Simpson, Ansel P.

SIMPSON

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 10/2/2007 at 23:14:01

Maquoketa Record
December 10, 1907

SIMPSON

Ansel P. Simpson was born at Schoon, Essex county, in the State of New York on the 7th day of August A.D. 1841, and died at his home in Maquoketa, Iowa, on the 5th day of December 1907.

He is survived by his wife, one daughter – Carrie E. wife of F. C. Gregory, two granddaughters, one brother – Henry Simpson of Spencer Iowa, and three sisters, Mrs. Amy Snelds of Glena Falls, N. Y., Mrs. Marion Brown of Burlington, Iowa, and Mrs. W. M. Gibson of Maquoketa, Iowa.

He was one of a family of eight children and grew to manhood in his native town. He was among the first to respond to his Country’s call and on July 24, 1861 enlisted in Company “E” 22nd Regiment New York Infantry Volunteers for a term of two years. He served his full term and received an honorable discharge.

On the 1st day of January, 1864, he was married to Lelia J. Collin at Sandy Hill N. Y. He moved to Iowa in the month of December 1867 and settled on a farm south of Maquoketa where he engaged in farming for about eighteen years, then purchased a home in the city of Maquoketa where he moved and where he continued to reside up to the date of his death.

He was an honest, upright, honorable citizen and was several times selected by the citizens of his ward to represent them in the City Council and discharged his duties faithfully and honorably.

He had never visited his old home and as the time for the holding of the National reunion of the survivors of the war of the Rebellion at Saratoga, September 9, 1907 drew near he became anxious to not only attend the reunion but to visit the home of his childhood. Accordingly in company of wife and granddaughter, Lelia Van Oatrand, his sister, Mrs. Gibson and husband, he made the trip. It was a trip made up of the most touching tender heart to heart reunions of human experience the reunion of friends – of childhood and early manhood: the reunion of his military unit.