Ritchie Simpson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 370-374 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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				RITCHIE SIMPSON.  

	Dell Rapids has never been called upon to mourn the loss of a 
citizen whose death has been more deeply and widely regretted than that 
of Ritchie Simpson. He was a very popular man and his popularity lay in 
his sterling worth, as manifest in every relation of life, in his 
social, genial nature and kindly spirit, which were constantly manifest 
in friendly, generous act. As the owner of the Dell Rapids Granite 
Quarries he was at the head of one of the important industrial 
enterprises of Minnehaha county and was regarded as one of the alert, 
energetic business men of his section of the state. He also had other 
commercial connections and at the same time he was active and 
progressive in matters of citizenship relating to the public welfare. 
He was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on the 3d of February, 1856, 
and was a son of Andrew and Annabel Simpson, the former a stone-cutter.  

	Ritchie Simpson acquired his education in the public schools of 
his native country but when twelve years of age he left school and was 
apprenticed to the stone-cutter's trade. Even at that early age he 
manifested marked industry and energy and had completed his 
apprenticeship when he reached the age of fifteen. He then left the 
land of hills and heather for the new world and settled at Pigeon Cove, 
Massachusetts, on Cape Ann. He afterward worked in various states 
throughout the east, spending about eleven years in that way, and on 
the expiration of that period removed westward to Missouri. Later he 
spent some time in Virginia and afterward went to Wisconsin and 
subsequently he returned on a visit to his native land. In the spring 
of 1883 he arrived in South Dakota, settling at Dell Rapids, where he 
formed a company to quarry stone in 1885. This enterprise proved 
successful for a few years and then met financial difficulties. At that 
time Mr. Simpson, in connection with W. S. Mitchell, leased the 
property from the bank and in three years had become the owner of the 
quarries, which he subsequently operated alone. He owned all the 
property of the original company and about seventy acres additional, 
and something of the extent and importance of his undertakings is 
indicated in the feet that he employed about thirty-five men through 
the winter seasons and a larger number in the summer. The stone 
quarries are recognized as among the best to be found in the United 
States. There is very little iron in the granite, hence there are no 
stains on the buildings from which it is constructed. It is also 
notable because of its uniformity of color and the product of the 
quarries is in great demand in Kansas City, Omaha and Chicago. Many of 
the buildings throughout South Dakota have been erected from granite 
from his quarries, including the State Normal at Madison, the state 
building at Plankinton and the post office at Yankton. Much of the 
stone was also used in the construction of the insane asylum at 
Yankton. In the operation of the quarries the work is done most 
systematically, the latest improved machinery is utilized and the 
careful management of the owner resulted in the attainment of a most 
gratifying success. In developing his quarries he employed a large 
number of men and his pay roll was a substantial help to the general 
business conditions of the growing city.  

	In 1884 Mr. Simpson was married to Miss Cora Williams, a daughter 
of Horatio A. and Carrie Williams. Her father went to Dell Rapids in 
1876 as miller for William Van Eps of Sioux Falls and operated the old 
mill at that place. Soon after he sent for his family, who remained in 
Cherokee, Iowa, and they came with ox teams across a wild country of 
one hundred miles or more, it requiring seven days to make the trip. 
The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Simpson was Jens Nelson, a pioneer of 
Lake county, South Dakota, who was among the first to take up land 
there. The father and mother of Mrs. Simpson both died in Dell Rapids. 
Twin daughters were born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Simpson--
Nellie and Mary, who are graduates of the State University and both 
were teachers in the schools of Scotland, South Dakota, until after the 
father's death, when Mary returned to live with her mother, who since 
the death of the husband and father has ably conducted the business 
which he left and with her daughter Mary occupies the old home.  

	Mr. Simpson's political allegiance was given to the republican 
party. He was for some years an active and influential worker in 
political circles and in 1907 was representative from this district in 
the state legislature, where he gave earnest consideration to the 
various vital questions which came up for settlement. For twenty-five 
years he was a member of the board of education and the public schools 
ever found in him a stalwart champion and one whose efforts in their 
behalf were most effective. He belonged to Dell Rapids Lodge, No. 40, 
A. F. & A. M.; to Marion Chapter, No. 31, O. E. S.; and to the Odd 
Fellows lodge and was in hearty sympathy with the beneficent spirit 
which underlies those organizations He never had occasion to regret his 
determination to come to America that he might try his fortune on this 
side of the Atlantic for here he found the opportunities which he 
sought and which are always open to energetic and ambitious young men 
In their improvement he worked his way steadily upward and his position 
as a substantial, reliable business man was an invincible one. He was 
ever alert to the best interests of Dell Rapids and cooperated heartily 
in many measures which have been of immense benefit to the town. When 
he died on the 3d of October, 1914, the news of his death was 
everywhere received with genuine regret and his funeral was the largest 
ever held in Dell Rapids. For twenty-five years he had been a victim of 
asthma and hay fever. Each year, with regularity, the months of August 
and September found him ill, but the coming of cooler days brought 
relief. However, the constant recurrence of his trouble had been 
insidiously undermining his strength. For twenty-six years he had never 
been able to go down town in September, but in the fall of 1914 he 
seemed better and attended the ceremonies of the laying of the corner 
stone of the new hospital and a few days later attended a meeting of 
the school board. Whether the strain was too much was buried with full 
Masonic honors and a vast concourse of people gathered to pay their 
last tribute of respect. Everywhere he is spoken of in terms of high 
regard, of warm friendship and of brotherly love. His life was indeed 
fruitful of good deeds and characterized by the highest honor and his 
memory will ever remain a cherished possession to those who knew him.