Bios: JAMES CAMPBELL: Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
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Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lawrence Co transcribers.
Coordinated by Ed McClelland
Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
An html version with search engine may be found at
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/lawrence/1897/
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JAMES CAMPBELL,
[p. 111] a retired farmer of North Beaver township, whose efforts through
life have been crowned with success, was born in Allegheny Co., Pa., Dec. 14,
1823. He was a son of James and Mary (Cunningham) Campbell, and grandson of
Robert and Esther (Pat- terson) Campbell, both of whom were born in County
Down, Ireland.
Robert Campbell, the grandsire, a man of education and refinement, was a
teacher of high and scholarly attainments, and in addition understood the
trade of a weaver. Coming to America, his only daughter died at sea, but his
son, James, the father of our subject, remained to him. After his arrival in
this country, Robert Campbell spent some little time in looking about for a
favorable place in which to make his permanent abiding-place, and finally
purchased 400 acres of land in Ross and Pine townships, Allegheny County. He
made his home on the portion of the property that was in Ross township, and
for many years successfully followed teaching, weaving and farming, becoming
a leading spirit of that growing section. He died when four score years of
age, leaving all of his accumulated property to his only son, James Campbell,
Sr., father of the present James Campbell.
James Campbell, Sr., was early married to Miss Mary Cunningham, daughter of
a well and favorably known family, and seven children sprang from this union:
Robert; John; James; Hugh; Abram; Samuel; and Nancy; all of whom grew to
noble manhood and womanhood. James Campbell, Sr., lived to the age of
seventy-two, and his beloved wife was permitted to behold sixty-nine summers
of mortal earth. The father of the subject of this article was a vigorous,
stirring man in the community, respected and liked by all. He was a Whig and
afterwards a Republican of earnest convictions, being relied on by his fellow
party members for sound advice. Besides being a kind parent, he was a firm
Christian, and a leading member of the Reformed Presbyterian'Church.
James Campbell, the son, was reared and educated in his native township,
receiving all the advantages possible in the newly settled country. He
inherited a share of the paternal estate, amounting to 112 acres, and thereon
erected a new house and barns, and followed general farming until 1869, when
he sold his place, and removed to North Beaver township, where he bought the
Dr. Smith farm of 204 acres. This tract of land was and is now one of the
choicest pieces of farming property in the county. Since he became the
proprietor of the estate, Mr. Campbell has made many marked improvements,
permanent in their character. He remodeled the house at a great expense,
built a handsome large barn 64x44, with basement and every convenience, and
set acres of ground with the finest varieties of orchard fruits. An
up-to-date dairy has always been a feature of Mr. Campbell's estate, and no
finer stock grazes on the hills of the county than can be found in his
pastures.
When a young man, Mr. Campbell linked his fortunes with those of Eliza
Ellen Dodds, daughter of Robert Dodds of Allegheny Co., Pa.; she bore him
five children, namely: John, who married Ella Duff, and lives on the
homestead, assisting his father in its proper care; Harvey James, who wedded
Ella Paden, and is the father of two bright childrenEdna and Ralph; he has
built a fine set of buildings on the homestead and follows farming as a
pursuit; Evada B., Sarah M. and Lulu all died young. James Campbell, his
whole life through, has been a worthy successor of an excellent ancestry. The
influence of the Campbell family has always been felt in shaping the affairs
of the commonwealth for the best. The affairs of the day, whether private or
public, awaken in him the same lively interest as of yore. He has been a
sincere Republican since the formation of the party, and may be always found
in the front ranks, championing the cause which he believes and knows to be
right. He is a Christian gentleman, and a devoted member of the Westfield
Presbyterian Church of Mt. Jackson. He has seen the land, chosen of his
fathers, develop, prosper, and wax great. Even in times of trouble, when the
nation's future was overcast with great ominous clouds of rebellion, Mr.
Campbell's stock of sturdy Americanism, inherited from those who builded and
builded well, never failed him and he stands to-day a type of what a loyal,
honorable and upright man should be.