John Lawson also spent several days there in 1702 with a tribe of Sapona Indians who befreinded him.......Except for traders and hunters, few white men penetrated this vast Piedmont area before 1747. In that year a handful of intrepid adventurers entered this country.........One historian has identified at least 812 families living between the Yadkin and Catawba Rivers by the end of 1751."
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W. P. Cumming, North Carolina in Maps (Raleigh: State Department of Archives and History, 1966) |
So his estate was located in the earliest settled part of the region along the Yadkin River. The Heritage book states that he was a hunter and outdoorsman as well as a farmer and lumberman. In his younger days he had worked also as a school teacher and in tobacco plants located in Salisbury. So Bob Krider seemed well-rounded and a pillar of the community. His descendants view him in glowing terms, and it appears, in his home county, at least, he kept some formal pretense of propriety and rectitude.
Bob and Georgia Krider's oldest daughter, Dora Mae, was born on October, 14, 1878. Their second child, another daughter, Bertha Clara, was born on February 6, 1891, a span of about 13 years. This was an unusually long gap between children. Could the rosy portrait Krider descendants painted of the marriage be a litte jaded? Was there perhaps a separation in there? What was Bob Krider up to during those years?
Brawley's "Brief History" describes the Salisbury of the 1880's as thus, A Wet and Wicked Town, "REally and Actually" wrote a contemporary of the 1880 Salisbury scene, "the thing that maintained adn supported Salisbury at the time was the wholesale and retail whiskey." With a dozen open saloons, half a dozen distilleries, and two wholesale whiskey warehouses, Salisbury held the title of being the wettest and wickedest town in the state; and the production and sale of the ardent spirits comprised the chief industry."
This was the Salisbury young Bob Krider found himself in during the 1880's as he was building his business, his wealth and his career. One of the newspaper articles I feautured in my earlier posts on Laura Simpson described Krider as being 'up and down the Yadkin Railway'. It probably started on business ventures and possibly even out of curiousity.We know he would eventually expand his horizens from Rowan into Stanly, Cabarrus, Montgomery, Anson and Richmond Counties and even as far as South Carolina. And sometime, at some point, he met Laura Simpson.
Later newspapers would describe Laura Simpson, while in her early 50's, as an 'old crone'. Time and chemical habits, no doubt, had not been kind to her. Also, a century ago, what we would think of a 50 year old looking like now, would have probably applied to a 35 year old, or less, then. But in 1880, Laura Simpson was only 23 and in 1884, she was 27. And we know by then she had met Bob Krider.
We can't say for certain why Bob and Georgia had no children between 1878 and 1891, whether they were estranged or just not fortunate in that area, whether it was deliberate or just coincidental, it just appears that there was possibly trouble in paradise and that trouble may have involved a 'loose' woman in Cottonville named Laura Simpson.
Odum Asbury Simpson was born on May 23, 1884 to Laura Simpson. It is unknown why Laura gave him the name she did, perhaps 'Odum" and 'Asbury' were the fanciest names she had heard, usually preserved for the priveledged and portfolioed. The child, however, was actually known forever after as simply, 'Bud', sometimes as Bud Simpson, othertimes as Bud Krider, but being born out-of-wedlock, his legal name was Simpson. Bob Krider, his father, was already married.
There are signs that Bob Krider actually cared for his son and even for Laura, herself. Bud lived with him for many years. Whether Georgia knew of the relationship or not is unknown, but I would bet she did. There would also come a time when Bob would really put his reputation and his neck on the line for Laura, risking it all in her favor, so there were more than passing feelings there. There was more than a passing bond, despite all.
But aside from the birth of Bud, and a few signs of career advancement in two very separate directions, Bob Krider's activity during the 1880's is unknown.
The above interesting article was from 1888, suggesting Bob Krider run for the legislature.
By 1890, Bob and Georgia had evidentally reconciled, if ever they had actually become estranged, as on February 6, 1891, their second beautiful daughter, Bertha Clara Krider was born.
Not too long after, on May 9th, 1894, Bob and Georgia welcomed their own son, Thomas Robert Lee Krider, who was an odd man in his own way. Robert Lee was the last child, perhaps because shortly after, Bob's misadventures began coming to light. It seemed he could do no wrong in his own county, however, he meant nothing to those powers that be in the surrounding counties, as he didn't have family in law enforcement and county government like he did in Rowan. There was no rug for his dirt to be swept under in Cabarrus.
Bob Krider, along with three other men had saved themselves, but loss quite a bit of property, including livestock and wagons to the law enforcement in Stanly County. He had been 'blockading' for quite a while by this time.
The term "Blockade Runner" came into popular vernacular during the Civil War when Merchant Ships were used to evade navy blockades to get supplies in to cities being blocked or controled by the opposing army. During the prohibition era, it was used to describe the purveyors of untaxed alchohol who managed to get their goods past law enforcement.
1896 was a bad year for Bob Krider. His Jig was up, they knew who he was and what he was up to.
