1992: THE LATE BOB SIMPKINS: THE ORIGINAL HAMILTON HISTORIAN

"Though you travel the world over in search of the beautiful,
You must carry it with you or you find it not."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

This article by my former journalistic colleague Echo Fling is among the very best of the many columns written on the agricultural heritage of Hamilton township. It has been re-formatted in order to fit on the computer monitor. Ms Fling chose the one man who in my estimation was the real "Hamilton Historian," the late, Robert Simpkins. Bob had a fierce love of Hamilton, and the many stories he told me of his early years as a farmer at the Simpkins Brothers Dairy Farm on Yardville-Hamilton Square Road have all been stored in my mental memory bank. Before he passed on to be with the Lord at age 102, it was my privilege to take Bob to and from our monthly Hamilton Township Historical Society meetings. I marveled at the stories he told, and feeling with which he told them. He was a splendid example of a very humble but knowledgeable man. The interview above is an incredibly concise thumbnail sketch of the rural Hamilton of old.

1946: BROOKHILL DAIRY FARM HAMILTON TOWNSHIP NJ

The township has bestowed upon me the unofficial title of Hamilton Township Historian. The gentleman shown in the photo above is the late Robert "Bob" Simpkins. Bob should have been formally and officially appointed as the historian of Hamilton Township. He was one of the Charter members and organizers of the Hamilton Township Historical Society. He was also a walking-talking encyclopedia when it came to Hamilton history. As I have said so many times in so many posts on this website, I was completely out of touch with Hamilton Township during the decades of the 60's, 70's, and 80's, commuting daily to my office in New Brunswick. It was only after I retired in the late 90's when I became active in the Hamilton Historical Society that I got to know Bob . During my terms as President of the Society, Bob and I became fast friends. His advancing age precluded driving to the monthly meetings, and it was my privilege to be his chauffeur, bringing him to the monthly meetings and driving him home at their conclusion. Bob loved the idea that I was bringing local history into the 21st century and concentrating not only on the John Abbott II House, but all the countless interesting persons, places, and things relating to Hamilton that have been buried in oblivion. When I would pick him up from his Yardville home and we headed to the meetings, Bob would point out the location of the farms and farmers he remembered from his youth. The Stelle, Quigley, Bertothy, and other farms which were now carved into offices, Condos, shopping centers, etc. He told of his younger years as a student at the old Edgebrook School and the old Yardville School. He told fascinating tales of his experiences at his family's Brookhill Farms, and equally fascinating tales of his family's relationship with the neighboring Allinson family. I really miss Bob Simpkins; the fellow who should have been formally given the title of Hamilton Township Historian. His lack of a formally bestowed title reminded me of my mother's admonition that she would rather have flowers given to her while she was alive instead of laying them on her grave. Bob passed away in 2008 at the age of 102; I really miss his gentlemanly demeanor.

2008: Robert Simpkins.Hamilton Loses a Treasured Citizen

Hamilton's beloved Bob Simpkins has gone on to be with the Lord. I always experience a sense of inadequacy when folks introduce me as the historian of Hamilton Township. It was folks like Bob Simpkins who were the true historians. Bob will be sorely missed by those of us who knew and loved him. I had no idea he was hospitalized, and was going to call him and ask if he wanted me to pick him up for this Sunday's "Wassail Party" at the John Abbott II House. Bob will be with us in spirit this Sunday as we remember an Historic Hamilton Township legend who was one of the kindest men I have ever had the privilege of calling friend, and who made me proud to be considered his friend. God be with you, Bob as you enter into His Heavenly Kingdom.