ROBERT W. SIMPSON, PIONEER JOURNALIST OF NEVADA
Contributed
by Mike Bunker 2003
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA
Thompson & West, 1881
Pages 331-332
R. W. Simpson,
Although young in years, is one of the pioneers of Nevada, having commenced his work on the Reese River Reveille in 1863, then a stalwart lad fresh from Missouri. In 1868, in company with W. H. Pitchford, he established the White Pine News, and in 1871, he became part owner of the Pioche Record, in which paper he remained until moving to Ward, in 1877. As a pioneer of the State so is he a pioneer in journalism, filling every position in the routine of newspaper-making faithfully and well. From his advent into the "Snowy State" until the present he has not crossed its boundaries, and with the exception of a few brief intervals when some mining speculation made him a millionaire, or attracted by bright prospects to develop some promising claim he has kept his nasal organ in close proximity to the space-box. As a faithful friend, honorable gentleman and deserving journalist, he has no superior.
Mark W. Musgrove established the Ward Miner, a 7 X 9 notepaper-size sheet, first published on November 15, 1876. Musgrove was not an experienced journalist, and his paper did not prosper exceedingly, therefore he transferred his office and his "good-will" to Mr. Robert W. Simpson, one of the pioneers of jounalism in Nevada, who then established the Ward Reflex, issuing his first number April 19, 1877, making it a handsome paper with five columns to the page, which appears to be the favorite size in the mining regions of Nevada. The Reflex is independent in politics, though with Democratic proclivities, ardently devoting itself to the interest of its section.
THE NEWSPAPERS OF NEVADA
Richard E. Lingenfelter and Karen Rix Gash
University of Nevada Press, Reno, 1984
Page 164
PIOCHE
Lincoln County Record (Pioche Record)
The pioneer paper of Lincoln County was begun at Pioche, in the Ely Mining District, on September 17, 1870, as the Ely Record. W. H. Pitchford and Co. issued it weekly from a canvas tent. Pat Holland bought the paper on October 8, and Robert W. Simpson became his partner the following week. The office was destroyed by the fire that swept the town in September of 1871, but, like the town, it was quickly rebuilt. Simpson retired from the paper on April 11, 1872, and Frank Kenyon became a silent partner and assumed the editorship. . . .
Page 238
TAYLOR
White Pine Reflex
About early June of 1884, Robert W. Simpson suspended the Reflex at Ward and removed the press and material to the promising new camp of Taylor. There, on June 21, 1884, he revived the paper as the White Pine Reflex, issuing it as a four-page weekly, at a subscription price of $7.50 per year. Simpson continued the paper at Taylor until August 12, 1885 when he announced, "This will be our parting shot if we 'fall straddle mit der fence, both legs on one side', otherwise we will give Taylor a paper fourteen columns on both sides." He fell straddle, and W. L. Davis of the White Pine News purchased the plant, suspending the Reflex.
White Pine Reflex: (Jun 21 1884 - Aug 12 1885)
Page 246
TREASURE CITY
White Pine News
The suspension of the Silver Bend Reporter at Belmont in the summer of 1868 resulted from the departure of its proprietor, M. D. Fairchild, to the new bonanzas of White Pine. That winter, the press and material passed into the hands of W. H. Pitchford and Robert W. Simpson, who, also attracted by the new mines, removed the plant to Treasure City. There, atop nine-thousand-foot Treasure Hill, they commenced publication of the White Pine News on December 26, 1868, as a twenty-four-column independent weekly. Myron Angel, formerly of the Reese River Reveille, became editor of the paper on March 20, 1869. In February of the same year, it had been enlarged to a triweekly, which ran only two months before being increased to a daily on April 19.
Simpson soon sold his interest, and Pitchford became sole proprietor on April 24, 1869. He, in turn, soon sold to William J. Forbes. Forbes was formerly of the Virginia City Trespass, but had come to White Pine to run a saloon. He maintained that of twenty men, nineteen would patronize the saloon and only one the newspaper, and that he was going for the crowd. However, he soon took up his old vocation again. On May 10, 1869, Forbes assumed the proprietorship, in partnership with John I. Ginn. . . .
Page 275
WARD
Ward Reflex
Following the suspension of the Ward Miner, Robert W. Simpson purchased the plant and commenced publication of the Ward Reflex on April 19, 1877. Simpson was the sole editor and proprietor, and issued the paper as a weekly of twenty columns, measuring 18 by 24 inches, at a subscription price of $7.50 a year. The Reflex was well received and from August 9 to September 30, 1877, it was issued as a semiweekly. The paper was then reduced to a weekly again and continued until May 17, 1884. That day Simpson suspended the paper at Ward and removed the plant to "the Promised Land," the new camp of Taylor, where he revived the paper as the White Pine Reflex. (See Taylor, White Pine Reflex.)
Ward Reflex: (Apr 19 1877 - May 17 1884)
White Pine News
Taylor, Nevada
Saturday, August 29, 1885
page 2, column 1
OUR PARTING
As we step down and out memories of the past steal o'er us, and we see far back (two and a half decades) to the time of bright dreams, ere we first placed a type in a stick; to the wasted years that have intervened, and to hopes that have been blasted. But come to think of it, if all of one's hopes were realized life would be cloyed with sweets; even "Spring would be gloomy weather, were there nothing else, but Spring." We have never been a flatterer, well knowing that we lost money thereby; have made many enemies and possibly a few friends. "Here's a tear for those who love a smile for those who hate."
R. W. SIMPSON,
Of the late REFLEX.
White Pine News
Ely, Nevada
March 7, 1892
page 3, column 1
R. W. Simpson is Taylor's only representative in attendance at Court. Bro. Simpson is always at home in a print shop and we always manage to utilize his spare time when we catch him at the county seat.
NEWSPAPER INDEX CARDS
WHITE PINE COUNTY LIBRARY FOR:
SIMPSON, R. W.
4/11/1896 wpn 2-2 Obituary [the newspaper was not issued on that date and a search of issues for several months before and after that time was made; Mr. Simpson's death notice could not be found. Also, the old White Pine County death records were checked on 2/2/2000 at the County Recorder's Office and found not to contain a listing for Mr. Simpson]
12/9/1893 wpn 3-1 Check - caution
5/7/1892 wpn 3-1 Taylor's representative [article transcribed above]
3/7/1891 wpn 3-1 In charge of News, Ed. away [could not find on microfilm copy on 12/14/1999]
6/1/1889 wpn 3-3 trial juror
5/4/1889 wpn 3-2 trial juror
6/28/1888 wpn 3-1 with measles
10/10/1885 wpn 3-1 $ still owed - due
9/5/1885 wpn 3-4 Into mining
8/29/1885 wpn 2-1 leaves newspaper [article transcribed above] 3-1 Works last 2 weeks
8/22/1885 wpn 2-1 Ward Reflex quit - mining
8/8/1885 wpn 3-2 Resolution sent to Mrs. Grant
8/1/1885 wpn 3-1 Read resolutions at Mem. Service for General Grant
9/1/1883 wpn 3-1 in Ward, is considered base firemen
5/19/1883 wr 1-1 terms of subs. 1 yr. by mail $7.50, 6-mos. $4.00, 3 mos. $2.50. Published every Wed. in Taylor
4/4/1883 wr 3-1 Died in Oregon a few days ago
10/21/1882 wpn 3-2 School trustees in Ward
8/27/1881 wr 3-2 is given 40 days to appear
10/23/1880 wr 1-1 Ward Reflex is published by him
4/26/1869 wpn 2-1 Dissolution notice
SIMPSON
12/29/1868 RRR 1-4 With Pitchford printed first number of White Pine News
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