After more than a decade of making money on the sly working outside his home County, life was catching up with Bob Krider. Soon, he was to have an able accomplice, his own son.
| Name: | William R Crider | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age: | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Date: | May 1850 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birthplace: | North Carolina, USA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home in 1900: | Providence, Rowan, North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sheet Number: | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: | 181 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Family Number: | 187 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Race: | White | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gender: | Male | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relation to Head of House: | Head | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marital Status: | Married | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse's Name: | Georgia Crider | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marriage Year: | 1878 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years Married: | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Father's Birthplace: | North Carolina, USA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mother's Birthplace: | North Carolina, USA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation: | Farm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Months Not Employed: | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Can Read: | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Can Write: | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Can Speak English: | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| House Owned or Rented: | Own | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home Free or Mortgaged: | F | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Farm or House: | F | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Neighbors: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This is how we find them in 1900, a new century, with new problems. Bob was living on one of his two farms with his wife, Georgia and their 3 children, Dora 21, Bertha 9 and Robert, seen as Thomas K L Crider, 6, but he is later known as Robert Lee. The gap in ages between Dora and Bertha are very evident. Three young Simpsons are shown as Servants. What did they do? Odum, 16, was his son, Odum Asbury. Mamie was Odum's half-sister and Laura Simpson's oldest daughter. Rosa Simpson was the oldest daughter of Turzy Simpson, Laura's cousin. Several of Turzy's children show Bob Krider had a hand in their lives, getting married at his house, signing bonds for them, and other things. Turzy and Mamie both worked with Laura at her blind tiger located in southern Stanly County below Rocky River Springs. Both had a string of fatherless children. Bob helped ensure the daughters found out-of-county husbands who might not have known the family's business. The next decade would be even more explosive.
In 1904, Krider is finally arrested, not in Rowan, but in Stanly County, where Laura Simpson lived on land supposedly owned by Krider, but I can not locate a deed for it. How did Bob Krider lead such two very different lives, one of middle class social respectibility and the other, that of a criminal enterprise?
This may or may not have anything to do with it, but a man named Grubb admitted to hitting him over the head with an axe handle when they were boys.
1906 The Blackburn Case
In 1906, a trial was held in which Bob Krider was a witness, but also a participant, the case of Congressman Blackburn and all the griff was coming to light.
But what had W. R. Krider to do with Congressman Blackburn, and why was he called to testify?
It seems old Bob had been slipping hush money to ol Congressman Blackburn. In order to escape trouble himself, Bob Krider was needed to testify against the Congressman. The authorities wanted th bigger fish, a Politician who took bribes in order to allow the untaxed alchohol to go unnoticed.
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CLIPPED FROM Greensboro Daily NewsGreensboro, North Carolina 21 Apr 1906, Sat • Page 2 |
To keep himself out of the pokey, Krider agreed to be a witness. I've chosen small clips from several very long articles to focus on W. R. Krider's part in the story. It seems that Bob was over the movement of untaxed, illegal alchohol from Rowan County, and into Stanly, Cabarrus, Montgomery, Anson, Richmond and even Mecklenburg Counties with occasional dips all the way into South Carollina.
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CLIPPED FROM Greensboro Daily NewsGreensboro, North Carolina 21 Apr 1906, Sat • Page 2 |
His occupation as a Retailer and Blockade was now out in the open. In the meantime, Bob and Georgia were making certain their three children recieved a good education and would thus have a very different future, or so they hoped. It seems they were still trying to portray the pretense of propriety in their hometown. Dora Mae attended Mount Amonema Seminary in Mt. Pleasant in Cabarrus County, and then Clairmont College in Hickory, NC. She taught school afterwards. The younger two would later follow in her footsteps with college, Bertha attending the same school in Mount Pleasant before attending college at East Carolina and Duke Universtiy. Their youngest, son Robert, attended the Lutheran Academy in Mount Pleasant in Cabarrus and later, Pfeiffer College in Stanly County.
Yet Bob had placed his other son, his out of wedlock son, Bud, along a much different path. Bud worked for Bob Krider in the blockade running business, and as such, began a criminal path, a different kind of education.
By age 21, Bud Simpson had killed a man. Yet apparently and fortunately for Bud, the color of his skin and the his father's money was all it took in 1906 to get this unsightly occurrence swept under the rug. It was considered self-defense, and Bud not charged with a crime and did not go to jail. The words of a white man in that day always outweighed those of any witnesses of a darker hue. The details of the crime did not matter in the eyes of the law.
| Name: | Oatum Asbury Simpson |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Male |
| Marriage Date: | 1 Oct 1908 |
| Marriage Place: | Rowan, North Carolina, USA |
| Spouse: | Pearl Brandon |
| Spouse Gender: | Female |
| Event Type: | Marriage |
Unfettered, years later, Bud got married. The Brandons were a very early family to arrive in Rowan County, They are said to have been among the first ten, and probably the first five, to settle in the Trading Ford area, beginning with Pearl Brandson's ancestor, John Brandon. Bob Krider lived in Tranding Ford and the family of Pearl Brandon lived right next door. There was no question of how Bud Simpson met his bride. A son, John Thomas Simpson, was born the very next year, in 1909.
