Simpson Lane- The murder of James Simpson

"SIMPSON'S FERRY"

This search started with one entry I randomly found in Historic Marysville City Cemetery records.

"Simpson James- Birth: Mar 26 1808 Death: Sep 9 1859 n/o NJ - shot, Occupation: ferryman"

I began to wonder. Could this be the namesake of Simpson lane?

Here are my findings-

From "Memories; my seventy-two years in the romantic county"

of Yuba, California, by W.T. Ellis

"Historic Yuba Dam

ABOUT 2 miles southeast of Marysville in a bend of the present Hammonton Road is the old site of a small settlement which existed in early days and was known as “Yuba Dam” and made famous byBret Harte. Nothing now remains to mark the old location except a large pecan tree. In early days there were no bridges crossing the Yuba River; there was, however, a ferry for crossing the Yuba River at the south end of E Street to the south areas; but on the east of town, the Yuba River was about one and a half miles southeast of its present channel on the Simpson Lane, the old original Yuba channel being about one quarter mile westerly of the old site of “Yuba Dam.” Another ferry was operated by a man named Simpson, from whom Simpson Lane took its name. Floods and mining debris have entirely altered old conditions and where the old river channel used to be, a large peach orchard now is growing, known as the Yuba Dam Ranch, owned by my two friends, R.R. Stowell and S. F. Weiser."


At this point I wasn't able to find out much more about this guy named Simpson. I thought that was strange, but I feel at this point it was safe to assume the man in cemetery records, was the same man that Ellis speaks of. I was however able to find record after record, of "Margaret E. Simpson" charging toll at her bridge, and four years later attempting to sell it publicly. Could this be his widow trying to tie up loose ends from losing her husband?

I decided to see if Find a Grave had any info and sure enough, there it was. James had a wife named Margaret Elizabeth Simpson. They are buried at the Historic Marysville City Cemetery.


"The National Democrat 9-8-1859:

James was killed when a fight broke out between James and a man named R M Turner who blamed James for the death of his brother, Alf Turner, several years before. There was a large group assembled at the Landis Ranch several miles south of Marysville near the township of Linda and at first it was a fist fight and then other family members and friends of each started pulling out their guns and careless aim made bullets fly. James and R M Turner fought over a drawn gun and James was shot as were some of the by-standers in all the excitement. None of the wounds were serious except for James Simpson. He left a wife and three children to mourn his death."

I believe it's safe to say, YES Simpson Lane/bridge/crossing was named after the murdered ferryman named James Simpson.

Good luck trying to read. I attempted to transcribe, but it's pretty rough. Again, Simpson is buried at Historic Marysville City Cemetery.

From Appeal-Democrat
Wednesday, October 15, 1958:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/79450285/james-simpson




Photo of bridge: bridgeoftheweek.com




Cemetery photos: Celeste Wideman on find a grave




Memorial credit: RobMinteer57 on find a grave