John Simpson John Simpson, who is a pioneer in the furniture and undertaking business in Neepawa, was born June 16, 1856, near Milton, Trafalgar township, county of Halton, Ontario, and is a son of Robert and Anne (Hughes) Simpson, both of whom were natives of Ireland, and among the first settlers of Halton county, locating there early in the last century, the father coming to that locality with his parents. Here he followed farming as his life's occupation and died on April 23, 1865, at the age of sixty-five years, the mother still living with her son John, at the ripe old age of eighty-five years. Mr. Simpson of this review was educated in the public schools of Milton, Ontario, and was raised on the home farm. At the age of fourteen he left home, following farming as an occupation, and at the age of twenty-one came to Manitoba with his mother and two brothers, Joseph and James. For the next five years he was engaged in carpenter work, and then went into the furniture business with R.P. Campbell, of Portage la Prairie, with whom he continued until 1895, at which time he came to Neepawa and engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, being the pioneer of that line of industry in the district. In addition to his business interests he owns three of the business blocks of Mountain avenue, and also considerable other Neepawa real estate. In 1887 Mr. Simpson married Miss Jane Bailey, a daughter of Alfred Bailey, of Hyde Bluff, Manitoba, and one of the pioneers of that district. They are the parents of seven children: Stewart G, who is teller in the Merchants Bank, Neepawa, Ruby May, Maggie C., Roderick E, Jack, Vernie and Velma. Fraternally Mr. Simpson is affiliated with the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Watchmen of the World, the Independent Order of Foresters and the Loyal Orange Legion. Politically hs is not allied to either party, voting for those men and measures which, in his judgement, will be the most beneficial to the community. A History of Manitoba: Its Resources and People by Prof. George Bryce. Published by The Canada History Company, Toronto:Montreal, in 1906. p. 601-602.