Gilpin observer., 1905-11-02

-
~ 's 'ssAss s.r hin as';ss: asss
where he was en-
gagged in the promotion of irrigation
| schemes. Six months ago a Chicago
specialist pronounced his case nope
less and for ten days prior to MS
| death life had been sustained only
through the power of a rugged Will.
jeremiah Socrates Simpson was the
name presented him by his parents IN
New Brunswick, where he was born
March 81, 1912. But to those who
came in contact with him in the days
of his political fame he was known
and will be remembered as PLAIN
Jerry" while the great masses VINO
form their conception of men In pup
lie life at long range-who judge
characters by the idiosyncrasies that
are exploited by the oddities and cpl
sodes Of a career that attract "hu-
man interest" rather than by the
basic elements that go to make up
the real man-knew him only as
"Sockless Jerry"
become we'll enough acquainted with
the ways of Congress to address the
chair, vas to offer ocular as well as
oraculaf evidence that the sockless
story was a myth. He did it so enter
tainingiy, albeit without effect on the
public that he at once was placed on
the list of representatives in the
House who were worth listening to.
Politically Jerry Simpson was a
product of the Populist uprising that
began in the West in 1890. Previous
to his election to congress in 1890
Jerry had been a Republican and a
Greenbacker. In private life he was
at that time farmer.
God Almighty sent our family hard
| knocks in bunches," said Mr.. Simpson
one time in speaking of the poverty
of his youth.
At the age of IA Jerry started in as
a cabin boy on the lakes, and for
twenty-three years he followed the
life of a sailor, on boats plying be-
tween Chicago and the upper ports,
with a brief intermission following
his enlistment in the army in 1861.
where he served only few months.
After some years as sailor Capt.
Simpson thought q life on land was
preferable to a rowing career on the
waves. He had purchased farm in
Indiana with his savings, but after
running that for brief time he NOV
ed to Kansas, where he pre-empted
160 acres, buying in addition an en-
tire section in Barber county. In the
late sos he gave up farming owing
to the i'll health OF his wife and NOV
ed to Medicine Lodge, where they
elected him marshall, and where he
distinguished himself by stopping abb
solutely the sale of liquor.
At Medicine Lodge opportunity
found him when the Kansas Farmers
Alliance sprang up as the forerunner
of the Populist movement. The farm
ers of the seventh district concen-
trated on him for congressman and
the allurements OF official life was
rendered to him on silver platter.
The "sockless" episode occurred at
Sterling. while Jerry was making his
campaign. He was making a speech
to a composite audience, largely made
| up of alliance men, some Republicans
and a few Democrats. Jerry's per-
sonal appearance was far from what
| the appellation of "sockless states
man" would naturally suggest to one
unacquainted with the man. Although
| uncouth in speech, he looked more
like a prosperous country banker than
q rough, weather-beaten, mortgage
piastered old farmer. So when he
touched up the corpulent aristocrats
the incongruity Of this well-dressed
man calling them "silk stockings"
mortgage sharks" and the like SEEM
cd altogether preposterous. A horny
handed old farmer who hadn't Joined
the alliance at this juncture called
out: "'Pears to me. Jerry. that you
uns wear silk stockin's, too"
Quick as a wink Jerry pulled up his
trousers. my friend, them are all
the stockings l ever wore. II you
don't see them from where you are.
come over and touch them" And
~.~~so~~-o~~~-o.~.>>o
Didn't Realize Treasure He Had.
| While working in the cellar OF a
house at Falkenberg. Pomerania, Prus-
sia. laborer found porcelain urn
containing u number of gold pieces.
Not appreciating the value of the
treasure. the man gave some Of the
coins to children TO play with, and had
q collar made for one Of his dogs with
the remainder Examination proved
them to be excellently preserved gold
| pieces dating from the sixteenth CEN