William Martin Simpson

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-30686
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farm Hand
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Teamster
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Salvation Army
• Occupation: 1901, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Teamster
• Occupation: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Teamster, Furniture Factory
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

William married Caroline Henrietta Riehm 27 Jun 1888, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Caroline (daughter of Philip Riehm and Sophia Dorothea Kuechenmeister) was born 12 Jun 1867, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 13 Jun 1949, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Maurice Simpson was born 1888, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
2. Minnie Elizabeth Simpson was born 4 Apr 1889, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
3. William Herbert "Herb" Simpson was born 18 Feb 1892, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 19 Apr 1983, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Saint Peter's Lutheran Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
4. Charles Tindall Simpson was born 1 May 1895, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 22 Feb 1988, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
5. Henry Wilfred Simpson was born 4 May 1900, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
6. Dorothea Marie Simpson was born 10 Jul 1901, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.

Other Events:

• Building: 117 King St. W., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Simpson Block
• Business: Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Simpson Company
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-95398P
• Immigration: 1832, , England
• Immigration: 1832, , Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Cabinet Maker
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England
• Elected Office: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; councillor - Kitchener
• Occupation: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Cabinet Maker
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Manufacturer
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Manufacturer
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Possessions: 1897, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1901, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Furniture manufacturer
• Residence: 1911, 137 Ontario St. N., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Retired: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Fifty-Six Years in the Furniture Business in Berlin

Berlin is the Furniture Centre of Canada ; more Furniture and Better Furniture is made in Berlin than any other section of the Dominion. The Interview comes with added force on the eve of our Cityhood Celebration

An Interview with William (Daddy) Simpson ; known as the Father of the Furniture Industry

Thousands of our citizens for years have noticed a kindly faced, unobtrusive, indeed retiring man around our city; a man who, looks young when his eyes glisten, a man who has to be spoken to before he speaks,'97a man who, although quietly happy in the present, seems to be years back in thought. A man now nearly eighty one and yet he has the fire of youth when you come to discuss the old days of 1856 and the inception of the furniture industry in Berlin.

That quiet, genial man is William-known to us all as "Daddy" Simpson the father of the furniture trade, and the father of many in the furniture trade today. Just to sit an hour and chat with "Daddy" is one of life's reminiscences. It's one of the milestones on life's highway to glean from him the vicissitudes of fifty-six years in Berlin. To live to 'be eighty-one is notable even in a country where longevity is a strong feature of our healthful clime; but to find rank as the founder of an industry that is raising Berlin into the front rank of the Dominion is to be desired by many, and attained by few. "Daddy's" age means something. He created an industry. Age does not always mean a biography or a page in the upbuilding of a town, province or a dominion. Methuselah lived nine hundred and sixty nine years, we are told in the inspired Word, but if he ever said a quotable thing or did a useful one we do not know it. William Simpson came to Berlin in 1856 when it had about 1,200 population. The main street then as now was King Street. It had a few scattered houses and ran from the Waterloo boundary to the Old Mennonite Church. It aimed to be a street of some importance; it put on a bold front but it had big gaps for hundreds of yards where only grass and untenanted lots were awaiting the development of the town.

There were two small furniture factories in those days - the Hoffman Factory stood where the Merchants Bank stands in 1912; Enoch Ziegler owned the second factory which standing in the East end after many ups and downs passed into the hands of the Canada Furniture Company in 1901.

"Daddy" Simpson managed the Ziegler factory for the assignees early in 1856. In the fall of that year, he, with the assignees, formed a company known as the Menno Eby and Co. Factory. For three years they went on the even tenor of their way turning out good substantial furniture. "Furniture to wear" as Mr. Simpson says. They did not seek fancy frills and the many fads in furniture that prevail in these days. Then Mr. Eby retired and it became Simpson and Co; the Company being William Simpson, David S. Shoemaker (well known in those days) and James Potter, who owned the Great Western Hotel which stood where the Walper House stands now.

In 1887 the Simpson Company moved to what up to a week ago was known as the Simpson Block on King Street, but which block by the strange whirligig of fate has just been bought by A. G. Schreiter who worked for many years for "Daddy" Simpson.

The business eventually became Simpson, Anthes & Co., the members being William Simpson, John Aldous, Senator Merner, and John Anthes; an amalgamation of Simpson's original factory and Anthes & Co. who succeeded the Hoffman factory. As William Simpson says, "We made a general line of medium grade furniture -- furniture that would weargood dependable stuff' - so good it is in service to-day."
Sales were chiefly in the local market. They had no serious competition.

