If you live for your children, they may be smitten down and leave you desolate, or, what is far worse, they may desert you and leave you worse than childless in a cold and unfeeling world.

He was baptized as an infant by Bishop Francis Asbury. In 1859 Bishop Simpson changed his residence from Pittsburgh to Evanston Illinois where he accepted the position of President of the Garrett Biblical Institute (now Garrett–Evangelical Theological Seminary). Matthew's uncle also was Matthew Simpson who also emigrated from Ireland to America in 1793.

For the Brisbane Bears player see Matthew Simpson (footballer).