William Simpson papers, 1875-1919

This collection primarily contains correspondence between members of the Simpson and Schellworth families. Much of the correspondence is between William and Nellie (Schellworth) Simpson, who were married in 1884, two years after their correspondence began. The content of their correspondence relates to their daily lives; their daughters, Bess and Nina; and William's work as a ferry pilot on the Columbia River. Other correspondents include Bess and Nina Simpson; Nellie's mother, Alice Schellworth; William's parents, William and Jane, and his brother, Charles; and other members of the Simpson family living in William's native Great Britain. Also included in this collection are school compositions written by Nellie, legal documents relating to William's job as a ferry pilot and status as a United States citizen, and ephemera, including receipts, programs, and one document from the Independent Order of Odd Fellows regarding the death of Nellie's father, Heinrich Gustavus Schellworth.