Sutter-Yuba County Biographies

MRS. ELIZABETH A. SIMPSON

Transcribed by: Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

            Among the successful orchardists of the Live Oak section of Sutter 
County is Mrs. Elizabeth A. Simpson, who, since the death of her husband, has 
capably assumed the management of her property, with the assistance of her sons. 
 She was born at Pleasant Grove, September 3, 1880, the third of six children of 
the late W. H. and Mary Ann (Algeo) Pierce, natives of Wisconsin and of Sutter 
County, Cal., respectively.  W. H. Pierce came with his parents to California in 
the early fifties and located near Nicolaus, Sutter County, where he grew to 
manhood.  His wife was Mary Ann Algeo, one of twelve children born to John and 
Amy (Vestal) Algeo, well-known residents at Pleasant Grove.
            In 1899 Miss Pierce was married to Lewis W. Simpson, born at Yuba 
City, November 11, 1866, a son of Andrew J. and Canzetta (Dennis) Simpson, 
natives of Missouri and Tennessee, respectively.  Leaving the home farm when 
about eighteen years of age, Andrew J. Simpson went to Greene County, Mo., where 
he worked as a farm laborer for nearly three years.  In 1855 he married Miss 
Canzetta Dennis, and the following spring started across the plains, working his 
own and his bride�s passage by driving an ox team.  Coming to Sutter County in 
December, 1857, he located on the Simpson homestead, taking up school land, 
which he purchased when it came onto the market.  As a stockman and grain-raiser 
he was very successful.  The money he thus accumulated he invested in other 
land, becoming owner of 900 acres in one body, of 3030 acres near Live Oak, and 
of 960 acres in Colusa County.  Mr. and Mrs. Simpson were the parents of 
fourteen children, of whom Lewis W. was the eighth.  Andrew J. Simpson passed 
away on the home ranch, September 13, 1899.  He was a steadfast Democrat in his 
political affiliations; and fraternally he belonged to Yuba Lodge No. 185, 
I.O.O.F.
            Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis W. Simpson.  Lillian P. 
is now the wife of Bertram Petrie; and they reside in Yuba City.  Sadie is a 
graduate of the Marysville High School and Heald�s Business College, and for the 
past two years has been stenographer for the Pacific Gas & Electric Company in 
Marysville; she owns a twenty-acre vineyard at Live Oak, and makes her home with 
her mother.  Delbert ranches at home; he married Elsie Terry, and they have one 
child, Helen.  Jack is a rancher on the home place.  Marion and Alice are still 
in school.  The Simpson family located on their present home place in 1912.  The 
place consists of 182 acres, forty acres of which are in Thompson Seedless 
grapes.  There are eighty-six varieties of fruit grown on this ranch besides 
cattle, horses and hogs.  On April 7, 1923, the Simpson home was saddened by the 
death of the husband and father, Lewis W. Simpson.  He was a man respected and 
beloved by all who knew him, and his passing was a distinct loss to his 
community.

History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p.  515-516