In 1910, the census was still not being taken on the same day and Bud Simpson and his young family, were enumerated twice, in two different places. On April 18, 1910, enumerator John W. Caudle found him in Cottonville, in Tyson Township in Stanly County, living right next door to his sister, Mamie. Their mother, Laura, was in jail at this time. His occupation was given as a Laborer and in what capacity, he answered, "Working Out".
| Name: | John Simpson | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age in 1910: | 0[11/12] | ||||||||||||
| Birth Date: | 1910[1910] | ||||||||||||
| Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||
| Home in 1910: | Tyson, Stanly, North Carolina, USA | ||||||||||||
| Race: | White | ||||||||||||
| Gender: | Male | ||||||||||||
| Relation to Head of House: | Son | ||||||||||||
| Marital Status: | Single | ||||||||||||
| Father's Name: | Bud A Simpson | ||||||||||||
| Father's Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||
| Mother's Name: | Pearl Simpson | ||||||||||||
| Mother's Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||
| Neighbors: | |||||||||||||
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On April 23, 1910, just a week later, enumerator Arthur L. Kluttz found Bud living on Miller Ferry Road, in Trading Ford, Providence Township, in Rowan County, with William R. Krider and his legal family.
| Name: | Odem A Simpson | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age in 1910: | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Date: | 1886[1886] | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Birthplace: | North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Home in 1910: | Providence, Rowan, North Carolina, USA | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Street: | Miller Ferry Road | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Race: | White | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gender: | Male | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Relation to Head of House: | Servant | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Marital Status: | Married | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Father's Birthplace: | North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Mother's Birthplace: | North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Native Tongue: | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation: | Laborer | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Industry: | Working Out | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Employer, Employee or Other: | Wage Earner | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Able to read: | No | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Able to Write: | No | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Out of Work: | N | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Weeks Out of Work: | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Neighbors: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bud is listed as a Servant, gives his occupation as a Laborer again, and also in the capacity of "Working Out". His marital status is 'married" and he can not read or write. Sad considering Bob Krider's 31 year old daughter, Bud's half-sister, is listed as a teacher and the younger two chldren, Bertha and Robert, 18 and 16 years old, respectively, are listed as College Students. This family lived in House Number 74. Nearby, still on Miller Ferry Road, in House Number 67, is the Brandon Family.
| Name: | John A Braudon[John A Brandon] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age in 1910: | 57 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Date: | 1853[1853] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home in 1910: | Providence, Rowan, North Carolina, USA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Street: | Millers Ferry Road Millers Ferry Road | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Race: | White | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gender: | Male | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relation to Head of House: | Head | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marital Status: | Married | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse's Name: | Laura Brandon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Father's Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mother's Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Native Tongue: | English | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation: | Farmer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Industry: | General Farm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Employer, Employee or Other: | Own Account | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home Owned or Rented: | Own | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Farm or House: | Farm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Able to read: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Able to Write: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years Married: | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Neighbors: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Led by John Adolphus Brandson, the household consisted of John and his wife Laura Lentz Brandson, sons Charles, Council, Francis, Scott and Brandson, along with married daughter, Pearl Edith Simpson and her little boy, John Thomas Simpson. I don't believe the couple was separated, as they were together just a few days prior. It was probably that because the families were neighbors, Pearl preferred to stay with her parents when they were in Rowan. I don't doubt she knew of her husbands actual occupation and just needed to keep herself and their little boy out of it.
The newspapers can also give us a clearer picture of what was actually going on in 1910. The following series of clippings come from the January 6, 1910 edition of The Enterprise, out of Albemarle, North Carolina.It takes place 4 months before the April 1910 census was taken.
Laura Simpson, Bud's mother, had gotten herself in a great deal of trouble. Rocky River Springs was a health resort at the time, with a beautifully built hotel and streets of actractive white-washed cottages for wealthy citizens to purchase as vacation homes with lovely names like Water Street, Sweet Spring and Folly Lane. The local citizens, and property owners of Rocky River Springs, saw her establishment as a blight upon the community. Laura was described as a degenerate, feeble old woman in the about article in 1910. She was 52.
Krider had long been identified as the party to blame. His illicit business took him far and wide, 'up and down the Yadkin Railway". He had pleaded with the Cottonville Magistrate to pay a bond for Laura, to keep her out of jail, and understandable action in just loss of income were in play, but reading on, there was obviously a little more to it.
The above paragraph sheds a good deal of light on the personality of Bob Krider and his relationship with Laura Simpson. In his home county, Krider, a man of means and family reputation, tried to hold on to that reputation. He was married, snf sent his children to the best schools. His oldest daughter was a teacher in Rowan already and his younger two were in college. So why did he risk his reputation, his business, his own freedom, actually, to 'took the insult without resentment and continued to plead for the said Laura."?
