John Simpson submitted by Conley Wolterman A farmer and stock raiser of Section 24, Boyer Valley Township, Sac County, Iowa, is one of the pioneer representative citizens who settled in the township in 1872, and is also an ex-soldier of the Civil War. He was born April 12, 1843, in New York, a son of William and Margaret (Lupton) Simpson, natives of Lincolnshire, England. John had two other brothers (Robert and William) in service with him in the Civil War. Robert served in the 26th Missouri Infantry and was wounded . William served in an Illinois regiment. John enlisted in the Civil War in July, 1862, in Co. A, 26th Iowa Infantry, when the call was made for 300,000 more men; and he served 2 years 11 months. He was first under fire at Haines’ Bluff, which was followed by the Battles of Arkansas Post, Jackson and Brandon, Mississippi; siege of Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Ringgold, Resaca, Marietta, Atlanta and Jonesborough, Georgia, took part in the memorable march to the sea; was in the campaign through the Carolinas; at Columbus and Jonesborough, and participated in the grand review at Washington, where he was honorably discharged in 1865. He then came to Clinton, Iowa, where he received his pay, after which he went for a short time to Charlotte, Clinton County, but later moved to Jackson County. At the last-named place he continued but one year, when he returned to Clinton County, where he remained until 1872, when he made his final move to Sac County, Iowa, locating in Boyer Valley Township. Here he engaged in farming on 80 acres in Section 29, and later bought 40 acres in Section 23. In 1887, he bought an improved farm of 160 acres. He had a story and a half house, along with a number of stables, sheds, feedlots and all necessary buildings found in a well-ordered farm. He was married at the age of 24 years in Lyons, Clinton County, Iowa, to Miss Ruth Shull, a native of Vigo County, Indiana. She was the daughter of Hiram and Rebecca (Porter) Shull, natives of Vigo County near Terre Haute. They moved to Clinton County at an early date, settling on Government land. They had 10 children: Arthur Wilburt, Thomas D., Clara E., William O., Lura R., Lewis J. (Lura and Lewis were twins), Bertha Agnes, Eva E., Robert E., and Leonard H. He was a member of the G.A.R., McDowell Post, of Early, Sac County, Iowa.

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