CAMPBELL, Hon. Edward, Jr. - 1890 Bio (1819-1901)

CAMPBELL, HINDMAN, MOORE, BRIGHT, ATCHISON, FARMER

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 7/29/2007 at 14:19:33

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 340-341

Hon. Edward CAMPBELL, Jr., a farmer residing in Fairfield, was born in Washington County, Pa., on New Year's Day of 1820**. His parents were Robert and Mary (HINDMAN) CAMPBELL. The father, who was also a native of Washington County, was descended from Scotch-Irish (sic) ancestry, his parents being natives of Belfast, Ireland, while the family was originally of Scottish origin. They were Presbyterians of the old school, and the family gave to the world a long race of divines of that faith. The mother of our subject was born in Cecil County, Md., and belonged to an old family of that State, which was established by English colonists several generations remote. When Mr. CAMPBELL's parents settled in Washington County, that region was only just being opened to civilization. His father owned a new farm in the timber, and when Edward was but a child, was killed by accident. Educational advantages were necessarily limited, and the first school our subject attended, was held in a log house with a clay floor. No glass appeared in the windows, but instead the light was admitted through sheets of paper that had previously been used for writing lessons, and then oiled and fastened to the openings in the sash. Hard labor was his portion from early youth, but being studious and ambitious to acquire knowledge, he made the best possible use of his opportunities which had improved as time progressed. Supplementing his school privileges with personal effort at self-culture, he acquired a thorough English education, and a fair knowledge of the classics.

In March, 1841, when twenty-one years of age, Mr. CAMPBELL was married in Alleghany County, Pa., to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John MOORE, and a native of the county in which their union was celebrated. The succeeding five years he spent in farming in the Keystone State, and in 1846, removed to Pittsburg, where he was employed six years as chief clerk in the office of the Prothonotary, and Sheriff, and was also clerking in a bank. He was subsequently elected to the office of Prothonotary and Sheriff of the county, and the term of his official service extended over fifteen years. In 1865, he came to Iowa and settled in Cedar Township, Jefferson County, where he engaged in farming and stock-growing. He extended his purchases of real estate until now he has a fine farm of nine hundred and sixty acres in one tract, situated six miles southeast of Fairfield. He continued his residence in Cedar Township until 1879, when he removed to the city, where he now resides.

In early life Mr. CAMPBELL was a Whig, and voted with that party until 1850, when he joined the Democrats, and really began his political life in active opposition to Know Nothingism and to the principle of protective tariff. While a resident of Cedar Township, he served as School Director many years, and in 1871 was elected to the State Legislature, serving in the session of 1872, and in the extra session of the General Assembly of 1873. In 1885, he was appointed by President Cleveland to the office of Marshal for the southern district of Iowa, and held the office for four and a half years. For many years our subject has been an active and influential worker in the cause of Democracy, having served ten years as chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee, and devoted much time and considerable capital to the support of his party and its principles.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. CAMPBELL was blessed with eight children, four sons and four daughters, of whom five are now living: Amelia, the eldest, died in infancy; John M. resides in Virginia City, Nev., where he edits the "Daily Enterprise"; Mary Belle is the wife of N. S. BRIGHT, a hardware merchant of Fairfield, Iowa; Alice is the widow of Joseph M. ATCHISON, late a lawyer of Pittsburg, Pa., and now resides with her father in Fairfield, being at present employed as a clerk in the post-office; Robert died in infancy; Anna Cora is the wife of Samuel C. FARMER, Jr., of Chicago; Colin E. resides in Des Moines; and William Clifford died in Fairfield, in December, 1887, at the age of twenty-seven years.

Mr. CAMPBELL has been an industrious student from his early youth, and possesses scholarly attainments of a high order. His reading has been varied and extensive, and as he is blessed with a retentive memory, and a taste for the intellectual, he has familiarized himself with the works of the best writers of ancient times, of the middle ages and the modern period, and possesses a versatility of knowledge rarely found in one who has made his own way in the world, and who has never enjoyed the advantages of a collegiate education. During his residence of thirty years in Iowa, Mr. CAMPBELL has acquired an extensive acquaintance among the leading men of the State of all parties. In the course of his business relations he enjoys the reputation of being upright and honorable in a marked degree, and of being liberal and free-handed where-ever he can aid any worthy public enterprise. Socially, he is deservedly popular. Possessing as he does such a varied fund of general information, and a quaint humor that is irresistible, he is always entertaining in conversation and a welcome companion.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

**While both his obituary and this biography give 1820 as the year of his birth, his gravestone gives his birthdate as December 31, 1819.