It was obvious there was more than a financial relationship that bonded Bob and Laura. Though it probably no longer existed in any physical form, the fact that they had a child together some 20 plus years prior, and perhaps Bob had gotten her into the business as a form of survival income for Laura, and felt responsible for her situation. Yet, could it have also been that Krider loved Laura? His defiance of the ignominy of his own self interest implies that he may have. He risked his own freedom,safety, and reputation to plead of hers.
In another article from the same newspaper, just a talater date, January 10, 4 days later, it was reported that Laura had been found. It also described Laura's place as 'three acres of almost worthless land' that was not even cultivated, as if lack of cultivation was a bad thing. There is mention of what appears to have been a letter to the editor of a competing newspaper, the 'Albemarle Chronicle' of the accusations The Enterprise had made. This letter does not survive, but I wondered about the location of the place. As it takes a few twists and turns, and is quite lengthy in exploration, I will examine the area separately.
Apparently, Krider had obtained some criminal records in Richmond and Montgomery Counties stemming from his Blockading activities. Laura went to jail and remained there for a number of months, beinfg found there in 1910.
The papers clearly state that Laura's place was not only a blind tiger, but a Brothel. I have already identifiled two of the ladies who may have worked there, her cousin Turzy and her own daughter, Mamie. Bob Krider seemed to try and acertain that the same fate would not befall the daughters of Turzy and Mamie. He even removed them from Stanly County and attempted to help find them husbands, his beautiful home becoming a wedding venue.
Like father, like son
While Bob Krider tried to find a better life for the daughters born into the sin of Laura's place, he had different plans for the son born to him and Laura. While the beginning of 1910, in January, was all about the trial of Laura Simpson, by December of 1910, there were different matters, and her arrest stopped nothing. It was Bud's turn to make the papers.
Bud Simposn aka Bud Krider, was now 26 years old and a 'businessman' in his own right. There are similar articles in November and December of 1910 describing how Bud took off into the woods, abandoning his wagon and all that was in it, including the mules and the alchohol, One article even teased him or his father to come claim it. Recall, this is the year that Bud was counted as living both in Rowan and in Stanly County, just a week or so apart, in Rowan, his wife living with her parents and Bud living at the Krider home.
1911
1911 became the year of Bud. He continued to cause mayhem, an angry young man. His aim seemed not only to make money, but he may have been out for revenge as well. You can feel him thinking how dare these two-faced men, who frequented his mothers place, lock her up while in ill health to pay for enabling their own sins. He took his anger out on Wadesboro.
The following clips all come from ' The Monroe Journal ", February 14, edition, 1911, our of Union County, NC, just two months after the seisure of his wagon in Anson County.
One of the largest fires in Wadesboro had happened the night of February 13, 1911. Most of the damage occured to the properites of W. Henry Liles and J. D. Horne. Also damaged were the properties of James A. Hardison and C. S. Wheelers, the Threadgill buildings and The Blalock Hardware Company. Water damaged claimed part of it and a damaged Barber Shop had no insurance. It was a horrific event in the life of hte little town.
Almost immediately, people became suspicious. Revenge on Mr. Horne, whose business appeared to be the start of the fire, was thought to be the motive. Apparently, Mr. Horne was an informant, or had something to do with the loss of property in November 1910, of the wagon, mules, and untaxed alchohol that was being driven by Bud Simpson.
Two men, named as suspects were Perry and Bud Simpson of Stanly County. They ran off and fired a pistol at the officers who were in pursuit of them and the officers shot back at them in return. In the return fire 'Perry Simpson' was seriously wounded, but not killed
The article mentions Krider and Laura and the fact that Bud was her son. But who was Perry Simpson? Laura had no other sons and I can not find a Perry Simpson that would have been the right age and in the right place, but I did find someone who fits the bill to have been "Perry" Simpson.
| Name: | Parris Simpson | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age in 1910: | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Date: | 1893[1893] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||
| Home in 1910: | Providence, Rowan, North Carolina, USA | ||||||||||||||||||
| Street: | Millers Ferry Road | ||||||||||||||||||
| Race: | White | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gender: | Male | ||||||||||||||||||
| Relation to Head of House: | Brother-in-law | ||||||||||||||||||
| Marital Status: | Single | ||||||||||||||||||
| Father's Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mother's Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||
| Native Tongue: | English | ||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation: | Farm Laborer | ||||||||||||||||||
| Industry: | Home Farm | ||||||||||||||||||
| Employer, Employee or Other: | Wage Earner | ||||||||||||||||||
| Attended School: | No | ||||||||||||||||||
| Able to read: | No | ||||||||||||||||||
| Able to Write: | No | ||||||||||||||||||
| Neighbors: | |||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
In 1910, Parris Simpson was 17 years old. He was about 19 in 1912. Here, he is seen living on Miller Ferry Road in Providence Township in Rowan County, which was the Trading Ford area, with his siter Mattie and her family. Remember who else lived on Miller Ferry Road in Providence township? Bob Krider and Bud Simpson with him. Parris, who would change his name to Ferris and was also seen as 'Ferry', as in the 1920 census, by which time he is married and had moved to Cabarrus County, was the son of Turzy Simpson, Laura's first cousin, and one of the 'girls' who worked for her or with her. The one who was shot was probably Parris/ Ferris Perry/ Ferry Simpson. I'll add more evidence after completion of this 1911 article
There was more than enough reason to believe the Simpson/ Krider camp might want revenge on this Mr. Horne. His information had led to the confiscation of Bud's wagon and horses, and additional Equipment, along with the illicit untaxed hooch. His mother, described as feeble and in ill health had also been thrown in jail. I can see Simpson being an angry young man.
