Rev. Lewis J. Simpson was born near Runnelsburg, [sic: Reynoldsburg] Johnson county, Illinois, October 9, 1827. His father's name was William Simpson. He professed religion in the year 1845, and joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He was married to Miss Martha A. Thomas March 17, 1846. Feeling that the Master had a work for him to do in helping to propagate the gospel of Christ, he joined the Illinois Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in the year 1853. He entered the field as an earnest worker, having his heart burdened with the weight of precious souls. Soon after this he was licensed to preach the gospel. Continuing faithful in his work he was set apart to the whole work of ministry, by the above Presbytery, on the 1st of October, 1862. Thence he joined the 120th Illinois Volunteer Infantry as their chaplain, serving in that capacity for upwards of two years, during which time he was always found at his post, ready and willing under all circumstances to point the well, wounded, sick, and dying to Christ's, the soldier's friend, and to that home beyond the stars, where was and commotion were never known. He returned home from the field of carnage the same soldier for Christ. Entering his home field, he entered it in the spirit of Christ, and at some time had charge of nearly every congregation in his Presbytery. He seemed to be deeply engaged and interested in his work. And the last few years he was with us he was entirely consecrated to the work on the Master. He was more successful as a revivalist than otherwise. He was not what the world called an educated minister, but his mind seemed to always be well stored with that wisdom that comes alone from God. All things considered, we must say that the Lord of the harvest greatly blest his labors. Several months before his death he was quite unwell but still he went forward doing all the good he could.

The last meeting of Presbytery that he attended was held with the Pleasant Hill congregation, Pope county, Illinois, October 1, 1879. He being the retiring moderator, preached the opening sermon from 2 Tim. IV. 5, "Do the work of an evangelist; make full proof of they ministry." During the sitting of this Presbytery this man of God could be heard frequently remarking to some of his brethren that in all probability it would be the last Presbytery he would ever be permitted to attend.

Brother Simpson labored for the Master but little after Presbytery, being still quite unwell, and on Monday, the 24th of November, he was forced to take his bed. His illness having culminated in a malignant form of pneumonia and typhoid fever, which preyed upon his mortality until the angel of death called for his spirit to bear it to Him who gave it. Thus this good man passed away at Vienna, Johnson county, Illinois, Saturday, November 29, 1879.

He leaves a companion and two or three children to mourn their loss. The Presbytery has lost a faithful, true, and earnest minister, who always strove to build up and elevate society to a Christian level. But now he has passed from this to the ever-green shore, where he triumphantly stands with the father's of his Church, plucking the golden fruit from the tree of life which grows in the midst of the paradise of God.

Dear reader, are you a minister of the gospel? If so, be true to the trust Christ has left you, then when you are called to the upper bright world, you can look back on this and truly see that it has been blessed by your having lived in it. Are you an elder? If so, cooperate with your minister in his labor of love, then will you prove a blessing to him and your flock, and when life's journey is complete with you many will rise up in the last day and call you blessed. Are you al lay member of the Church? If so, see how thick and fast your ministers are falling. Look out in the great harvest field--is it not ready for the reapers? and are they not few? Will you not, then, offer up one prayer to God to call and send more laborers into his vineyard? May the Lord help us all to reconsecrate ourselves to the service of God.

Brother Simpson's funeral will be preached at the meeting of the next Presbytery by some one appointed.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, February 5, 1880, page 2]