1901 personal census, Mersea Twp, Essex Co., ON, K2-14:
Simpson Robert, M, Married, 12 May 1845, 55, born Ont, origin: Scotch, Can, Meth, Farmer;
Elizabeth, F, wife, Married, 15 July 1843, 57, born Ont, origin: German, Can, Meth;
John B., M, son, Single, 29 July 1881, 19, born Ont, origin: Scotch, Can, Meth, Farmer's Son;
Pearl M., F, daughter, Single, 9 Aug 1885, 15, born Ont, origin: Scotch, Can, Meth;
Roy, M, son, Single, 15 May 1889, 11, born Ont, origin: Scotch, Can, Meth, 9 months in school.
Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Essex, J. H. Beers & Co., Toronto, 1905, p. 13-14:
Robert Simpson, of the well-known lumber firm of Robert Simpson & Son, of Mersea township, County of Essex, has for the last thirty-three been identified with the growth and development of that township. He is of Scotch descent on his father's side, but is a native Canadian, having been born in Saltfleet township, County of Wentworth, Ontario.
Grandfather Edward Simpson was a native of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where he lived, and was a miller by occupation. His son, Robert, father of Robert, whose name introduces this sketch, was also born in Aberdeenshire, and lived there until he grew to manhood. In 1830 he left home, and came to Canada in a sailing-vessel, landing at Quebec after a voyage of six weeks. He went first to Montreal, and from there to Toronto, after a short stay there going to Oswego, New York, where he was employed on rairoad work. Before long he returned to Ontario and located in Hamilton, being engaged at first in gardening, and later settling down as a farmer in Saltfleet township, County of Wentworth. After seventeen years on that farm he moved to Barton township and rented a farm which he carried on for seven years. He then moved to the vicinity of Hamilton where he carried on a farm for six years, and then sold out, and, coming to Mersea township, there passed the remainder of his life, dying Sept. 3, 1892, at the residence of his daughter. He was interred in the Lake View Cemetery at Leamington. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a Conservative in politics. During the Rebellion of 1837-38 he served as a private in the British army. He married Miss Margaret English, daughter of Thomas English, of the County of Wentworth. She was also a member of the Presbyterian Church. She died in April, 1859, and is buried in the Barton cemetery. Their children were as follows: Margaret, deceased, who married William Campbell; John, who died at the age of twenty; Mary, who married John E. Snyder, of Leamington; Robert, who is mentioned below; Alexander, who lives in Ancaster, Ont.; and Isabella, who married Arthur Scratch.
Robert Simpson was born in Saltfleet township, County of Wentworth, May 12, 1845, and attended the district school in his native place, remaining on the home farm until he was seventeen years old. He then began to make his own way in the world, doing farm work for $10 a month. He continued to work for others until 1865, when he married and moved into Michigan, locating near Bay City, where for a year he was employed as a millwright, and at lumbering. Returning to Canada, he settled at Hamilton, and for a year followed the trade of carpenter. He then engaged his services to L. D. Sawyer & Co., with whom he remained two years and a half, after which he came to the County of Essex and located on Concession A, Mersea township, going into business with his brother-in-law, John E. Snyder. This partnership was one of the first in that part of the township, and lasted for two years. For a short time after the dissolution of this partnership Mr. Simpson was engaged in carpenter work, and then formed another partnership with his wife's brother, Jacob A. Burkholder. This firm, known as Simpson & Burkholder, continued eight years, engaged in the manufacture of lumber. On March 28, 1876, during the existence of this firm, fire destroyed the place, but it was rebuilt later. Mr. Simpson then bought out Mr. Burkholder, and continued the business himself. In 1886 he established a mill in Romney township, County of Kent where for several years the business was carried on by himself, when his son Robert became his partner. For some time the business has been carried on on an extensive scale in Mersea township, where the firm owns 325 acres of land. A part of their land is under cultivation, and Mr. Simpson engages in farming in addition to looking after his mill interests. In 1902 the company met with a severe loss in the destruction of one of their mills by fire, but they are successfully carrying on a large mill near the site of the old one.
On May 30, 1864, Robert Simpson married Elizabeth Catherine Burkholder, who was born in Barton township, County of Wentworth, July 15, 1843, daughter of Elijah Burkholder. To this union have been born the following children: Robert Wallace, who is mentioned below; Emma Lorena, who married Charles Moore, and lives near Atlanta, Michigan (they have five children, Roena, Ella, Arthur, Katie and Robert B.); Elizabeth Catherine, who married Milton Loveless, of Mersea township (they have six children, Roy, Blanche, Aletha, Delos, Mary and Seth); Norman Alexander, who married Rose Lane, and lives in Leamington (they have two children, Iva and McRae); Cynthia Helena, who married Gowan Malott, of Mersea (they have three children, Alto, Mildred and Arthur); John Bruce, who lives at home; and Pearl May, who married McDonald Jeffery (they have one child, Ina G., and live in Walkerville, Ont.). All the family attend the Methodist Church. In politics Mr. Simpson is a Conservative, and has served as one of the school trustees. He is a man of temperate habits, and domestic in his tastes, devoted to his home and family. He has achieved a great reputation as a ploughman and has carried off the first or second prize in many contests, his first success of this sort being when he was seventeen years of age, when he took the second prize. Out of five Provincial contests he won the red ribbon three times, and in local contests has taken the first prize a number of times, and won over thirty red ribbons. He is an enterprising and progressive citizen, and possesses the friendship and respect of all his neighbours.
Robert
Simpson
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