As a young woman, Mary taught school in Fremont County.  On 1 September 1892, she married Arthur G. Simpson at her parents’ home.  The Fremont County Herald printed a detailed description of the wedding.  Arthur had been born 7 August 1867 in Wabash County, Indiana, the son of Andrew and Nancy (Darrow) Simpson.  In 1880 he had moved, with his parents, to Beloit, Mitchell County, Kansas, and he had grown to adulthood there.  I have not learned how Arthur and Mary, living 160 miles apart, ever became acquainted.

After marrying, Arthur and Mary settled in his home town of Beloit.  The Kansas State census of 1895 shows them there with their first child, Ruth, 2 years old.  This and all subsequent censuses show Arthur’s occupation as Farmer.

As far as I can tell from newspaper reports, Arthur initially had a couple of relatively small plots in town, but in 1899 he was able to buy an 80-acre farm about 10 miles southwest of Beloit (S½ SW¼ sec. 16, T8S, R8W), in Center Township of Mitchell County.  The 1900 and 1910 Federal Censuses, as well as the Kansas State census of 1905 show him and Mary living in Center Township with their growing family.  By 1910, all seven of their children had been born, and they were:

• Elma Ruth Simpson, 1893–1982 (married Glenn Harley Pargett).
• Lydia Marie Simpson, 1895–1990 (married Emmet Sylvester Dutton).
• Harold Arthur Simpson, 1897–1957 (married Emma Cedella Kelley).
• Ada Marie Simpson, 1900–1944 (married (1) John Platt Goheen and (2) Joseph R. Tillman).
• Olive Mae Simpson, 1902–1965 (married (1) Harry Alvin Oakley and (2) Edward John Neifert).
• Andrew James Simpson, 1906–1983 (married Eva Irene Smith).
• Everett Earl Simpson, 1909–1985 (married Pauline Mae Fobes).

Mary Wilson Simpson, with her six grown children, about 1949.  Children are tentatively identified (L. to R.) as Elma Ruth, Andrew, Everette, Lydia, Harold, and Olive Mae.  Not shown here is Ada, who died in 1944.  (Photo courtesy of Carla Simpson Cook.)

The Kansas State census of 1915 and the 1920 Federal census continued to show Arthur, Mary, and all seven children still in the household.  As of 1920, the census showed, Elma Ruth (26) was employed as a nurse, Lydia (24) was a teacher, and Harold (22) was a farm laborer.  No occupations were shown for the three younger children.

It’s important to note that the official census date in 1920 was January first — the only Federal census to be dated that early in the year.  Later that month, Arthur began suffering from heart trouble, and was taken into Beloit for treatment.  There he died on 2 February 1920.  Both the Beloit Daily Call and the Beloit Gazette published obituaries for him, and he was laid to rest in Elmwood Cemetery.

Mary remained on the farm in Center Township following Arthur’s death, with her sons Andrew and Everett, who apparently took on responsibility for running the farm.  She is listed there with the two of them in the 1925 Kansas State census and in the 1930 Federal census.  The 1940 census shows just Mary and Everett still on the farm.  (Andrew had married and moved off to Idaho.)  The 1950 census shows Mary in a household by herself, while Everett and his wife Pauline occupy a separate household on the same farm.

Mary died there in Center Township on 18 August 1951, and was buried next to Arthur.  The Mitchell County Historical Society has provided an obituary for her, although the original source publication was not noted.

If you can suggest any corrections to the information above or provide any further details about the lives of Mary, Arthur, and their descendants, please contact me at the address shown in the image below:

Thanks,      
     —Pete Martin

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