In 1862 the firm became Simpson and Aldous. In 1877 it was Simpson, Anthes & Co., and from 1862 to that date except for some small factories this firm had no opposition.

There was, however, a good factory in Waterloo known as the Wegenast Furniture Factory, in which the original Mr. Isaac Hoffman was interested after retiring from Berlin. Internal differences arising, Mr. John Anthes retired in 1881 and the firm again became Simpson & Co., composed of William Simpson and Senator Merner. In 1911 the business was sold out to the Canada Furniture Manufacturers Limited; Mr. Simpson retaining his stock but in favor of younger men. What is now Schreiter's Block but to thousands will long be remembered as the Simpson Block, was built in 1887 and it is an interesting sidelight on the marvellous increase in land and building values in 1912 when the Simpson Block in 1912 sells for three times its first cost in 1887. Of course, the great factor in its increase in value is its central location, and it is without doubt in the throbbing heart-centre of the City. "Now, William, how do you explain the fact that Berlin for nearly sixty years has been interested heavily in the furniture industry and now is the centre of the Furniture Industry of the Dominion?" It was here that I touched upon the genial eyes to glisten and the reserved tongue to loosen.

"Daddy" Simpson was in the heart of the furniture trade in thought at once "Why? Why?" Why just because we had the common business sense to mind our own business which was making good furniture."

"It was so good that people talked about it. It sold here in Berlin and its fame spread to surrounding towns, and then our furniture went there, and they talked it and the fame spread further; for reputation that endures can only be built upon the solid foundation of quality."
I do not know that in my seventeen years in newspaper life in which I have interviewed many notabilities that I ever listened to a man with more interest than to "Daddy" Simpson.

He is the living throbbing embodiment of the creed of thoroughness in work and goodness of output. If it's worth doing at all it's worth doing well'97seems to be his creed. He recognised that the home is the trysting place of love and rest, that anything which makes for harmony, happiness, and comfort is an essential and a blessing. "He built good furniture," that is the burden of his song at eight-one years of age, would it were the general burden of our song all the years of our lives.

From this Father of the Furniture Industry cannot we read why Berlin is the Furniture City of Canada? The master was so good that those who served with him caught his spirit, went forth in their day to make good furniture and are making it yet.

It is not left to all of us to see the fruits of our policy; but William Simpson can look over Berlin to-day and see the best furniture firms owned by his graduates, and this is one great solace in his declining years.

As you all know the great factories here are those owned by Hibner, Krug, Anthes, Lippert, Berlin Furniture Co., Baetz, Kreiner and Wunder, all names to conjure with in the furniture business from the rock bound coast of the East to the Pacific shores of the West.

Among the well known Berlin furniture manufacturers of to-day who at one time worked for "Daddy" Simpson are George Lippert, Sr., Jacob Kreiner; and among the furniture retailers, A. G. Schreiter, who as Mr. Simpson says, "For many years had charge of my Upholstery Department and was an excellent workman." Edward Lippert served his time as an upholsterer and has since made good in the retail furniture business and with investments in the North West.

Then there's Conrad Wurm of The Berlin Table Co., who used to work with Mr. Simpson on extension table work," a right good workman who knew his work and did it."

Then there was Levi Seibert in charge of "Daddy" Simpson's Undertaking Parlors for twenty-five years, a tribute to the good work of the employee and the good appreciation of employer and the public, for the management of such a department requires great tact and unlimited good judgment and not a small amount of patience. He is still retained to manage that department for Schreiter' s.

I must not forget Herman Rathman, a finisher, indeed the boss finisher for the old Simpson Company; a man more or less retired from active business to-day but bears the reputation in the trade of being "one of the best finishers in Canada."

Then in the Baetz factory to-day there is Henry Hagen, who graduated from the Simpson factory and known as one of the best fitters in the trade; and there, no doubt, are a large number of good workmen in our Berlin furniture factories who received their technical training from Mr. William Simpson but his memory is at fault recalling them, he would do so if he could, for he believes in giving every man his just due.

"Daddy" Simpson points with pride to the fact that his son Harry learned the furniture trade with him, then took charge of the J. B. Snider Office, School and Church Furniture Factory at Waterloo for many years and five years ago went to Eastern Township Furniture Co., Athabaska, P. Q., where he is doing well; an instance of heredity and that blood will tell.

William Simpson was. born in England, came to Canada when but five months old; his parents settled in St. George, near Harrisburg, Ontario; he was educated there and at fifteen went to Hamilton and was apprenticed for four years to William Wright, a cabinet maker.