A well dressed man had been asking around town as to the location of Horne's store. Mr. Neal and another man had been questioned. Horne was unnerved when asked about the incident and went running to the sheriff. He wasn't nervous for no reason. He had done something to be nervous about.
Below is an article from 1941, over 20 years after th e above incidents with the capture of the wagon and the arson in Wadesboro, but it adds evidence that the Perry Simpson mentioned in 1910 and 1911 was Parris/Ferris Simpson. He never got his demons under control.
 |
CLIPPED FROM The News and ObserverRaleigh, North Carolina 30 Sep 1941, Tue • Page 3 |
W. R. Krider was now getting older. He may have stopped the blockading that had helped build up his wealth, and turned to more acceptable pursuits to leave a positive legacy to his descendants and his name. Besides farming, which appeared to be a constant occupation, if not more than a distraction, of his, he undertook several other ventures, in years past, but also just a few years past the days of his 'troubles' and brushes with the law. One of those legitimate enterprises was the building of roads.
It was time to rebuild his reputation in Rowan as a buisnessman, a legitimate one, and leave a good legacy for his legitimate children. He had begun leaving the risk taking to younger men like the Simpson boys. Bud followed in his fathers footsteps incessantly.
While Bob, now in his 60's, was working on restoring his name and estate, Bud was in his 20's and giving the devil a run for his money. For instance, he got drunkand disorderly in Charlotte in 1912.
I won't post all clippings, but in 1919, after widening his distriblution, Bud was caught in Granville County, sentenced to one year in prison, asked for a pardon, and got it!
| Name: | Odam Simpson[Adam Simpson] | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age: | 35 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Year: | abt 1885 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Birthplace: | North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Home in 1920: | Spencer, Rowan, North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Street: | Salisbury Ave | |||||||||||||||||||||
| House Number: | X | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Date: | 1920 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Race: | White | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gender: | Male | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Relation to Head of House: | Head | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Marital Status: | Married | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse's Name: | Pearl Simpson | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Father's Birthplace: | North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Mother's Birthplace: | North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Able to Speak English: | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation: | Electric Cranman | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Industry: | Store Ry | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Employment Field: | Wage or Salary | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Home Owned or Rented: | Rented | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Able to read: | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Able to Write: | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Neighbors: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
1920 came along, the decade when things began to get ' Modern". Bud Simpson, now in his 30's, was living on Salisbury Street in Spencer, in Rowan County, just out side of Salisbury, "Train Town'. All four of his children had been born, John was now 10, Charlie 8, Laura 6, and Clyde 4. Yes, he had named his only daughter for his mother. Her name was Nancy Laura, which was the only name for her as both her grandmothers' were named Laura, Laura Simpson and Laura Lentz Brandon, and both Laura's mothers were named Nancy; Nancy Simpson and Nancy Louise Mae Hartman Lentz.
Bud was working as an Electric Crainman in Salisbury, according to his given occupation? Had he given up his stockading as part of his pardon agreement?
| Name: | William B Crider William B Krider | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age: | 69 | ||||||||||||
| Birth Year: | abt 1851 | ||||||||||||
| Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||
| Home in 1920: | Providence, Rowan, North Carolina | ||||||||||||
| Street: | Miller Ferry Road | ||||||||||||
| House Number: | Farm | ||||||||||||
| Residence Date: | 1920 | ||||||||||||
| Race: | White | ||||||||||||
| Gender: | Male | ||||||||||||
| Relation to Head of House: | Head | ||||||||||||
| Marital Status: | Married | ||||||||||||
| Spouse's Name: | Georgie Crider | ||||||||||||
| Father's Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||
| Mother's Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||
| Able to Speak English: | Yes | ||||||||||||
| Occupation: | Farmer | ||||||||||||
| Industry: | General | ||||||||||||
| Employment Field: | Own Account | ||||||||||||
| Home Owned or Rented: | Owned | ||||||||||||
| Home Free or Mortgaged: | Free | ||||||||||||
| Able to read: | Yes | ||||||||||||
| Able to Write: | Yes | ||||||||||||
| Neighbors: | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
The Krider's were still livng on Miller's Ferry Road in 1920, Bob and Georgia both in their 60's now. The kids were all grown and gone and they had a young school teacher anmed Elsie living with them.
