The most discussed, and cussed, member of our family tree is our Great Grandfather - George W Simpson, who changed his name, birthdate, and birthplace on every form he filled out. For a police officer, he may have upheld the law, but he certainly didn’t tell the truth. Or maybe he only told bits of it.
George told his children he was from Cowan, Tennessee, that he “could never go back home,” and that he had no family. His sons spent years trying to solve the mystery of their father, even travelling to Tennessee and interviewing Simpsons from the phone book.
George has been our brickwall, and biggest puzzle. Even with DNA testing, the more we find out the curiouser it becomes.
George and Emma Auguste Sydow Simpson - the earliest photo of George.
The marriage certificate of George and Emma lists George’s name as “W.G. Simpson,” August 17, 1908.
March 23, 1908 military application to Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio: George W. Simpson says he is 26 years and 2 months old, a plumber, born in St. Louis, Missouri. He says his mother is Mrs. Mary Simpson, at Box 74, St. Louis, Missouri.
The 1910 census shows George Simtson, age 26 (1884), profession listed as carpenter. They are living at 712 Shirley St. Emma is 23, and daughter Edna (actually Evelyn) is 0/12. I’ve been unable to locate a birth certificate for Evelyn.
A news item in the San Antonio Light, July 10, 1911, says G.W. Simpson was newly recruited as a fireman, in the position of ladderman.
November 28, 1911, son Clarence (Buddy) is born. They are living at 523 Lewis Street.
In another article, San Antonio Express, August 22, 1912, G.W. Simpson is sworn in as a new police officer in San Antonio Police Department.
And then, there’s this:
San Antonio Express, Monday morning, Dec. 2, 1912- so he go back to Tennessee.
Daughter Myrtle Ruth was born November 17, 1913, in Austin TX. George was listed as George W Simpson. (From a delayed, corrected birth certificate).
May 2, 1918, William Pershing Simpson (Frank) was born in San Antonio. G.W. Simpson states his birthplace is Kentucky, and he is 44 (1874). Their address is 752 Kentucky,
US WWI Draft Registration Card for George Washington Simpson: he’s 40 years old (January 11, 1878), and lives at 752 Kentucky Ave. He lists his occupation as manufacturing at Air Nitro in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The card is dated September 12, 1918.
In 1920, George W. Simpson is 36 (1885) , is “firing” at Camp Normoyle, and from Tennessee. Emma is listed, as well as the kids: Evelyn age 10, Clarence age 8, Myrtle Ruth age 6, and Frank is 2. They are living at 105 Quintana Rd.
Claude was born January 19, 1922 (1880). George W. Simpson is listed as 42 years old, from Cowan, Tennessee and a fireman. Their address is 206 Lovett Street, and the certificate is signed by a doctor at Camp Normoyle.
In 1923, George W. Simpson takes a San Antonio Police Department Application Medical Exam. He’s living at 930 Kentucky Ave. His age is 38, his birthday is Jan 11, 1886, and he’s from Cowan, Tennessee.
March 11, 1924, Roy is born, and George W. Simpson claims to be 42 (1882), and from Tennessee. He lists his occupation as “Fire Prevention Engineer.”
From the San Antonio Police Department personnel file
1930 (1884) census, George W. Simpson is 46, and from Tennessee. He’s a traffic policeman. Emma and the kids are listed, and there are two new children- Claude and Roy. They are living a 2303 West Commerce St.
1940 (1878) census, George W. Simpson is 62, from Tennessee, no occupation. The family lives at 618 Cincinnatti Street.
George William Simpson died September 30, 1943. His oldest child, Evelyn, filled out the Death Certificate. It lists his birthday as January 11, 1875, and he was 68 years old.
In a posthumous award for meritorious service in the SAPD, George was a policeman from September 24, 1924-September 27, 1939.
Spring, 1943
So what’s the big deal? He changed his birthdate and initials around?
For years, this was all we knew. And we could find nothing more from searching in Tennessee. And then we found this:
San Antonio Light, September 17, 1935