David SIMPSON
Born C.1876 [14]
Son of Robert SIMPSON and Margaret BUTCHER [P313]
Married Mary TONNER [15]
Farmhand in Ireland [4: 17-May-1952] [70]
With financial assistance from his brother Paul he, his wife and their children migrated to Western Australia [P313]
They departed London, England on the steamship Gothic and arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia on 27 January 1913 [70]
In Western Australia he briefly worked as a farmhand before securing employment with the Midland Railway Company [4: 17-May-1952]
Began his employment with the Midland Railway Company in Irwin, and then worked as a Fettler in Gunyidi in 1914 and 1915 [4] [19]
Fettler and Railway Line Repairer in Carnamah 1915-1920 [6] [9] [19] [98]
Member of the Carnamah Cricket Club in 1915 [9: 10-Dec-1915]
Committee Member of the Carnamah Race Club in 1919 [9: 7-Mar-1919]
Donated 6/- to the appeal for William B. and Sarah J. HAMMOND of Wannamal who lost their house in a fire in 1919 [10: 23-May-1919]
In about June of 1920 he, his wife and their children shifted from Carnamah to Three Springs [98]
Railway Fettler in Three Springs 1920-1925, in Gunyidi in later 1925, and in Winchester 1926-1941 [5: 21-Apr-1939] [6] [19] [98]
Member of the Three Springs Saint Patrick's Day Committee in 1924 [124]
His wife and children appear to have remained living in Three Springs when he was briefly transferred to Gunyidi [19]
Vice President of the Picnic Race Meeting held in Three Springs on Saint Patrick's Day Tuesday 17 March 1925 [124]
Railway Ganger in Winchester from 1926 until his death in 1952 [1] [5: 21-Apr-1939] [19]
On 15 May 1926 purchased two vacant blocks in the Winchester townsite from the Midland Railway Company [27]
The two blocks were Lots 50 and 51, and jointly cost £18, payable by instalments over two years [27]
The blocks were across the road from one another, being on adjacent corners of Cooleran and Petan streets [382]
Lot 50 was the north-east corner of Cooleran and Petan streets while Lot 51 was the south-east corner of the same intersection [382]
Resided with his family in a house on his Lot 51 while his Lot 50 remained a vacant block of land [3]
Attended the funeral of Mrs Christina B. D. FORRESTER of Carnamah at the Winchester Cemetery on 31 August 1934 [4: 8-Sep-1934]
Injured his leg while re-timbering bridges on the railway line for the Midland Railway Company in early August 1935 [5: 16-Aug-1935]
A large piece of timber fell onto his leg necessitating medical attention and resulted him being indisposed for a few weeks [5]
Attended the funeral of Miss "May" Mary L. LANG of Carnamah at the Winchester Cemetery on 26 November 1935 [5: 29-Nov-1935]
While returning to his home from Coorow his car collided head on with another car at about 8 p.m. on New Year's Eve in 1936 [5] [88]
Himself and his wife were seriously injured and were taken to the Carnamah Private Hospital where they were operated on [88]
He suffered shock, abrasions, a fractured right leg, contused rigs and an incised wound on the right side of his face and neck [5] [88]
His operation was successful however doctors Cecil P. ROSENTHAL and Mario A. MAYRHOFER feared complications [88]
His Ford car with license plate CA-340 and the other car were badly damaged and were pulled to the side of the road [5: 8-Jan-1937]
A fortnight later himself and his wife were still at the Carnamah Private Hospital but were progressing favourably [5: 15-Jan-1937]
Had an account with Carnamah blacksmith, wheelwright and motor mechanics Henry Parkin & Son in 1939 [53]
Resided at his home on Petan Street in the Winchester townsite until his death in 1952 [1]
Passed away at the age of 76 years at the North Midlands District Hospital in Three Springs [1] [14]
Father of Catherine, Margaret, James, Veronica, and John [5: 21-Apr-1939]
Died 8 May 1952 in Three Springs; buried at Winchester Cemetery in Carnamah, Western Australia (Row K, Plot 11) [1] [14]
Following his death his house at Lot 51 in, Winchester appears to have been inherited by his son John P. SIMPSON [3]
From The North Midland Times newspaper:
Obituary
"Mr. Dave Simpson, of Winchester, aged 78 years, passed away at Three Springs on May 8. The late Mr. Simpson came from Ireland and settled in W.A., in the year 1912, joining the Midland Railway Company, and was stationed at Irwin. Later he was at Three Springs, Carnamah and Winchester. He continued on with the Midland Railway Company for a further five years after reaching the retiring age. He was predeceased by his wife. His family comprised Katie, Mrs. Jones, Maylands; Jim, deceased; Mrs. Kitson, Inglewood; Sonny, Waddy Forest; Vera, Mrs. Gurney, York. The funeral took place at the Winchester cemetery and was well attended by local residents. Mr. H. H. Knight had charge of the funeral arrangements and a priest from Geraldton administered the last rites at the graveside."
From The Irwin Index newspaper, Saturday 17 May 1952:
Obituary - Late Mr. David Simpson - Old District Identity
"A very old identity and highly respected resident of the North Midlands in the person of Mr. David Simpson, of Winchester, passed away at Three Springs on Thursday of last week. The deceased gentleman, who was seventy-eight years of age, came to Australia from Ireland and settled in this State in 1912. For a brief period he followed agricultural pursuits and then joined the Midland Railway Company, but due to war conditions on attaining the age of sixty-five years he did not retire, consenting to continue working in an essential position for a further period of five years. The late Mr. Simpson's early association with the Midland Railway Company was spent at Irwin, but for the greater portion of his long service he was stationed at Three Springs, Carnamah and Winchester. He was predeceased by his wife, but is survived by a family of one son and three daughters comprising Mr. Sonny Simpson (Waddy Forrest) and Mesdames Jones (Maylands), Kitson (Inglewood) and Gurney (York), another so having also predeceased him. The funeral took place in the Catholic Cemetery at Winchester with the Rev. Father N. Tobin, of Geraldton, officiating at the graveside in the presence of quite a large gathering of district residents. Included in the floral tributes were those from the following:- Kate and family; Peg, Keith and Pat; Sonny, Vern and Lorraine; Vera, Clarrie and the boys; officers and staff of the Midland Railway Company; Coorow Football Club; Dulce, Tom, Ross and John; Frank and Else; Edgar and Dorcas; Les and Rene Fowler; Mr. and Mrs. Grierson; Bill and Mr. Davison; Mr. and Mrs. L. R. Watson and Bob; Mrs. H. Watson; Mr. and Mrs. N. R. Watson; Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Raffan; Mr. and Mrs. H. Chappel and family; Mrs. B. Bothe; Dick, Pauline and Lloyd; Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Melvin and family; George and Mavis Raffan and family; Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Bothe and family; Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Rowland and family; Maude and Lionel Ferguson; Henry Parkin and family; Maggie and Ned Wells and family; Harry and Connie Greenwood; Ben and Nance; Mr. and Mrs. Joyce and family; Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Haig, Brian and Margaret; Mr. and Mrs. O'Callaghan; Mr. and Mrs. A. A. McGilp; Mrs. M. Jones and Ted; Mrs. Waldeck, Bronte and Betty. The mortuary arrangements were conducted by H. H. Knight, of Three Springs."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'David Simpson' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 26 December 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/david-simpson [reference list] |
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