Eliza Simpson



Eliza Van Houten (née Simpson) (1852-1953) was the beautiful ancestor of Lisa Simpson, who looks like Lisa, but was older than Abraham Simpson I

Biography
During the era of the Civil War, Eliza helped a black slave named Virgil escape from Colonel Burns, his owner. She sheltered him in her house and forced her parents, Hiram and Mabel, into promising that they won't tell anyone about Virgil's presence. However, Colonel Burns deduced where Virgil had gone and arrived at the Simpson home, forcing Hiram into revealing the slave's location by offering shoes as gifts. Eliza tried to stop Burns, but Burns told him that little girls should be "seen, not heard", to which she sadly agrees. However, Mabel runs off with Virgil to Canada and eventually marries him, divorcing Hiram.

In a 1952 interview, there is a wedding photo in the background showing that Eliza ended up marrying Milford Van Houten, making Lisa Simpson and Milhouse Van Houten distantly related, as they are both descended from Mabel Simpson. In the interview, she tells that she only regrets not stopping Burns in finding Virgil.



Appearances