Joseph W. Simpson
Joseph W. Simpson | |
|---|---|
| Maine State Treasurer | |
| In office 1917–1921 | |
| Preceded by | Elmer E. Newbert |
| Succeeded by | William L. Bonney |
| In office 1913–1915 | |
| Preceded by | James F. Singleton |
| Succeeded by | Elmer E. Newbert |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 20, 1870 York Harbor, Maine, U.S. |
| Died | July 11, 1946 (aged 77) York Harbor, Maine, U.S. |
| Resting place | First Parish Cemetery York, Maine, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse |
|
Joseph Warren Simpson (December 20, 1870 – June 10, 1944) was an American businessman and politician who was Maine State Treasurer from 1913 to 1915 and 1917 to 1921.
Early life
[edit]Simpson was born in York Harbor, Maine, on December 20, 1870, to Jeremiah P. and Mary S. (Lowe) Simpson. He was educated at the Kents Hill School.[1] In 1891, Simpson moved to Ohio and worked in the oil industry. He soon returned to Maine and worked as a messenger for the York Harbor & Beach Railroad.[2] In 1899, he married Ida Rogers in Wellington, Nevada.[1]
Business
[edit]Simpson was a proprietor of two hotels in York Harbor (Marshall House and Emerson Hotel) and the vice president and treasurer of the Falmouth Hotel in Portland, Maine.[3] In 1921, he led the reorganization of the Maine Hotel Men's Association and served its president.[4] He was also a founder of the Maine Publicity Bureau.[5]
Simpson was the president of Simpson's Market Co., York Harbor Realty Company, and the York County Trust Company and a director of the Forest City Trust Co., Union Mutual Life Insurance Co., and the York Harbor and Beach Railroad.[1][3]
Politics
[edit]Simpson was York's town treasurer in 1896.[2] He was a member of the Maine House of Representatives in 1897 and the Maine Senate from 1903 to 1905.[1]
In 1913, Simpson was elected Maine State Treasurer by the joint convention of the Maine Legislature. He received 96 votes to Democratic incumbent James F. Singleton's 72.[6] In 1915, no party held a majority of seats in the Maine Legislature, and the race for treasurer became deadlocked. This changed when the House voted to accept a majority report of the committee on elections and unseat Republican Levite V. Thibodeau in favor of Fortunat W. Michaud, a Democrat.[7] On the seventh ballot, Democrat Elmer E. Newbert was elected over Simpson by six votes.[8] The Republicans regained control in 1917 and Simpson was elected treasurer again in 1917 and 1919.[2][9]
In 1920, Simpson was a candidate for the United States House of Representatives seat in Maine's 1st congressional district. He finished fifth in a six-candidate Republican primary behind Carroll L. Beedy, Charles Bailey Clarke, Howard Davies, and Horace Mitchell and ahead of Frank D. Marshall.[10]
In 1925, Simpson was elected Maine's Republican National Committeeman. He defeated Robert J. Peacock 18 votes to 14 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Harold M. Sewall.[11] He remained on the committee until his resignation in 1934.[12]
Death
[edit]Simpson died on June 10, 1944, in York Harbor.[5]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 Hodgkins, Theodore Roosevelt, ed. (1926). Brief Biographies, Maine. Lewiston Journal Company. pp. 234–235. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Hon. Jos. W. Simpson a Son of York County is State Treasurer". Biddeford Weekly Journal. January 5, 1917. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- 1 2 Poor's Register of Corporations, Directors and Executives, United States and Canada. Standard & Poor's Corporation. 1928. p. 1360. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ↑ "J.W. Simpson Heads Maine Hotel Men". Biddeford Weekly Journal. September 30, 1921. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- 1 2 "Simpson, Ex-State Treasurer, Dies". The Lewiston Daily Sun. June 12, 1944. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Haines Inaugurated". The Lewiston Daily Sun. January 2, 1913. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ↑ "House Unseats Thibodeau But Allows Clement To Stay". The Lewiston Daily Sun. January 11, 1915. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
- ↑ "Democrats Win". The Meriden Daily Journal. January 15, 1915. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
- ↑ "Dull Opening Legislature; No Breaks In Program". The Lewiston Daily Sun. January 2, 1919. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Parkhurst Wins In The Primaries Beedy Leads Clarke But [sic] 29 Votes". Biddeford Weekly Journal. June 25, 1920. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ↑ "J.W. Simpson is National Committeeman". Biddeford Weekly Journal. February 20, 1925. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ↑ ""Young Turks" To Decide On Stand". The Lewiston Daily Sun. July 11, 1934. Retrieved June 18, 2026.