Simpson, Eugene and Fannie (Wright)
Back to Thumbnails
Click on photo for extra large version
Eugene Simpson, 1873-1965 and Fanny Augusta Alaphaier (Wright) Simpson, 1874-1962; married March 31, 1895. The town of Eugene, MO, was named for Eugene Simpson. Wright historian and educator, Maude Wright (1896-1999) said the names of Eugene Simpson, John Melton and Charles Jenkins were placed in a hat and Eugene Simpson won the drawing. All had donated land to create the town on the new CRI&P line from St. Louis to Kansas City. Another version of the story says Melton won but the name "Melton" was rejected by the U.S. Post Office as being too similar to another Missouri post office and "Eugene" won by default.