Captain James F. Simpson, a gallant cavalry officer of the army of Northern Virginia, was born at Peebles, Scotland, May 21, 1827. He was reared in his native land and in 1854, accompanied by his second wife, Susannah Lucinda Marks, immigrated to Pennsylvania and made his home at Pittsburg. Early in the following year the family removed to Norfolk, where, at the beginning of the war of the Confederacy, the father enlisted as a private and drill-master in Company I of the Fifteenth Virginia cavalry. With this command he served with distinction throughout the war, soon being promoted lieutenant, and in 1863 to captain. At the battle of Fredericksburg he gained particular honor by driving a large body of Federals from the city, with a handful of men. In recognition of his gallantry the ladies of the city-presented him a handsome flag and the Scottish colors. At Malvern Hill Captain Simpson was seriously wounded. His death occurred at Norfolk in 1868. William M. Simpson, son of the foregoing, was born at Norfolk, July 31, 1855. At the age of fourteen years he entered the employment of W. D. Reynolds & Co., cotton merchants, as an office boy, and by continual promotions rose to the position of buyer, the best in the gift of the firm, and in this capacity served for fifteen years. He began the discharge of this important duty at a very early age, but though occasionally embarrassed by his youth in the transaction of business, he met with notable success. In 1891 he entered the employment of Price, Reid & Co., as cotton buyer, a position he still holds. Mr. Simpson is prominently connected with several fraternal orders—the Odd Fellows, Royal Arcanum, Knights of Honor, Independent Order of Heptasophs, and the order of the Golden Chair. For six years he served in the Norfolk City Guards. November 11, 1884, he was married to Miss Mary L. Nunnally, of Petersburg, Va., daughter of William T. A. Nunnally, who served efficiently in the ordnance department of the Confederate States. They have one child, Mary Louise.
Captain Charles R. Skinker, of Richmond, was born in Orange county, Va., in 1841. He was reared in his native county, and after receiving a preparatory education there, attended school at Staunton, and subsequently entered the university of Virginia. In 1860 he made his home at Richmond and engaged in business with a brother. On April 21, 1861, he abandoned civil pursuits to become a private in the famous "F" company, with which he served until the eve of the campaign before Richmond in 1862, when he was transferred to the Second Howitzers of Richmond. With this gallant artillery command he was identified until the battle of Fredericksburg, when he was severely wounded in the breast. On becoming capacitated for duty several months later, he was promoted lieutenant and assigned to the Forty-eighth regiment Virginia infantry, and soon afterward being further promoted to the rank of captain continued with that command, except during a period of imprisonment, until at Hatcher's Run, February 7, 1865, he received a wound which caused the loss of his left foot. This severe injury put an end to his active service. Among the battles in which he rendered honorable service were Kernstown, where he received his first wound, the battles before Richmond in the Peninsular campaign, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the defeat of Milroy at Winchester, Gettysburg, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House and Hatcher's Run. At the bloody salient, at