Dora had married a Hargrove and had moved to Martin County, a small, lightly populated county in the northeastern part of the state.
Her wedding announcement, in 1910, certainly was not reflective of what was being reported of her father in Stanly County in the same year that Laura Simpson was thrown in jail. In 1920, Bertha was still single and living with her sister in Robbinsville, Martin County, where they were both school teachers. There she would meet her future husband. Dora would lose a son as an infant, and have one daughter to survive until adulthood. Bertha would marry , but remain childless.
The Krider's youngest, Robert Lee, Married in 1917 to a local girl from Providence. They the moved to Richmond, Virginia ,as the wedding announcement suggested, and there they would be found in 1920.
| Name: | Robt Lee Krider[Robt Lee Whi??] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age: | 27 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Year: | abt 1893 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birthplace: | N S | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home in 1920: | Richmond Madison Ward, Richmond (Independent City), Virginia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Street: | 6th St | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| House Number: | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Date: | 1920 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Race: | White | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gender: | Male | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relation to Head of House: | Head | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marital Status: | Married | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse's Name: | Edna E Krider | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Father's Birthplace: | USA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mother's Birthplace: | USA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Able to Speak English: | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home Owned or Rented: | Rented | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Able to read: | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Able to Write: | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Neighbors: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert appears to be renting a residence on 7th street, with a number of folks boarding with him. His young wife, and thier little boy, Curry, is with them. No occupation is given for Robert, but but most of those around him are working for the Railroad. From the family history, in the Rowan County History compilation, it states that Robert had attended the Lutheran Academy for boys in Mount Pleaseant, in Cabarrus County, and then later, Pfeiffer College in Misenhiemer, in Stanly County and he was by, profession, a Mechanical Engineer. He may have been working in this capacity in Roanoke, having grown up near Spencer and the Railroad industry.
Bob and Georgia were now empty nesters and he had suceeded in launching thier three children into respectible careers with bright futures. With his daughters in Martin County and Robert Lee in Richmond, Virginai, Bob decided to build a large house on Main Street in Spencer, not very far from where Bud Simpson had settled. The aging couple would not enjoy their new home for many years. On November 22, 1923, Bob Krider would pass away at the age of 73. He was buried at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, between Salisbury and Spencer. W. R. Krider did not leave a will, surprisingly, so his estate papers, understandably, show the home and everything in it, going to his widow, Georgia Ann Hudson Krider. She outlived him by a decade, passing away in 1933. During those years, Georgia would relocate to Robbinsville to live with her daughters, Dora and Bertha.
 |
| Georgia with her two grandchildren |
She would return to Salisbury to be buried beside Bob at Chestnut Hill.
The three children of William Robert and Geoargia Ann Krider were:
Dora Mae Krider Hargrove (1878-1950) Married Dr. Robert H. Hargrove, 1 child.
Dora attended Mt. Amonema Seminary in Mt. Pleasabt, Cabarrus County, NC and Claremont College in Hickory. She afterwards became a teacher. She married at 31 and settled in Robbinsville, Martin County, NC
Bertha Clara Krider Roberson (1891 -1892) Married John Henry Roberson, Sr., no children.
Bertha married at 38 to a much older widower and she did indeed live to be 100 years old. Like Dora, Bertha attended Mt. Amonena Seminary in Mount Pleasant, then on to East Carolina and Duke Universities. She also became a teacher and also settled in Martin County, NC. Her ob
Robert Lee Thomas Krider, alias James C. Park. (1894-1961) Married Edna E. Waller, 1 child.
While the women in this family seemed flawless, respectible and above reproach, the men seem to have lived double lives. The family history does not include the second life of Robert, as if it didn't exist, but it did and his only son was fully aware of it.Robert Lee was educated at the Lutheran Academy for boys at Mount Pleasant and later attended Pfeiffer College in Stanly County. His profession was that of a mechanical engineer. At the age of 23, he married in Rowan County, to Edna Elizabeth Waller. The next year, in 1918, a son, Curry Waller Krider , was born. The next census, in 1920, seemed both normal and not.
On January 27, 1920, he was living as a lodger, in Norfolk, Virginai, working as a Steam Fitter. On May 14, 1920, he was living as a Head of Household in Richmond with his wife, son and a couple of boarders. In both cases, he was married.
But between 1920 and 1930, something happned. Robert Lee Krider lived until 1961, so I had to find his death records and back track.
