Butte County
Biographies
ALEXANDER GIBB SIMPSON
ALEXANDER GIBB SIMPSON.--A member of
the first Board of Freeholders of Butte County, and the one that drew up and
enacted the present county charter, and a worthy representative of historic,
pioneer stock, Alexander Gibb Simpson was born at Oroville on April 2, 1863,
the son of Alexander Gibb Simpson, Sr.,
a native of Edinburgh, Scotland.
His grandfather Simpson brought the family to Kentucky,
where the father was reared; and from there the latter, in 1849, came to California
and mined along the Feather River. He came to what is
now Oroville as early as 1850, then finding the place
called Baghdad and after seeing the
name changed to Ophir. Early in the 1850’s he became Wells Fargo’s express
agent, and held that position until his death, February 11, 1870. In those days
all the express matter came to Oroville and was distributed from there over the
different stage lines into Northern California and Oregon.
He was a Mason, belonging to the Oroville Lodge and also to the Chapter, and
the Commandery, and was widely known as one who had been prominent in local
affairs. He served as deputy County assessor and as deputy Sheriff under
Middleton, and he was a candidate in 1851, at the first election for the Office
of County treasurer. He was also prominent in the State militia, and in the
1860’s was Captain of the Oroville Company. Later he was a major on the staff
of General John Bidwell, serving several years.
The
senior Simpson’s wife was Miss Ellen Boyle, a native of Ireland,
who came to Indiana with her
parents. From there, in 1853, she set out across the plains, traveling by ox
teams all the way to Marysville; and there they remained until 1857, when they
came to Oroville. They took a steamer up the Feather River
and landed at the site of the gas works, and she lived in Oroville until her
marriage in 1860. Now she resides with her son, the subject of this sketch. She
is the mother of four children, three girls and one boy, all but one of which
the Grim Reaper has taken from her.
The
second eldest in the family, Alexander Gibb Simpson, was reared at Oroville and
there sent to the public schools, in which he continued until 1881, excepting
the period when his father died. Then he clerked in stores, and in 1883 entered
the office of the County recorder and auditor, as deputy under Thomas A.
Atchison.
On
January 9, 1887, Mr. Simpson came to Chico
as bookkeeper for Tickner, Burnham and Company, remained in their department
store for five years. In August, 1892, he accepted a post with the Chico Water
Company, as secretary and collector; and nine years later he was made
Superintendent, a position he has held ever since. He was also secretary and
collector of the Chico Gas and Electric Light Company until March, 1901, when
that Company was sold. Now he gives his time as Water Company superintendent.
How
much responsibility is connected with that work may be judged from a few facts
in the history of the corporation. It was organized in 1874 when the source of
supply was a small well at the lower plant. As business increased, other wells
were bored, one of which was sunk to the depth of six hundred feet; and in 1905
the plant was enlarged by the installation of a big pump and steel tanks. Then
more wells were sunk, and finally, in 1913, storage facilities were provided,
so that at present some 258,000 gallons may be taken
care of at one time, all under fifty-four pounds of pressure. For fire
purposes, however, there is a pressure from Seventy-five to one hundred pounds.
The new pump, a Laidlaw, Dun an Gordon, gives a
capacity of two and one half million gallons a day. The pump was set up in Chico,
at the upper works. Over seventeen miles of pipe, ranging from four to twelve
inches in diameter, is employed to convey the Water about the town. The Chico
Water Supply Company was incorporated in 1908.
Horticulture
also has appealed to Mr. Simpson. In partnership with G. L. Barham,
under the firm name of Simpson and Barham, he has an
orchard three miles northwest of Chico,
Where he raises prunes, peaches, olives and almonds, seventy-seven acres being
now in bearing.
Mr.
Simpson is a Republican and was a member of the Republican County Central
Committee for years. He belongs to Chico Parlor, No. 21, N. S. G. W. He joined
Argonaut Parlor of Oroville in 1881, and is a past President of the order. He
served as secretary and treasurer of Chico Parlor for several years. He also
belongs to Chico Lodge, No. 423, B. P. O. Elks, and to Chico Lodge. No. 113, I. O. O. F.
In
December, 1917, Mr. Simpson was united in marriage with Miss Mabel Dixon
Hendricks, a native daughter, born in Butte County
and a daughter of Thomas P. and Mamie (Perry) Hendricks, both born in the Hoosier
State. Mr. Hendricks was a nephew
of Thomas A. Hendricks, vice-President of the United States
during Cleveland’s administration.
During the early fifties Mr. Hendricks crossed the plains to California and
after sometime spent here he returned East where he was married, coming back
with his bride to California in the early sixties. He and his brother, W. C.
Hendricks, operated what was known as the Hendricks Hydraulic Mine at Morris
Ravine, Butte County.
After the mines closed down, Thomas P. went into sheep-raising and buying wool.
He was a candidate for county treasurer of Butte
County at one time. He died in
1911, and his widow now resides at the corner of Chestnut and Sixth Streets, Chico.
There ere two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks, Mrs. Simpson and Perry. The
former is a graduate of the Chico State Normal and was a teacher in the Oakland
and Alameda schools until her marriage, and Perry is now
in the service of the United States
as a member of the shipping board. W. C. Hendricks became prominent in State affairs
and served as Senator from Butte County
in the State Legislature, also as a State’s prison director for a number of
years, and was elected secretary of state and served two terms.
Transcribed
by Kim Buck.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 611-612, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Kim
Buck.
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