"Daddy" Simpson wisely and truly remarks that the great outstanding impression that remains with him is that every Berlin factory, furniture or otherwise, that is operating in July 1912, started from humble beginnings. All started from practically nothing, but indomitable industry and hard concentrated self-effort to succeed. All stand as monuments to the native talent, energy and application of their founders.

Fourteen large furniture factories rear their chimneys to the sky in our midst, work is continuous, all of them have difficulty in filling their orders, all of them are crying for skilled help; most of them are owned, managed and staffed by Germans men who are famed in the wood working industry, as clever at manufacturing as they are shrewd at retailing. Our manufacturing centres are favorably known for their freedom from fuss, feuds, or factions. They run smoothly. They turn out huge quantities of good materials.

These in control know their business from A to Z. Those who work in these factories swear by them. They work in them and for them. We send out of Berlin several times a year the largest excursion parties that go out of Ontario; we work when we work and we play when we play. That is the true secret of good factory management.

That was the basis of "Daddy "Simpson's business system. Get good men, treat them, let them work under sanitary conditions, pay them well, and all the rest will adjust itself to the betterment of employer and employee. How well these principles work out is best shown in the fact that seventy per cent of our residents live in their own homes; and Berlin is growing by leaps and hounds every year. "Daddy" Simpson's life and its results is an inspiration to us all. To know such men is a liberal education.

Official souvenir of the celebration of cityhood, July 17th 1912, Berlin, Ontario, The German Printing and Publishing Co

___________________

King Street, Kitchener

Cedar to Albert Street.

At the corner Enoch Ziegler's carriage factory, a good-sized and well-known shop which continued for many years.

A brick building, one story and a half, lengthwise with King Street, occupied by Yost Stroh as shoemaker shop and dwelling. Later this was made into a two story building.

Next an open space,

A two story frame building, crowned with a bell tower, with a boiler house and engine in the rear. The bell is said to have been cracked on a New Year's night by too violent ringing. In any event its sound was impaired. The building as a factory was at one time operated by Cornell & Bowman. It changed tenants from time to time and occasionally was idle. In 1867 Henry Strieker used it as a woolen mill and William Simpson used it at one time. The building was unpainted. It was eventually destroyed by fire.

Another factory building with gable toward King Street and a one story veranda in front.

A two story brick dwelling, well back from the street, occupied by A. H. Mowat, general agent and Deputy Clerk, He was the father of Jim Mowat, known as Moses Oates and, as a weather prophet, active on the Toronto Globe for some years. Jim Mowat was a school mate of Jacob Stroh at the Central School. He published almanacs and was known throughout the province.


REMINISCENCES OF BERLIN (NOW KITCHENER) By JACOB STROH Contributed by Joseph M. Snyder.

Part I. Settlement - Early Villagers and Buildings, Waterloo Historical Society Annual Volume 1930


Elected Office:
Years Served: 1871-73

Residence:
137 Ontario St. was formerly known as 77 Foundry St. North.

William — Elizabeth Aldous. Elizabeth (daughter of Benjamin Aldous and Elizabeth Crow) was born Between 1828 and 1829, , Suffolk, England; died 8 Feb 1918; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Simpson
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-137211
• Immigration: 1832, , Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, , Wisconsin, USA; Church of England
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/167538460
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-138403
• Historic Building: 1858, 78 Weber St. West, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England
• Occupation: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Shoemaker
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England

Notes:

Historic Building:
Built in 1858 by Martin Simpson a boot and shoe maker. Constructed of stone two stories high and covered (1978) in stucco. In 1978 is was listed in very good condition with a much altered entrance.

Martin married Ann Elizabeth "Eliza" Tindall 12 May 1830, North Cave, Yorkshire, England. Ann was born CALC 24 Sep 1809, , England; died 10 Mar 1892, New Dundee, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Ann Elizabeth "Eliza" Simpson
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-138404
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England
• Residence: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-155095

Notes:

Benjamin Aldous was report to have passed away in Guelph, Ontario in 1848.

Benjamin — Elizabeth Crow. Elizabeth was born CALC 26 Jun 1790, , England; died 26 Feb 1882, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Aldous
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-155094
• Residence: 1851, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; CO
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Notes:

CROWE, John (c1788-13 Dec 1872) m ALDOUS Harriet. A son Robert, d 5 Feb 1894 at ae 77, in Guelph. Robt m CLUTTON, Susan (c1823-13 Dec 1897) who was a sister of CLUTTON, William the grgdfa of the enquirer, Bill Clutton OGS 3497.

Waterloo-Wellington Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society, Branch Notes Vol X No. 4 1982