Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-08-26

OF Major John E. Simpson, General
Manager of the Vandalia Railway lines,
who died quite suddenly in st. Louis
recently, the Globe Democrat gives the
following biographical sketch:
Maj. John Eccles Simpson was born
near Londonderry, in the North of
Ireland, November 1, 1889. His father
having been unfortunate in business in
New York, whittier the family had i'm
migrated while the subject of this sketch
was still an infant, he removed to De-
troit, Mich, and afterward to Michigan
City, Ind. The boy got free-school
education, and early familiarized him
self with the knowledge of the world
that is not written between book-covers.
At the age of eleven he was selling pa
pers in Chicago. He next became a
messenger boy in telegraph Office,
and was only thirteen years old when
given position as operator in Detroit,
being then one of the youngest wire
manipulators in the country. From the
telegraph office he changed to railroad
work, going into the employ of the
Michigan Central and remaining there
two years, when, at the age of twenty,
he was appointed Assistant Train Dis
patcher OF the Louisville, Albany and
Chicago Railroad. He became promi-
nent in literary, military and other en-
terprises in Michigan City, and made a
record there that won for him numer-
Gus friends and placed him high in ev.
erybody's esteem. He was still engaged
at railroad work when the war broke
out, and answering the call to arms he
was elected and commissioned Captain
of Co. H, 59th Indiana Volunteers. Soon
after the battle of Pittsburg Landing he
joined the Army of the Tennessee and
went through all the engagements in
which that army fought, including the
siege of Vicksburg and the
memorable March to the Sea.
During the last two years of
his service he was on the staff of Major
Gen. John E. Smith, Commander of the
Third Division of the 10Th Army Corps
OF the Army of the Tennessee. After be-
ing mustered out of the service he ac-
cepted the position of Train.Dispatcher
and Superintendent of Telegraph for
the Terre Haute and Richmond Rail-
way. In 1866 he was appointed As
sistant Superintendent Of the Terre
Haute and indianapolis Railway, and in
this year, on December 20, he was mar
ried to Miss Hattie l.. Sherman, second
daughter of DIR. w. G. Sherman, of Michi-
gan City, Ind. In June, 1870, he was
appointed Division Superintendent of
the Vandalia Line Chen completely be-
tween Indianapolis and Terre Haute.
In November, 1870, when Gen. T. A.
Morris and w. T. Boaz were receivers
of the indianapolis, Cincinnati and La
fayette Railroad, they offered Maj.
Simpson, and urged him to accept, the
position of General Superintendent of
that road, but the officers of the Terre
Haute would not release him, aud in
July, 1871, they made him General SUI
perintendent of the entire line from In
dianapolis to st. Louis. On November,
10, 1875, he became General Manager
of the combination which includes the
Vandalia and St. Louis and IDdianapo
lis lines, which position he still held at
the time of his death.
Strict attention to business made Maj.
Simpson successful in every place of
honor and trust confided to him. Self
made, of funimpeachable honesty and
most thoroughly energetic and enter
prising, he fought his way through life
with only these strong and sterling
qualities as his weapons, and in every
position he held, from the humblest to
the proud and exalted place he has just
quit forever, he made a record which
his friends will seek to perpetuate, ard
which will be among the brightest mem.
ories that are preserved of the active,
and reliable business men
Of the Mississippi Valley who have passed
away into eternity.