Background
Simpson was born on March 9, 1813, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the son of John Neely and Mary (Brunson) Simpson.
Simpson was born on March 9, 1813, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the son of John Neely and Mary (Brunson) Simpson.
After a common-school education Simpson entered the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, at fifteen and graduated creditably in 1832.
Commissioned in the artillery, Simpson served as aide to Gen. Henry Lawrence Eustis during the Seminole War, 1837-1838, and was in action at Locha-Hatchee. In 1838 he was transferred to the topographical engineers, and during the following ten years was engaged in engineering projects in the East and the South. In 1849 he was in charge of the exploration of a route from Fort Smith, Arkansas, to Santa Fé, New Mexico, serving as chief topographical engineer, Department of New Mexico. About this time, too, Simpson reconnoitered a route from Santa Fé to the Navajo Indian country, which he reported in Journal of a Military Reconnaissance from Santa Fé, New Mexico, to the Navajo Country (1852).
Simpson was promoted captain, March 3, 1853, and served five years on road construction in Minnesota and two years on coast survey duty. In 1858 he accompanied the Utah Expedition, and submitted a valuable report on a new route from Salt Lake City to the Pacific coast. With the outbreak of the Civil War he attained the rank of major and for a few months was chief topographical engineer, Department of the Shenandoah, when he was commissioned colonel, 4th New Jersey Volunteers. With his regiment he saw service in the Peninsular campaign, and was engaged at Westpoint, Virginia, and at Gaines's Mill, where he was taken prisoner. After being exchanged he resigned his volunteer commission on August 27, 1862, and served as chief topographical engineer and chief engineer, Department of the Ohio, 1862-1863.
Until the end of the war he was in general charge of fortifications and engineering projects in Kentucky. For faithful and meritorious services during the war, he was brevetted colonel and brigadiergeneral, March 13, 1865. Simpson became chief engineer, Department of the Interior, 1865-1867, and was charged with general direction and inspection of the Union Pacific Railroad, as well as of all government wagon-roads. He was promoted colonel of engineers on March 7, 1867.
His subsequent active military service covered road construction, river and harbor improvements, and lighthouse supervision in the South and the Middle West. At his own request he retired on March 31, 1880, and made his home in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he died of pneumonia, and where he was buried with military honors.
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Simpson was married first to Jane Champlin, and second, in 1871, to Elizabeth Sophia (Borup) Champlin, widow of Raymond Champlin. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and two adopted daughters.
