BIOGRAPHY: Peter CAMPBELL, Cambria County, PA
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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 251-2
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PETER CAMPBELL, is a son of John and Susan (Myers) Campbell, and was born in
what is now Carrolltown, March 25, 1837. Patrick Campbell, grandfather, was a
native of Ireland, whence he emigrated to America and probably settled in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where John Campbell, the father of our subject, was
born. His parents died when he was but four years old, and he found a home in
the family of Emericus Bender, who came from Philadelphia to Cambria county.
John Campbell was reared in the Bender home, and remained with his worthy
benefactor until about seventeen years old, when he apprenticed himself to John
Myers, who afterward became his father-in-law, and learned the trade of a
carpenter.
After his marriage with Susan Myers he bought a tract of one hundred acres
of woodland adjoining the present site of Carrolltown, which he cleared, and on
which he established his home. He followed farming in connection with his trade
as a carpenter the remainder of his life. Previous to purchasing the above farm
he had resided for a short time on a farm belonging to Mr. McDonald, who sold
the place to Rev. Father Lemke. Father Lemke afterward gave the farm to the
Benedictine society with which he was connected.
Mr. Campbell was a man of considerable business ability, was a member of
the Roman Catholic church, and died May 4, 1865, aged sixty-four years. His
wife, who survived him many years, was born in 1800, and died August 31, 1890,
at the advanced age of ninety years. Their union was blessed in the birth of
nine children: Henry, a carpenter of Altoona, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Catharine
Farrell; John, Joseph and Robert, all deceased; Peter, Augusta, deceased; Mrs.
Mary A. Kirkpatrick, deceased, and Susan, who died in childhood.
Peter Campbell was reared on the homestead farm and learned the carpenter
trade with his father, which he followed for a number of years.
On the death of his mother, in 1890, Mr. Campbell purchased the homestead,
which contains one hundred and twenty-five acres of well-improved farm-land,
lying just outside the borough of Carrolltown, with the exception of the
buildings and their surroundings. It is one of the most desirable farms in that
locality.
In political affairs Mr. Campbell is a staunch advocate of the principles
of the Republican party, and exerts a wide influence in the local councils of
the same. He cast his first vote for Lincoln, and has ever since voted with the
party of Lincoln and Grant.
He was appointed sealer of weights and measures for Cambria county under
Governor Hoyt, and was postmaster of Carrolltown under President Harrison. In
1881 he was elected constable by a majority of thirty-five, at a time when the
borough gave a Democratic majority of about one hundred and fifteen. August 23,
1895, he was a delegate to the State convention, and for thirty-seven years has
served as a delegate to the county convention. During the Delamater, Hastings
and Montooth campaign for the nomination for Governor in 1890, a great effort
was made to have the delegates to the county convention instructed for
Delamater, and thus secure his nomination by acclamation. Against this
proceeding Mr. Campbell took a firm stand and entered the county convention as
an uninstructed delegate, being the only one in the convention; for this reason
there was great influence brought to bear upon him, but having the courage of
his convictions he nominated General Hastings and forced a ballot.
Mr. Campbell has been twice married. April 21, 1857, he married Miss Mary
Kirkpatrick, who died June 27, 1866; this marriage resulted in the birth of five
children: Susan, the wife of Matthew Weakland, who is the only one now living;
Josephine F., Jennie, James and Peter, all deceased.
His second marriage, which occurred in May, 1867, was with Miss Jane
Bendon, a daughter of Thomas Bendon, a stone-mason of Gallitzin township, this
county; this marriage resulted in the birth of ten children: Stephen,
weighmaster at Reed's mines; Frances, the wife of Albert Feighner, Spangler,
this county; Jessie, at home; Samuel, deceased; Jennie, at home; Matilda, at
home; Mary; the wife of C. A. Repsher, of Patton, this county; Charlotte, Amanda
and Della, besides an adopted child, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sides, of Barr
township, this county. He was taken by Mrs. Campbell at the age of two months,
and named Francis Benjamin Harrison Campbell. He is now seven years of age,
bright and intelligent.