Sylvester C. Simpson

Sylvester Confucius Simpson (March 21, 1844 – May 3, 1913) was an American educator and attorney in the state of Oregon. A native of Missouri, he served as the first Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction and was later the secretary to Oregon Governor Stephen F. Chadwick before moving to California. A Democrat, he also served as the chief clerk in the Oregon State Senate.

Early years Sylvester Simpson was born in Elm Grove, Missouri, on March 21, 1844, to Nancy (née Cooper) and Benjamin Simpson. In 1846, the family traveled the Oregon Trail to the Oregon Country and settled in the Willamette Valley. He then enrolled at Willamette University in Salem where he studied law and graduated in 1864 with a masters of arts degree.

While still in college, he worked as a professor at Willamette, teaching ancient languages. He maintained that position for the next five sessions, ending with the 1878 session. Simpson served in the position from January 30, 1873 until September 14, 1874. His brother Samuel was one of the writers for that series, with the books published by A.L. Bancroft & Co. in San Francisco.