CAMPBELL, Joel E. - 1890 Bio (1822-1899)

CAMPBELL, POOLE, PASSMORE, CRAWFORD, PALMER, DERR, WHITHAM

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 7/29/2007 at 19:58:04

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 404-405

Joel E. CAMPBELL, an early settler who for may years was a prominent merchant of Fairfield, but is now living a retired life on his farm, was born in Washington, Washington County, Pa., March 23, 1822, and is a son of William Passmore and Catherine (POOLE) CAMPBELL. His father was born in Maryland, October 26, 1796, and was of Scotch (sic) and English descent. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a native of Scotland and in his youth came to America, where he married Miss PASSMORE, a lady of English origin. William CAMPBELL, who in pursuit of fortune engaged in merchandising, died June 29, 1825, at the early age of twenty-nine years. His wife, who was born in Richmond, Va., in 1795, long survived her husband and died in Fairfield, Iowa, in 1875, at the age of eighty years.

The subject of this sketch was reared in his native town and educated in Washington college. He entered upon his business career as a salesman in a mercantile establishment and was married, in Wheeling, Va., on the 13th of April, 1848, to Miss Anna Eliza CRAWFORD. This lady is a daughter of James and Margaret CRAWFORD, and was born in the city of Steubenville, Ohio, in 1831.

Prior to his marriage, in 1845, Mr. CAMPBELL came to Jefferson County, Iowa, and purchased a tract consisting of four hundred acres of land in Fairfield Township, which is a part of his present farm and which has now been in his possession for almost half a century. He remained but a short time in Iowa and then returned to Pennsylvania, but in 1847 he made a second trip to Fairfield and two years later established a general store in this city in company with James Eckert. Leaving the business in the care of his partner, he returned to Pennsylvania, closed up affairs in that State and in April, 1850, brought his family to Fairfield. His residence and a store were on the present site of the First National Bank, and he continued business at that point until 1858, when he sold out but made his home in the city until 1875, when he removed to his farm, which is situated on the east half of section 11, Fairfield Township, and which has since been his place of residence. He now owns five hundred acres of rich prairie land, well improved, and his home a tasty and commodious brick structure, is pleasantly situated in the edge of an extensive maple grove that shelters it from the northwest winds and forms a bower of beauty around it.

Mr. and Mrs. CAMPBELL are the parents of six children, four of whom are living: William P., who married Melo PALMER, resides in Los Vegas, N. Mex., where he publishes the Los Vegas "Optic", of which he is editorial manager; James, the second child died at the age of one year, and Crawford died in infancy; Samuel, unmarried, is a practicing physician of Omaha, Neb.; Eugene was joined in wedlock with Miss Minnie DERR, and is a leading homeopathic physician of Fairfield; Anna is the wife of Joseph WHITHAM, junior partner of the firm of Risk, Hufstedler & Whitham, of Fairfield.

Mr. CAMPBELL casts his ballot in support of the Democracy and keeps himself well informed on public affairs but has never sought or desired political distinction. He is a gentleman of superior business ability and has been successful in his undertaking much beyond the average of men. His course in life has been marked by strict integrity and fairness and has won for him the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens. He is truly one of the representative men of the county for he has been prominently connected with her business interests and with the growth, progress and advancement she has made.

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