"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon." Chapman Publishing Company, 1903. p. 945. WILTON LEROY SIMERAL March 22, 1896, Wilton Leroy Simeral was appointed steward and head farmer of the Oregon State Reform School by Governor Lord, and with the exception of a nine-months leave of absence, he has since held this large responsibility. In the estimation of those who are privileged to witness the many improvements inaugurated by the present steward, no better man could have been found for the position, his many years of association with various lines of activity in the west having fitted him for most tactful and satisfactory dealings with trustees and others interested in state institutions. There are six hundred acres in the school farm, all of which land is under his direct supervision, and the operation of which involves a large amount of calculation and good business judgment. He also has charge of the purchasing of the cattle and other stock. The many claims to consideration acknowledged by all who know him, are by no means based solely upon his good work with the reform school, for Mr. Simeral has been a resident of Oregon since 1865. He was born near Maquoketa, Jackson county, Iowa, March 9, 1855, the son of John H., a veterinary surgeon, and the grandson of another follower of the same calling. The father came of German ancestry, and was born in Indiana, where he was there reared to manhood, removing thence to Iowa. In 1864 he outfitted with wagons, provisions and horse teams and crossed the plains, settling near Boise City, Idaho, soon after removing to Pendleton, Ore., then a small hamlet containing a hotel and blacksmith shop. In September of 1865 he came to Marion county by team, locating near Salem for two years, and then moved upon leased land in the Waldo Hills. In 1871 he bought three hundred and twenty acres of timber land in Clackamas county, which he occupied for two years, when he sold that and bought one hundred and twenty acres near Silverton, where he lived until 1890. Some months later he died in Macleay, at the age of sixty-six years, the date of his death being December 21, 1891. He is survived by his wife, who was in maidenhood Elmira E. Crane, and who was born in New York, October 28, 1832. W. L., is the oldest of a family of five children, the second oldest of whom is A. Frank, a boot and shoe merchant at Silverton; he married Elsie Riches, and they have six children: Vernie, Ada, Wayne, Frank, Manley and Elsie. Carrie is the wife of H. S. Hicks, of Silverton, their one daughter being Florence. Newell L. died in 1864, at the age of three and a half years; and Clarence John is a traveling inspector for the San Francisco machine firm of Baker & Hamilton; he married Ariadne Cornelius, and they have one son, Claire, and make their home in Salem. At the age of twenty-one years, W. L. Simeral started out into the world to make his own way, and was married November 29, 1876, Emma Catherine Anderson becoming his wife. She was the daughter of John Franklin and Lucinda (Jarvis) Anderson, the father being a farmer on Howell Prairie, and justly famed for his neat, practical methods in the pursuit of his agricultural labors. He also served as county commissioner in Marion county. Of the other children of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson we mention the following: Solomon F., a successful farmer in the Waldo Hills, married Amanda Stormer, by whom he has one son, Carl; George S., engaged in farming on his father's place, married Elizabeth Limbeck, and they have one daughter, Ruth; Elizabeth M. became the wife of Robert Florer, who is located near Des Moines, Iowa, their five children being as follows: Jennie, Margery, Maxwell, Maurice and Dorothy. Carrie is the wife of Frank Bowers, the cartoonist, living in Indianapolis, Ind. Both parents are still living, and make their home on Howell Prairie, the father being sixty-nine and the mother seventy-one years of age. For a year after his marriage Mr. Simeral rented the Hubbard farm, four miles from Salem, with his father, then removed to Howell Prairie, and with his