Ventura County Biographies

V. A. Simpson

Submitted by Sandy Neder

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

 
V. A. Simpson came to California in 1860 and to Ventura in 1861 when there were 
only three or four other Americans in the place, namely, William Hobson, James 
Beebee, and Alex. Cameron. He was born in York Township, Jefferson County, New 
York, August 27, 1825. His father, Sylvanus Simpson, was a native of the State 
of New York, of Scotch descent; and his mother, nee Susan Harrington, was a 
native of Vermont. They had four sons and two daughters, and moved from New York 
to Ohio when the subject of this sketch, the fourth child, was eleven years old, 
and settled on a farm in Sandusky County. Mr. Simpson was therefore reared upon 
a farm, and began agriculture on his own account on a quarter section of land in 
Indiana, upon which he moved directly after his marriage. His wife died five 
years afterward, and then, in 1852, he came to California, spent two years in 
Los Angeles County, stopping a short time in San Francisco and then returned 
East, married again, and in 1859 sold his place and came again to California. 
This time he settled first in Santa Barbara County, in that portion which is now 
Ventura County. He brought with him across the plains forty head of American 
cows, three yoke of cattle, three mares and two wagons. In Ventura he opened the 
first hotel, in an adobe building on West Main street, on the south side, and 
west of Ventura avenue. He was also the first Postmaster of Ventura, holding the 
office four years. His hotel, called the American House, he sold, and also his 
cattle and other live-stock, and in 1865 bought his present homestead property 
of 150 acres, of which he has since sold fifty acres: forty acres are on the 
other side of the avenue. Previously he speculated to some extent until 1872, 
when he built his present nice residence, which he occupies with his children, 
whom he has given a good education at San Francisco and Oakland. Of the 
homestead there are twenty-five acres of fifteen-year-old bearing walnut trees, 
which now yield from fifty to 200 pounds to each tree. He has also twenty acres 
of apricots, apples and other fruit. The apples are of the varieties Pearmain, 
Bellflower, Rhode Island Greening, etc., and they all do well. The fruit sells 
at from one to two cents a pound. The remainder of the farm is devoted to 
general agriculture, - corn, barley