Robert Lee Krider was no more and in his place was James C. or Lee Parks. Note the date of birth for J. C. Parks is May 9, 1894, the same birthdate as Robert Lee Krider. Notice that his parents are listed as W. R. Krider and Annie Hudson ( Georgia Ann Hudson Kirider). Notice that the informant is Curry Krider, son of Robert Lee Krider. J. C. Parks and Robert Lee Krider were one and the same.
| Name: | James C Parks |
|---|---|
| Birth Year: | abt 1895 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Race: | White |
| Age in 1930: | 35 |
| Birthplace: | Virginia |
| Marital Status: | Divorced |
| Relation to Head of House: | Lodger |
| Home in 1930: | Greenville, Greenville, South Carolina, USA |
| Map of Home: | |
| Street Address: | North Richardson Street |
| Ward of City: | 1 |
| House Number: | 107 |
| Dwelling Number: | 266 |
| Family Number: | 355 |
| Age at First Marriage: | 22 |
| Attended School: | No |
| Able to Read and Write: | Yes |
| Father's Birthplace: | Virginia |
| Mother's Birthplace: | Virginia |
| Able to Speak English: | Yes |
| Occupation: | Steam Fitter |
| Industry: | Plumbing |
| Class of Worker: | Wage or salary worker |
| Employment: | Yes |
In 1930, James C Parks is found living in Greenville, SC, living in a boarding house, working as a Steam Fitter, which is the same occupation Robert Lee Krider had in January of 1920, while boarding in Norfolk, Virginia. His marital status is given as 'Divorced'. The family history stated that Robert Lee Krider had ran a heating company in Greenville, SC. But where was his wife and son?
| Name: | Edna W Krider | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Year: | abt 1896 | ||||||||||||
| Gender: | Female | ||||||||||||
| Race: | White | ||||||||||||
| Age in 1930: | 34 | ||||||||||||
| Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||
| Marital Status: | Divorced | ||||||||||||
| Relation to Head of House: | Daughter | ||||||||||||
| Home in 1930: | Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina, USA | ||||||||||||
| Map of Home: | |||||||||||||
| Street Address: | Long Street | ||||||||||||
| House Number: | 1101 | ||||||||||||
| Dwelling Number: | 107 | ||||||||||||
| Family Number: | 109 | ||||||||||||
| Age at First Marriage: | 21 | ||||||||||||
| Attended School: | No | ||||||||||||
| Able to Read and Write: | Yes | ||||||||||||
| Father's Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||
| Mother's Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||
| Able to Speak English: | Yes | ||||||||||||
| Occupation: | Clerk | ||||||||||||
| Industry: | Drug store | ||||||||||||
| Class of Worker: | Wage or salary worker | ||||||||||||
| Employment: | Yes | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Edna had taken Curry back to Salisbury, in Rowan County, NC and they were living with her father, Thomas Waller. She was also listed as divorced. That would explain what happened as far as the couple living in different states, but why the name change?
| Name: | Lee Parrls Jr[Lee J Parks Jr] |
|---|---|
| Age: | 43 |
| Estimated Birth Year: | abt 1897 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Race: | White |
| Birthplace: | South Carolina |
| Marital Status: | Divorced |
| Relation to Head of House: | Lodger |
| Home in 1940: | Greenville, Greenville, South Carolina |
| Map of Home in 1940: | |
| Street: | East North Street |
| House Number: | 915 |
| Inferred Residence in 1935: | Greenville, Greenville, South Carolina |
| Residence in 1935: | Greenville |
| Sheet Number: | 1B |
| Occupation: | Mechanic |
| Attended School or College: | No |
| Highest Grade Completed: | Elementary school, 8th grade |
| Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: | 44 |
| Class of Worker: | Wage or salary worker in private work |
| Weeks Worked in 1939: | 52 |
In 1940, Lee called himslef "Lee Parks, Jr." and claimed to be born in South Carollina. I wonder if he was really a Krider. Had he been adopted, and gone back to his birth name? I found another Lee Parks about the same age as Robert Krider/ J. C. Parks, but she was a black female. I found an older male who had been born in Georgia, but he was also African American. Robert Lee definately was not .
In 1940, Edna was still living wit hher father in Salisbury. Later tha same year she would remarry to a
Douglas Blankett. Curry remined an only child. Robert Lee/ James C. would never remarry. He spent the remainder of his life in Greenville, South Carolina unitl he passed away at 67 in 1961.
| Name: | Edna Krider[Edna Waller] | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age: | 44 | ||||||||||||
| Estimated Birth Year: | abt 1896 | ||||||||||||
| Gender: | Female | ||||||||||||
| Race: | White | ||||||||||||
| Birthplace: | North Carolina | ||||||||||||
| Marital Status: | Divorced | ||||||||||||
| Relation to Head of House: | Daughter | ||||||||||||
| Home in 1940: | East Spencer, Rowan, North Carolina | ||||||||||||
| Map of Home in 1940: | |||||||||||||
| Street: | Long Street | ||||||||||||
| House Number: | 1101 | ||||||||||||
| Inferred Residence in 1935: | East Spencer, Rowan, North Carolina | ||||||||||||
| Residence in 1935: | East Spencer | ||||||||||||
| Sheet Number: | 7B | ||||||||||||
| Neighbors: | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
He was brought back to Rowan County, NC for burial and buried at Chestnut Hill, where his parents were laid to rest.
 |
19 Aug 1961 Greenville, South Carolina |
But what about Bud?
