Simpson, James E. 1833 - 1904

SIMPSON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:46

Source: Decorah Republican Sept. 29, 1904 Page 1

JAMES E. SIMPSON.
A Pioneer Resident from 1856 Passes into His Final Rest.
THE EVENT OCCURRED AT NORFOLK. NEB.
Early Friday Morning, Sept. 23d.—Interment at Decorah, Monday, the 26th.
The remains of Capt. Jas. E. Simpson were brought to Decorah on Monday last and laid away at rest in Decorah cemetery in the afternoon of the same day. This was in accordance with the wishes of the deceased, first expressed more than thirty years ago and ofttimes repeated as age crept upon him.
Death came to Mr. Simpson after a lingering illness which lasted several months. Deceased was born in New York City August 10, 1833, and all of his earlier years were spent in New York state. Soon after arriving at manhood or in the month of June, 1856, he came west seeking a location. This he found in Decorah and he at once entered into the activities which attended land office times of that year. Having studied surveying, he found occupation as a surveyor and served the people in the capacity of county surveyor for several years. Also having been trained as a school teacher he was chosen to act as superintendent of schools and in 1859 and 1860 he officiated as deputy clerk of the courts and a part of his work at that time will be found in the tax list for the year 1860. Soon after this work was competed the War of the Rebellion broke out and when Capt. C. C. Tupper started to organize the second company out of Decorah, he promptly joined his friend and enlisted in what afterwards became Co. G of the 12th Iowa Infantry. Of this he became orderly sergeant and in due time was promoted to lieutenant thereof. When the battle of Pittsburg Landing occurred the 12th Iowa was shattered to pieces. Mr. Simpson was at home on sick leave and he arose from a sick bed to join his company as the sole ranking officer able to report to duty.
Soon after this, his health failing, he resigned from the army and retired to private life. But he soon became active in another branch of the public service.
After the War of the Rebellion ended he secured a position in the United States revenue service and for several years was an assistant under Willis Drummond, supervisor of internal revenue having jurisdiction covering a large part of territory west of the Mississippi river and east of the Pacific Coast. During this period corruption secured a foothold in that service and was uprooted after a terrible struggle which threw a cloud upon almost every member of the service. Out of this upheaval Mr. Simpson and his superior officer came unscathed. The rugged honesty of his character was evinced in every act and word of his career then and subsequently when he became collector of revenue for the northern half of this state with office at Dubuque. This position he retained until after the election of Grover Cleveland caused the retirement of all republican officials of his rank. In 1885 he went out of office with a standing very few of his associates acquired for thorough reliability and efficiency as well as honest performance of all the duties relating to that very important and trying office. The possession of some lands in Nebraska caused him to locate in that state and his residence has since been near to or at the town of Norfolk, where he died.
Concerning his public relations as a citizen of Norfolk, the News, of that city, in a two-column obituary entitled “A Strong Character Gone.” Said this:
In 1887 he came to Norfolk and for three years had charge of the business in this section of Nebraska for the Farmers’ Loan and Trust company of Sioux City, but was compelled to give up the work on account of a severe attack of the grip. In 1893 he was appointed steward of the Norfolk hospital for the insane by Gov. Crounse as a compromise candidate without solicitation on his part. He served acceptably in this position and it was demonstrated that the governor made no mistake in the appointment. A strong, aggressive character, an ardent republican and interested in the upbuilding of the town in which he lived, Col. Simpson has long been classed as one of the leading factors of the city. He claimed no public credit for the work he did and often his suggestions were followed by others and brought great results. Particularly is this true of the United States court house and post office now nearing completion in this city, which Norfolk to-day undoubtedly owes to the initiative taken by Col. Simpson.
After the burning of the Norfolk hospital for the insane, Col. Simpson was one of the executive committee of the Commercial Club which had in charge the securing of an appropriation for the rebuilding of the property. Here again he worked like a general conducting a campaign, without ostentation but with far-reaching plans to produce a result. The hospital is now being rebuilt.
In April, 1898, he was elected mayor of the city. He did not want the office but consented to take the nomination providing a platform was announced that would set forth clearly where he would stand on questions that were then vexing the city. The platform upon which he was elected contained three planks, as follows:--
“We favor an economical government.”
“We favor closing the saloons at 12 o’clock at night and on Sundays.”
“We favor the suppression of gambling and prostitution.”
So firmly did he establish the prin¬iples of his platform that never since has an attempt been made to go back to the old condition of things. It was the turning point in the history of Norfolk.
The marked characteristic of the deceased, as has been indicated, was unfaltering integrity and consistent loyalty to every duty he undertook, every position he occupied, and every friendship he ever won. He was never afraid to express an opinion, and none ever doubted where he stood upon any question affecting the welfare of any community in which he resided. We love to think that this grand qualification for a noble manhood was born in him, and fostered by early training in a humble home where consistent Christian living was as natural to the daily existence as breathing the air and drinking water.
Services befitting the funeral occasion were held at the Methodist church at 3:30 p. m. of Monday. Col. D. B. Henderson, ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, came up from his home in Dubuque to pay his last respects to a Comrade in Arms. While deceased was Orderly Sergeant of Co. G., Col. Henderson was First Lieutenant of Co. C, and they then formed a friendship that lasted during their lives. In view of this fact the privilege of saying the last words over the bier was accorded to the ex-Speaker. It was a tender, pathetic and strong tribute to the memory of a friend and comrade in arms, and brought tears to many eyes.
The last funeral rites were performed at the grave by the members of Col. Hughes Post, of which Capt. Simpson was a charter member, and to which, during all the years of his life he clung at his home post.

Transcriber's Note: His gravestone shows he "Founded this cemetery in 1860."

Phelps Cemetery
 

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