Simpson, William Ward, 1872-1907
Person
Dates
- Existence: August 1, 1872 to April 28, 1907
Biographical
William Ward Simpson was the first successful Adventist big city evangelist attracting crowds as large as 2,000 in Los Angeles in 1906. Although he died at the age of 36, he brought significant innovations to Seventh-day Adventist evangelism. He is best remembered for his folding prophetic chart which he published in 1899. Using the “flip chart” principle, it simply and effectively presented the major prophecies of Daniel and Revelation (Box 2 Fld 19).
W. W. Simpson (see photographs Bx 2 Fld 1, 2) was born in Brooklyn, New York, on August 1, 1872 to William Ward Simpson Sr. and Anne Turner (For biographical information see Box 1 Fld 6, 7, 8); died on April 28, 1907, at Glendale, California. He was one at six children; but the only one to survive early childhood. The family returned to England. When William Jr. was twelve years old, he and his parents returned to the United States where they planned to make their home. During the boat trip, William Sr. became very ill with pneumonia and died after arriving in Florida.
When a youth in Battle Creek, Simpson served first as call-boy in the sanitarium and later as errand boy in the office of Good Health. Afterward he completed an apprenticeship in the Review and Herald Office. As a boy, William had no religious faith. His father and grandfather were atheists and the boy had a poor chance to know a loving heavenly Father because of his own fathers example and teachings.
He was converted in 1890, and not long thereafter, while running a press in the office, he suddenly stopped the machine and informed the foreman that he was going to leave that job in order to assist in spreading the light of the third angel’s message in the earth. He first labored as a canvasser, then Michigan Conference granted him a license to preach (Box 1 Fld 28). He labored successfully among the Indians in Ontario, Canada, and later in Michigan. His efforts brought good results. The laws of Canada made him a law breaker on account of his religious convictions, and he was compelled to remain a prisoner forty days in the Chatham, Ontario, jail (see photocopy of photograph in Box 1 Fld 10).
William married Nellie F. Ballenger on May 10, 1899, in Sheridan, Illinois. They had three children. On June 17, 1899 William was ordained to the ministry (Bx 1 Fld 27). In California after 1902, he conducted successful meetings in Oakland, Los Angeles, and in several of the larger cities of Southern California.
W. W. Simpson (see photographs Bx 2 Fld 1, 2) was born in Brooklyn, New York, on August 1, 1872 to William Ward Simpson Sr. and Anne Turner (For biographical information see Box 1 Fld 6, 7, 8); died on April 28, 1907, at Glendale, California. He was one at six children; but the only one to survive early childhood. The family returned to England. When William Jr. was twelve years old, he and his parents returned to the United States where they planned to make their home. During the boat trip, William Sr. became very ill with pneumonia and died after arriving in Florida.
When a youth in Battle Creek, Simpson served first as call-boy in the sanitarium and later as errand boy in the office of Good Health. Afterward he completed an apprenticeship in the Review and Herald Office. As a boy, William had no religious faith. His father and grandfather were atheists and the boy had a poor chance to know a loving heavenly Father because of his own fathers example and teachings.
He was converted in 1890, and not long thereafter, while running a press in the office, he suddenly stopped the machine and informed the foreman that he was going to leave that job in order to assist in spreading the light of the third angel’s message in the earth. He first labored as a canvasser, then Michigan Conference granted him a license to preach (Box 1 Fld 28). He labored successfully among the Indians in Ontario, Canada, and later in Michigan. His efforts brought good results. The laws of Canada made him a law breaker on account of his religious convictions, and he was compelled to remain a prisoner forty days in the Chatham, Ontario, jail (see photocopy of photograph in Box 1 Fld 10).
William married Nellie F. Ballenger on May 10, 1899, in Sheridan, Illinois. They had three children. On June 17, 1899 William was ordained to the ministry (Bx 1 Fld 27). In California after 1902, he conducted successful meetings in Oakland, Los Angeles, and in several of the larger cities of Southern California.
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
William Ward Simpson Collection
Collection
Identifier: Collection 81
Content Description
The William Ward Simpson Collection consists of two boxes which includes correspondence, information about the papier mache beasts, material on the Ballenger family, his evangelistic work, and writings. There is also some material from his daughter, Winea J. Simpson.
Dates:
1843 - 1977