(1838-13 Jan. 1915), merchant. Born at Lachute, Que. Parents: Dr James Simpson and his wife Elizabeth Malcolm. He was brought to Alexandria by his parents in 1842. Involved in merchandising in Alexandria from an early age, he was associated at first with his brother James, but afterwards went into business on his own. A full-page ad (Glengarrian 6 Dec. 1889 ) identifies John Simpson as a dealer in dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, etc., and aggressively affirms his competitive prices. After he took his son J.O. Simpson into partnership with him, their business was known as John Simpson & Son. In 1900 the firm built the Simpson Block, on the west side of Alexandria’s Main Street. The shipment of over 2000 dozen eggs the firm made in May 1911 to the Montreal dealer W. Champagne & Co., being one week’s purchase from the area farmers, was held to be the largest egg shipment any GC merchant had made. (Glengarry News 26 May 1911, cf 2 May 1913) John Simpson was appointed registrar of deeds for GC in 1891, and he held this office for the remainder of his life. He served on the public school board and high school board, and was secretary of the Glengarry Agricultural Society. A strong supporter of the Liberal Party, he was one of the founders of the Glengarry News, intended as Liberal newspaper. Simpson maintained a farm near Alexandria. He was a Presbyterian, and for near 40 years a Presbyterian elder. Mason. Married to Emily Allen. (children surviving him: 2) Harkness called him “a man of much more than average ability.” He was the father of J.O. and W. J. Simpson, who were also Alexandria merchants. The position of registrar left vacant by his death filled by appointment of John A. McRae.

     The WWI airman Duncan John McRae was a former employee of the Simpson firm.

Glengarry News 22 Jan. 1915, repr. Cornwall Freeholder 28 Jan. 1915 * Harkness 273 (in group photog., Alexandria, 1905), 449-450 * Elliott 285 * GN supplement 1903 [20] * founders of GN: Centennial Issue GN 8 July 1992 (portrait) * John Simpson & Son installs cash carriers, GN 26 May 1907 *John Simpson sells farm, GN 21 Feb. 1913