SILAS G. SIMPSON

SIMPSON

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/22/2020 at 16:02:00

SILAS G. SIMPSON, general merchant at Nodaway, Adams county, is a representative of one of the pioneer families of the State of Iowa. He located at Nodaway in the fall of 1879 and engaged in the hardware business, which he continued about two years, when he engaged in general merchandising. He erected his present store building in 1884.

Mr. Simpson is a native of Dearborn county, Indiana, where he was born in 1828, the son of Matthias Q. Simpson. The ancestors of the subject of this notice came to America in Colonial times, long before the Revolutionary war. The grandfather, William Simpson, was born in New Jersey, August 25, 1767, and at the age of twelve years entered the service of the Government as a teamster. This was during the darkest days of the struggle of the colonies for their independence. After the close of the war, and while yet a young man he went to Pennsylvania, and there married Miss Anna Ammerman, a lady of German descent. The marriage occurred May 8, 1797. In 1800 the grandfather was a farmer in Cayuga county, New York, whence he removed to Dearborn county, Indiana, in 1817, and thence to Warren county in 1829, where he died, July 21, 1841. William Simpson was of Irish descent, and was the father of six sons and three daughters.

Matthias Q. Simpson, the father of the subject of this sketch, and son of William Simpson, was born in the State of New York and went to Indiana with his father's family in 1817. He married Sin Garrison, who died when her son, Silas G., was but a boy. The father is still living, at this writing, in 1891, residing at Farley, Dubuque county, Iowa.

Matthias Q. Simpson came to the Territory of Iowa with his family about 1838, settling first in Jones county.

Silas G. Simpson began life for himself as a carpenter and farmer, but at the age of about forty-two years he gave up carpentry. He was married in Cedar county, Iowa, to Miss Harriet Hall, who died about twenty years later. His present wife was formerly Mrs. Courtright, whose maiden name was Mary Shirley. Mr. Simpson has four living children, - two sons and two daughters, - two of whom are by his first marriage and two by the second.

Mr. Simpson has been a resident of Iowa for more than half a century, and is a worthy and respected citizen.