Simpson, George W.

SIMPSON, PATRICK, BENNETT, STRINGER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/21/2009 at 07:46:49

Simpson, George W.

George W. Simpson is a name known to every one who has any acquaintance whatever with the business history of Newton and Jasper County, for he has long filled an active place in the industrial affairs of this locality, and as an enterprising, far-sighted and energetic man whose judgment is seldom at fault. His influence has made for the substantial up building of the community and he has earned the good will and esteem of a wide circle of friends.

Mr. Simpson was born November 7, 1859, at Westfield, Poweshiek County, Iowa, and he is the son of John and Elizabeth (Patrick) Simpson, natives of Ohio, the father of Scotch descent and the mother of Irish. The elder Simpson began life as a farmer, but after coming to Iowa he preached as an ordained minister in the United Brethren church. While living near Kellogg he had three charges, one of which was forty miles west of Des Moines. Every two weeks he drove eighty miles to preach and back again after the services. For this service he was paid sixty dollars a year. This one instance casts a strong side light upon the inherent strength and beauty of the father's character and readily reveals why he was one of the best beloved men in the County. All his life was spent in good works.

The family came to Iowa in 1834, first settling near Dubuque and about a year later came on to Westfield. For years the father conducted a tavern on the old stage road between Iowa City and Des Moines, and he ran a general store in connection with the same. He also bought and shipped cattle and hogs extensively, often driving droves of hogs as far as Iowa City to market, which place was at that time the western terminus of the Rock Island system.

After selling the tavern, he bought a farm three and one half miles southeast of Kellogg, and there he made his home until 1873, when he retired from farming and he and his son W. S. started a general store in Kellogg, which they sold after conducting it until 1876, whereupon the father retired. His death occurred in Kellogg in 1906, at the advanced age of eighty-six years; the mother is still living in that town, being now eighty-seven years old. John Simpson was a local politician of more than ordinary influence and he was for years mayor of Kellogg, the last time when past eighty years, making one of the best officials the town ever had. He was a loyal Republican and served his township in many capacities, always in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.

Eight children were born to John Simpson and wife, of whom six are living, namely: Thomas J. died in California, at the age of fifty-six years; Wallace W. died in Kellogg, at the age of twenty-two years; W. S. is an eye and ear specialist in Des Moines; A. J. owns and operates the home place of two hundred and forty acres; T. L. resides in Kellogg, owning the only hotel there, and also has two farms; Sarah E. is the wife of James Bennett and lives in Kellogg; George W. of this review; L. E. is a retired farmer and resides in Kellogg.

George W. Simpson began railroading in 1876 as water boy on the construction of the Rock Island. Two years later he began working with the steam shovel gang in Missouri. Then in the fall of 1879 he began braking on the Rock Island road, in Missouri, remaining two and one-half years. From that state he went to Ogden, Utah, then the western terminus of the Union Pacific road, with his headquarters at Evanston, Wyoming. After about a year he was transferred to Idaho and given a train. This he conducted but a short time, when he was placed in the yards at Pocatello, Idaho, as yardmaster. All told, he worked twenty-three months for the Union Pacific. He then went to San Francisco and other points on the Pacific coast, then returned east, and began braking out of Trenton, Missouri, continuing at this a year and a half, after which he ran a train several years, being a conductor both on a freight and a passenger. He was in many wrecks and saw much hard service, a great deal of it under the old-fashioned style of apparatus, before the days of safety devices and modern improvements. In making an old-fashioned coupling he was injured, losing a part of his hand. He was in a bad wreck in January before quitting the railroad business in February. At one time he worked for the Wabash Railroad three months, but most of his long service was with the Rock Island and Union Pacific. He became widely known in railroad circles and was regarded as a faithful, honest and capable employee.

Mr. Simpson was formerly a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen and was its first delegate ever sent to the grand lodge at San Antonio, Texas. Later, however, he dropped it for the Order of Railway Conductors, of which he is now a dimitted member.

After he quit railroading Mr. Simpson purchased an eighty-acre farm near Kellogg, on which he spent nine years, then sold out and bought one hundred and fifty acres, in Kellogg township which he farmed three years; selling this, he purchased one hundred and forty-three acres in Newton Township. After living here three years he sold it for one hundred sixty-two dollars and fifty cents per acre, then purchased the one-fourth city block in the heart of the business district of Newton where he has a feed store and hitch yard, which is doing a large business. Besides this property, he owns a splendid modern residence in Newton and valuable farming interests in Dickerson County.

On March 31,1887, Mr. Simpson was united in marriage with Mattie E. Stringer, of Missouri, and the daughter of James Stringer and wife, both now deceased; they were farmers and highly respected in their neighborhood in Missouri.

To Mr. and Mrs. Simpson five children have been born, all of whom are living, namely: Earl E., born February 26, 1888, is a mail carrier in Newton; Harry V., born December 6, 1889, lives in DeSoto, Iowa; Guy, born August 24, 1896; Ruth, born April 26, 1902; Gerald, born February 5, 1905; the last three named being at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Simpson are members of the Methodist Church, and active and sincere workers therein. Mr. Simpson is at present third vice-president of the Methodist Brotherhood. He has in the past been a trustee in the church and was assistant superintendent of the Sunday school two years and teacher of the men's class one year. While in the country he was superintendent of the Sunday school three years. He is a member of Central Lodge No. 73, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Newton, being its present treasurer. In January 1903, he joined as a charter member the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Trenton, Missouri, later transferring his membership to Lodge No. 76 at Kellogg, Iowa, in which he has passed all the chairs except those of outer guard and prelate. At this time he is a member of the Newton lodge, which he has represented in the grand lodge several times. He was a delegate from the Kellogg lodge to the grand lodge at Council Bluffs. Both he and his wife are members of the Rebekahs, and Mr. Simpson is a member of the Modern Brotherhood of America, of which he is secretary. Mr. Simpson has served on the school board of Buena Vista Township for three years and as road supervisor for two years. He also served two years as clerk of Newton Township. He is regarded as one of Jasper County's useful and representative men. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 616.