For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 452
W. L. SIMPSON....Lake township can claim many progressive citizens and in the list should be named W. L. Simpson, who makes a specialty of stock-raising and has gained a fine reputation in that line. He is a native of the township where he now lives and was born October 23, 1861, a son of W. H. and Helen ( Whetmore ) Simpson. The parents were born in Connecticut and came to Muscatine about 1855, where they lived for one year, then locating on a farm in Lake township, and here they have ever since made their home. Throughout life the father has always been a man of energy and ability and secured a commendable degree of success as a farmer. Four children were in his family : Adella, now the wife of P. W. Miller, of Ringgold county, Iowa ; Sarah, the wife of J. J. Bishop, of Union county, this state ; W. L., our subject ; and Lottie, now Mrs. David Legler, of Muscatine.W. L. Simpson was educated in the district schools and reared on the home farm, where he assisted his father, showing an aptitude for farming that gave bright promise for his future. After reaching manhood he desired to see more of the world and accordingly went to Kansas, where he remained for three years. Returning to Muscatine county, he rented a farm on his own account until 1906 and then purchased eighty acres on section 21, Lake township, which he has ever since been improving and which gives evidence of becoming one of the valuable landed properties of the township. In addition to cultivating cereals, he raises livestock and is shipping regularly each season to the market.
On October 4, 1888, Mr. Simpson was united in marriage to Miss Cora L. Kerr, who was born in Muscatine county, August 28, 1867, and is a daughter of Jesse W. and Lydia A. ( McGrew ) Kerr, the former of whom was born in Ohio and the latter in Muscatine county, Iowa. Mr. Kerr died December 22, 1907 and Mrs. Kerr is now living in this county. Mrs. Simpson received a good common-school education and at the time of her marriage was engaged in dress-making. She has one sister, Maud S., who is the wife of John Gertenbach, of Muscatine county. Five children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Simpson : Uta Fay, at home ; Royle W.; Helen Ann ; Jesse W., who was born December 1, 1896, and departed this life November 11, 1898 ; and Leslie Kerr.
Mr. Simpson has been for thirty years identified with farming interests, to which he has devoted his best energies. He is independent and progressive, and the respect in which he is held by his neighbors and friends is proof of his sterling qualities. Politically he is allied with the republican party, believing that by so doing he can best assist in advancing the cause of good government in the county, state and nation. He is a stanch believer in the authority of the Bible and is a valued member of the United Brethren church, to which he is a liberal contributor.
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