Simpson, Alfred James

SIMPSON, PATTERSON, LISTER, WOOD, BOWEN, HARRISON, BURKET

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 6/2/2013 at 14:19:25

History of Hamilton County, Iowa, vol. II, 1912, J.W. Lee. pp. 254-256.

Alfred James Simpson, who is employed in the general mercantile store of J. P. Talcott, was born at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, on the 6th of December, 1855, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Patterson) Simpson. The father was a native of Langdale End, England, his birth having there occurred in 1815, and the mother of Dublin, Ireland. In 1869, the family removed to Iowa, making the journey from Wisconsin to Hamilton county in a prairie schooner. They spent the winter in Webster City, and in the spring the father traded an old horse and fifty dollars in money for a forty acre tract of land, which now forms part of the Murphy farm in Williams township. He subsequently increased his holdings by the purchase of eighty acres lying north of his homestead and another eighty lying south. The further improvement and cultivation of this place engaged his attention until 1885, when he disposed of it and removed to Wright county, where he bought and sold three different farms and then settled in Dows. He and the mother subsequently returned to Williams and spent their latter years in the home of their son, Alfred James, where they passed away, her death occurring on September 15, 1899, and his on the 5th of April, 1901. They were the parents of three sons, our subject being the eldest. The next in order of birth, Frederick, was born in Wisconsin, October 2, 1858, and died at Iowa City, this state, on the 7th of January, 1906, and was buried at Dows. Edgar Patterson, the youngest member of the family, is also a native of Wisconsin, his birth having occurred there on February 28, 1862, and is now residing at Armstrong, Kossuth county, Iowa.

Alfred James Simpson was educated in the common schools of his native state, where he passed the first fourteen years of his life. The greater part of his youth and early manhood was devoted to agricultural pursuits, but he has for some years been engaged in mercantile activities.

On the 16th of September, 1880, Mr. Simpson was married to Miss Ellen Lister, who was born at Farley, Dubuque county. Iowa, on the 12th of November, 1857. She removed from there in 1870 to Rose Grove township, Hamilton county, with her parents, who are mentioned at greater length under the sketch of Thomas Arthur Lister. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Simpson: Mildred May, who was born on the 29th of May, 1881, the wife of Frank Wood, of Williams; Morton Le Roy, whose natal day was December 18, 1882, a resident of Porter, Minnesota; George Edgar, who was born on March 13, 1885, of Webster City, Iowa; Pearl Lurene, who was born December 28, 1887, the wife of James Bowen, residing in Rose Grove township; Benjamin Harrison, a resident of Williams, who was born on the 6th of February, 1889; Helen Elizabeth, who was born on the 1st of November, 1890, the wife of Roy Burket, of Williams: Myrtle Maud, of Williams, who was born on the 15th of September, 1892; Floyd Herbert, whose birth occurred on July 24, 1894, of Williams; and Flossie Belle, who was born on the 29th of March, 1899, and is attending public school. Mrs. Bowen and the son Benjamin are natives of Wright county, but the other members of the family were born in Hamilton county.

Fraternally, Mr. Simpson is identified with Silver Link Lodge. No. 458, I. O. O. F., and has been secretary of the same for the past fifteen years. He is one of the oldest members of the local order of this organization, having been initiated at their second meeting. He also belongs to the Mystic Workers of the World and is secretary of the Williams lodge. In politics. Mr. Simpson is a republican and takes an active interest in all municipal affairs. He has several times been called to public office, having served as mayor for two terms. while for eight years he discharged the duties of constable. The family affiliate with the Presbyterian church and number among the members of its congregation many close friends. Mr. Simpson has passed the greater part of his life in this section of the state, much of his time having been spent in the immediate vicinity of Williams, which contained but two houses when he first came here. He has witnessed the town destroyed by fire on three occasions. For many years he has actively cooperated in its progress and development, and is numbered among its public-spirited and enterprising citizens. He owns his residence, which is one of the attractive properties of the town, and expects to spend the remainder of his life in the community endeared to him by associations of many years.