Snapshots of History by Mike Avitt

By Editor | May 27, 2026 |

I took this photo in 2018. Dick Simpson, as of this month, has been in his barber shop for 62 years. I have written about Dick’s career many times, so I’ll try to add some information I find on the periphery.
In the old days, a barber was called a “tonsorial artist” and a barber shop was called a “tonsorial parlor.” Mount Ayr’s first barber came on the scene in 1874 in the form of Mr. L. B. Imus. Many, many barber shops have existed since 1874, but Dick’s Barber Shop may be the last traditional barber shop in Ringgold County.
After Dick finished barber school, he was required to serve an internship in Iowa. Dick told me he started his internship in Clarinda, but the barber there had put his shop up for sale and a buyer came along, interrupting Dick’s training. Dick then finished his internship in Ellston at Paul Jackson’s barber shop. Mr Jackson also had an insurance business in connection with his shop.
Dick and his wife Theanna bought the building at 105 W. Monroe in April 1963 and Theanna opened her beauty salon at that time in the east half of the building. Meadows Insurance was in the west half. The building was previously owned by Jo Wiseman Ross and operated as Fairway Cleaners.
The building at 105 W. Monroe was built for Mr. and Mrs. Earl Perry in 1927 as a dry cleaners and dress shop. They owned the business for 20 years before selling to Jo Farmer, later Jo Wiseman Ross.
Dick opened his barber shop the first week of May 1964. There were plenty of other barbers in Mount Ayr at that time.
Bill Buell was in his barber shop at 109 N. Taylor Street and Don Simpson (no relation) was serving his internship at the Beull shop in May 1964. Mr. Buell retired about 1965.
Bob Smith and Bob Evans had a shop at 110 N. Taylor with three chairs. I believe the middle chair was for children.
Verne Taggart was in a shop with an address of 100 or 102 E. Adams Street. Jim Skinner had been in here previously.
Bill Wheeler was an old-time barber that might hold the record for number of different locations. He seems to have been in the basement at 100 S. Taylor in 1964, having bought the shop from Jess Skinner. There were at least three different Skinner men who served as barbers in Mount Ayr.
At least three of the shops I mentioned had more than one chair. There were times when the second chair had an operator and times when it didn’t. So, Dick is the last barber still operating from 1964. Or any year. The last barber I know, other than Dick, operating a barber shop in Mount Ayr was Ron Smith in 1999 at 102 E. Adams.
Dick’s wife Theanna passed away just recently. And Dick won’t be in his shop forever, so drop by and get clipped soon.
On one ocassion I sat down in Dick’s chair for a haircut and I said, “Dick, I only have half a head of hair. I should only have to pay half price.” Dick said, “I should charge you double.” “What?” I protested, “Why?” Dick said, “Finders fee.”
Sometimes Dick tells me a joke and sometimes he brings me up-to-date on local happenings. In other words, when I stop at Dick’s Barber Shop, I always get more than just a haircut.