father-in-law farmed one year, and then moved three miles southeast of Turner and rented a farm of three hundred and twenty acres of W. C. Morris. After six years of successful management of this large property he felt justified in branching out into land ownership, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in the Waldo Hills, ten miles east of Salem. In 1899 he removed with his family to the Governor Greer farm, and now owns in all two hundred and five acres of land. An aid to Mr. Simeral in his farming and stock-raising enterprises has been his knowledge of veterinary surgery, learned from his father and grandfather, and which he has had occasion to use extensively since engaging in independent farming. He was appointed county stock inspector, serving for nine years, and was associated for some time as local inspector with State Veterinary Surgeon James Whitcomb. This was carried on in connection with general farming, and was not abandoned until the appointment to his present position with the reform school. For nine years he served as chief marshal of the Oregon State Fair. A Republican in politics, Mr. Simeral has never aspired to office, though solicited many times by his friends. Fraternally, he is a member of Pearl Lodge No. 66, A. F. & A. M.; Macleay Lodge No. 50, A. O. U. W.; Degree of Honor No. 84; charter member of Salem Camp, M. W. A.; Capital City Lodge No. 34, I. O. L., and member of the Macleay Grange. Four children have been born into the Simeral home; Leroy J., who was educated at the Oregon Agricultural College, married Linnie English, resides in Macleay, and is rural mail carrier; Raymond W., a page in the state senate in 1894, when twelve years old, and is now operating the home farm; George F., who graduated from District No. 100, of the public schools, at the age of sixteen years; and Myrtle C., at home. The two older sons are members of Macleay Lodge No. 50,A. O. U. W., in which Raymond acts as recorder, and Mrs. Simeral is a member of the Degree of Honor and holds the position of recorder. Mr. Simeral is capable and resourceful, and keeps abreast of the times on agriculture and general business. He is upright and progressive, and in his relations with his subordinates maintains the first principles of consideration, tact and humanity. Transcriber's additional notes: 08-09-1860 Jackson Co, IA; Monmouth Pct, Waterford & Cobb PO, p 365 John Simmeral, 34, IN, farmer, $1600 / $150 Almira, 27, NY Welton, 5, IA Francis, 2, IA 08-08-1870 Marion Co, OR; Silverton Pct, p101 J. H. Simeral, 44, IN, farmer Alma, 34, NY William,15, IA Francis, 12, IA Carey, 10, IA Clarence, 5, IA 06-26-1880 Marion Co, OR; Turner Pct, p 141 (next to J.H., Elmira E, & Clarence J. Simeral family) W. L. Simeral, 24, IA, IN, NY, farmer Emma C, wife, 22, IA, IA, IA, keeping house Jerry Conway, boarder, 49, single, IRE, IRE, IRE, laborer 06-15-1900 Marion Co, OR; Turner Pct, Oregon State Reform School, p236 Wilton L. Simeral, 45, March 1855, IA, IN, NY, farmer, married 24 yrs 06-11-1900 Marion Co, OR; Macleay Pct, p 180 Emma C. Simeral, 42, Aug 1857, IA, IA, VA, mar 23 yrs, 4 children-4 living Wilton L, head, 45, Jan 1855, IA, IN, NY, mar 23 yrs Roy J, son, 19, Sept 1880, OR, IA, IA, farm laborer Raymond W, son, 17, July 1882, OR, IA, IA, farm laborer Georgia S, dau, 14, May 1886, OR, IA, IA, att. school Myrtle C, dau, 12, May 1888, OR, IA, IA, att. school Almira E, mother, 67, Oct 1832, NY, --, --, Wd, 5 children-4 living Milton Brown, 18, Jan 1882, single, OR, --, --, farm laborer Lawrence Hardman, 19, Feb 1881, single, OR, --, --, farm laborer 08-08-1910 Marion Co, OR; Macleay Pct, p 102 Wilton L. Simeral, 54, IA, IN, NY, mar 1x 33 yrs, farmer Emma C, wife, 52, IA, IA, VA, mar 1x 33 yrs, 4 children-4 living Frank J. Anderson, f in l, 74, Wd, IA, KY, KY Harvy Brown, hired man, 19, single, OR, OR, OR, farm laborer OR Death Index; for a Milton/Wilton L. Simeral; Clatsop Co, died May 25, 1919, cert. # 327 01-06-1920 Marion Co, OR; Salem Wd 1, p 5, 1165 Marion st. (next door to son Raymond) Emma C. Simeral, 63, Wd, IA, US, VA ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.