William Henry Simpson was a carpenter, 49 years old, the son of James Simpson, and brother of Mrs. Sheriff Yeager.1 He was born and raised in Portsmouth, and will be remembered by many as the ‘Hen Simpson’ of their schoolboy days. He was a member of Active Fire Company No. 4 for many years and at the time of his death was doing duty as a volunteer fireman. His funeral took place Thursday afternoon, and was one of the largest ever held in the city. It took place from the German Methodist Church, to which his wife belonged. Mr. Simpson’s affiliations were with the Second Presbyterian Church, and the pastor of that church, Reverend CL Work, preached the funeral sermon. The fire companies turned out in large numbers, and the members of the City Council, in carriages, headed the funeral cortege. The stars and stripes were half-masted on the flag staff at the Seventh street engine house, and the large alarm bell tolled solemnly during the entire exercise.2
Marshall H. Anderson, owner of the Buckeye Flour Mill also died of injuries sustained during the fire.
