George and Rhoda Simpson

Information and picture were submitted by Terri Beck

George and Rhoda Simpson, who came to Decatur County in May 1877 where they remained until 1st of Jan 1882. (In 1880 Census it shows Rawlins Co, but their property was Ranges 33/34).  They left and came back in Sept. of 1882 and stayed until May 27, 1884.  George was a people and animal "Doctor", treating man and animal alike.  He may have been a Govt. Agent overseeing the Indians during their Trial in Dodge Co. then seeing them on to Montana.

Miss Cora Eliza Simpson, a Medical Missionary to China, was born near Oberlin, Decatur County, Kansas on Feb. 13, 1880, the 4th of nine children born to George Mathew and Rhoda Rosina Simpson. She was my great, great aunt.

From her tenderest years, she learned the rudiments of medicine both of humans and animals, from her father, known in those parts as "Doc Simpson". The family traveled by covered wagon to Oregon and back to Nebraska, gathering Indian relics,rocks and minerals along the way, and of course, many stories as well. In 1900 she attended the Nebraska Methodist Medical College at Omaha, and received a public health nursing certificate from Simmons College, Boston.

She went to China in 1907 where she founded and directed the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing in Foochow, China. When she arrived, there were neither Chinese nurses or even a word for "nurse" in the Chinese language. When she left China in 1946, her legacy was 14,000 certified nurses.

She was a life member of the Nurses Assoc. of China, and served as its secretary, was a delegate to the International Council of Nurses at Finland in 1925, and Paris France in 1933. She authored a book, Joy Ride Thru China.

She returned to the US in 1946 and passed on to her ultimate reward May 14, 1960 in Chelsea Michigan.

What is truly amazing about this woman, is that she started out a child of Pioneers, braving the virgin American West, went to College, and took with her to a foreign land besot with famine, disease, poverty and internal strife, her love of healing and love of God. She survived two World Wars in China and to some--insumountable odds. She is an example of selfless giving, to teach that one person can make the difference in humanity enmasse.

Cora Simpson

Information and picture were submitted by Terri Beck

Cora Eliza Simpson, b. 13 Feb 1880 at Oberlin.  Cora went on to be a famous nurse.  The Simpson's were so proud of her beginnings in Oberlin, Decatur, Co Ks

Three of George and Rhoda Simpson's Children--Anna, George, and Charles

Information and picture were submitted by Terri Beck

These are three of George and Rhoda Simpson's children, The daughter is Anna Joaquina Simpson B. 13 Jan 1873 in Guide Rock, Webster, NE.  The Tall boy on the right is George Mathew Simpson b. 21 Jan 1875 also in Guide Rock, Webster, NE, the youngest boy, is Charles Barlow Simpson, b. 5 Nov 1877 at Oberlin.