We last saw him in 1920, living in Spencer, with his wife, Pearl and 4 children. In 1930, he is living with his family still intact, on Long Street in Salisbury Township, which is now East Spencer, and working as an Electrician at the Railroad shop. Gone are the criminal escapades, gone is the runnng of illicit alchohol. He is now over 40, and settled into being a respecatble family man. He becomes the father that he,himself, never had.
| Name: | Olin A Simpson | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Year: | abt 1886 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gender: | Male | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Race: | White | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Age in 1930: | 44 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Birthplace: | North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Marital Status: | Married | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Relation to Head of House: | Head | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Home in 1930: | Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina, USA | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Map of Home: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Street Address: | Long Street | |||||||||||||||||||||
| House Number: | 1408 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Dwelling Number: | 197 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Family Number: | 200 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Home Owned or Rented: | Rented | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Home Value: | 15 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Radio Set: | No | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Lives on Farm: | No | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Age at First Marriage: | 23 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Attended School: | No | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Able to Read and Write: | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Father's Birthplace: | North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Mother's Birthplace: | North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Able to Speak English: | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation: | Electrican | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Industry: | Railroad Shop | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Class of Worker: | Wage or salary worker | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Employment: | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ten years later, Bud is still living on Long Streeet, which is by now called East Spencer and still working for the Railroad. He and Pearl are now in their 50's and all the little Simpsons have flown the nest.
| Name: | Odum A Simpson | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respondent: | Yes | |||||||||
| Age: | 54 | |||||||||
| Estimated Birth Year: | abt 1886 | |||||||||
| Gender: | Male | |||||||||
| Race: | White | |||||||||
| Birthplace: | North Carolina | |||||||||
| Marital Status: | Married | |||||||||
| Relation to Head of House: | Head | |||||||||
| Home in 1940: | East Spencer, Rowan, North Carolina | |||||||||
| Map of Home in 1940: | ||||||||||
| Street: | Long Street | |||||||||
| House Number: | 1108 | |||||||||
| Farm: | No | |||||||||
| Inferred Residence in 1935: | East Spencer, Rowan, North Carolina | |||||||||
| Residence in 1935: | East Spencer | |||||||||
| Resident on farm in 1935: | No | |||||||||
| Sheet Number: | 16B | |||||||||
| Number of Household in Order of Visitation: | 337 | |||||||||
| Neighbors: | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
Odum Asberry " Bud" Simpson aka Bud Krider, will live another 8 years. He died on the last day of the year, December 31, 1948 of "malignancy of the abdominal organs". He was 64. Pearl was the informant and stated she did not know the name of his father, and that his mother was Nancy Simpson, although that was his grandmother's name. I can not belive that she had lived in Cottonville in the early days of their marriage and not known who his mother was, and near the Krider's most of her life and not aware of that relationship. Bud was buried at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, between Spencer and Salisbury, along with Bob Krider and Robert Lee Krider. Pearl would join him in 1957.
| Name: | Odum Asbury Simpson |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Male |
| Race: | White |
| Age: | 64 |
| Birth Date: | 23 May 1884 |
| Birth Place: | Stanley, North Carolina, United States |
| Residence Place: | E Spencer, Rowan, North Carolina |
| Death Date: | 31 Dec 1948 |
| Death Place: | E Spencer, Rowan, North Carolina, USA |
| Mother: | Nancy Simpson |
| Spouse: | Peal Simpson |
The 4 children of Bud and Pearl Smpson were:
1) John Thomas Simpson (1909-1984) Married 3 times, 1 child. Settled in Harnett County, North Carolina. Wives were ; Clara Edwards, Vesta Paschal, Mildred Messer. Daughter Myrna Ann by Vesta Paschal Bobko.
 |
CLIPPED FROM The News and ObserverRaleigh, North Carolina 25 Nov 1984, Sun • Page 43 |
2) Charles Odum Simpson (1911-1996) Married to Annie Ruth Meetze. Two sons; Charles Meetze Simpson and John David Simpson. Lived in York, SC for awhile before settling in Hickory.
3) Nancy Laura Simpson ((1913-1988) Married John Joseph McGeough; Two sons; Charles and Jack. Lived for awhile in White Plains, New York before settling in Dallas, texas.
 |
CLIPPED FROM Fort Worth Star-TelegramFort Worth, Texas 10 Jul 1998, Fri • Page 31 |
4) Clyde Lee Simpson (1915-1999) Married Rose Marie Iacovella of Connecticutt; Three children, Margaret, Marita and John. Settled first in Durham, NC, then Martinsville, VA, and lastly in Seminole, Florida.
The families of Bud Simpson and Bob Krider were small, yet they do have surving descendants to this day, scattered to the winds. If any of them strike out to do a DNA test in search of their roots, hopefully, this will help explain the genetic connections betweens the Kriders and the Simpsons.
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