Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 544.
 
JOHN SIMPSON

     a prominent and influential citizen of Sherman county, resides five miles
west of Wasco. He was born in Ohio, June 23, 1859, the son of William and
Margaret (Taylor) Simpson. William Simpson was a native of Scotland, born near
Aberdeen, where he followed the avocation of a farmer until his death. At
present the mother lives in Ohio with other children.
     It was in the Buckeye State that our subject was reared until 1881, when he
came direct to his present location in Sherman county. He took up a homestead
near his present residence and has since purchased more land. Some of this he
has sold but he still owns one thousand acres, eight hundred and fifty of which
he cultivates. Mr. Simpson has lived here continuously with the exception of
eighteen months at The Dalles and six months in California.
     October 6, 1884, at The Dalles, our subject was married to Lenora Ritchey,
born in Ohio, April 12, 1863. Her parents were Emanuel and Rebecca (Zimmerman)
Ritchey. The mother was a descendant of an old Pennsylvania Dutch family of
distinguished lineage. Emanuel Ritchey, the father of our subject's wife, served
in the Civil war. Mr. Simpson has three brothers and six sisters ; James, at
Salt Lake, Utah ; David, a merchant in Oak Shade, Ohio; George, in Wyoming;
Annie, wife of William Bath, of Sandhill, Erie county, Ohio; Maggie, wife of
William Cook, a merchant in Huron, Ohio; Mary, wife of Charles Cleveland, a
carpenter in Huron ; Jennie, wife of Christopher Cleveland, of Marion, Ohio;
Lizzie, wife of Dudley Morrill, a merchant in Stockton, California ; and Clara,
wife of John McQuillan, of Delta, Fulton county, Ohio. Mrs. Simpson has two
brothers and two sisters ; John and Burt, the latter living in  Spokane ;
Bertha, wife of Eugene Sindel, of San Juan, California; and Estella,
who is single. 
     Mr. and Mrs. Simpson have two children ; Fay, a girl of sixteen, and Linn,
a boy aged eleven, years. Politically, Mr. Simpson is a Republican, but is not
particularly active in the campaigns. He has been school director of his
district. He is a man of sterling integrity and one who has been very successful
in financial circles.
     Mr. Simpson has, without  doubt, one of the. most handsome farm residences
in Sherman county. It is a strictly modern, eight-room structure, finished
throughout in hard oil, and is of exceptionally beautiful architectural design.
All his other buildings are in keeping with his residence, and his is one of the
choice and beautiful places of this prosperous country. Mr. Simpson, also, has
the distinction of bringing the first automobile to Sherman county. Being of a
mechanical turn of mind, he is adding a machine shop to the other improvements
of the estate, not, however, for commercial purposes, but that he may have at
hand the necessities for the pursuit of his desires as his inclinations have
always been in the direction of inventions and mechanical investigations.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2008 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.