James Simpson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1215-1216 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JAMES SIMPSON. 

	In Sioux Falls the name of James Simpson is an honored one, for 
his work as an educator stamped him not only as a man of ability in 
that profession but as one guided by broad humanitarian purposes. His 
life work proved a blessing to those who came under his instruction, 
for he devoted his time to teaching the deaf and dumb and his sympathy 
proved an interpretative force in understanding those who came under 
his guidance, enabling him to assist them in the largest possible 
measure. 

	Mr. Simpson was born January 21, 1854, in Oakland county, 
Michigan. His parents died when he was but three years of age and he 
afterward lived among relatives there until he reached the age of 
thirteen or fourteen years. Being deaf, he then entered the State 
School for the Deaf at Flint, Michigan, where he remained for four 
years, after which he went to New York city and attended the Fanwood 
School for the Deaf, continuing in that institution for three years. 
Later he was employed for three years at the jewelry trade in the 
northern part of New York, after which he returned to Michigan and 
worked on a farm until he reached the age of twenty-five. He was then 
appointed to teach the school for the deaf at Council Bluffs, Iowa, 
spending three years at that place, after which he went to Sioux Falls 
in 1881 to visit E. G. Wright and was asked to establish a school for 
the deaf in that city. The land for the school was donated by several 
wealthy people and he opened the school in 1881 with five pupils. The 
attendance gradually grew, however, until it is now a large and 
prosperous institution. Mr. Simpson continued the work of teaching 
until 1903, when his health failed. He then resigned and went to the 
Black Hills, hoping to be benefited by the change, but the trip proved 
unavailing and he returned to Sioux Falls, where he passed away October 
16, 1903. 

	Mr. Simpson had been married in 1880, in Council Bluffs, to Miss 
Anna Laura Wright, a pupil of the Council Bluffs school, and they 
became the parents of three children, Howard W., Grant M. and Laurence 
A. The two youngest are now connected with the Orpheum circuit and live 
in Kansas City. The mother is still living in Sioux Falls. 

	Upon the death of Mr. Simpson the school was conducted by Miss 
Donald from 1903 until 1907 and in the latter year J. D. McLaughlin 
took charge, so continuing for three years. In 1910 the eldest son, 
Howard NV. Simpson. was appointed to the position of superintendent. He 
was born in the school in Sioux Falls, February 7, 1882. His father and 
mother both being deaf, he was acquainted with the sign language from 
his birth. He attended the city schools in Sioux Falls and the State 
College at Brookings, South Dakota, and in 1898 he joined the First 
South Dakota Infantry and went to the Philippines, where he was engaged 
in military duty for one year and five months. For several years 
thereafter he was employed on a ranch in Jerauld county and still later 
went upon the road as a traveling salesman, while subsequently he 
became connected with the Bradstreet Company at Sioux Falls. He was 
likewise for a year and a half engaged in the improvement of a 
homestead claim in Meade county. 

	On the 20th of June, 1906, Mr. Simpson was married to Miss Stella 
Irene Ridby, of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, and they have one child, Virginia, 
who was born January 28, 1911. In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Simpson 
are and fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Unity Lodge, No. 130, 
F. & A. M., while in both the York and Scottish Rites he has attained 
high rank, being now a Knight Templar and a thirty-second degree Mason. 
He was called to become his father,s successor in 1910 and under his 
guidance the School for the Deaf at Sioux Falls is in a prosperous 
condition and is doing splendid work.