CAMPBELL, William P. - 1912 Bio (1842 - ? )

CAMPBELL, EVANS, TROETTE, FILSON, GUNN, LEWMAN, GRIMES

Posted By: Debbie Nash (email)
Date: 2/5/2004 at 18:22:21

From the “History of Jefferson County, Iowa” – 1912, Volume II
Pages 26-27

WILLIAM P. CAMPBELL

“William P. CAMPBELL, who has made his home in the village of Brookville for more than three decades, has lived retired since 1901, but for a number of years was actively engaged in business as the proprietor of a sawmill. His birth occurred in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on the 27th of February, 1842, his parents being Thomas C. and Susan (EVANS) CAMPBELL, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state. The father came of Scotch (sic) ancestry; the mother was of German lineage. They came to Iowa in 1857, locating in Fairfield, Jefferson county, where Mr. CAMPBELL worked at the cabinet-maker’s trade for several years. Subsequently, he turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, purchasing a farm near Perlee, eight miles east of Brookville. After the death of his wife, he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode in Brighton, Washington county, Iowa, where he spent the remainder of his life in honorable retirement.

William P. CAMPBELL remained under the parental roof until sixteen years of age, attending the district schools in the acquirement of an education. He first worked as a farm hand by the month, but, later, purchased an interest in a sawmill, operating the same prior to his marriage. Locating in Brookville, he there conducted a sawmill until 1901, when he retired from active business life. He sold his farm of forty-eight acres, in Black Hawk township, and purchased his present homestead of six acres in the village of Brookville, Locust Grove township. At the time of the Civil war, he enlisted in the Union army as a member of Company B, Nineteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, serving with distinction for twenty-three months. He participated in several important engagements, and was discharged because of impaired eyesight. Today, he is almost totally blind.

On the 27th of February, 1876, Mr. CAMPBELL was united in marriage to Miss Anna TROETTE, a daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Elizabeth (FILSON) TROETTE; the former a native of France and the latter of Ohio. They were married in Pennsylvania and came west in 1855, when their daughter Anna was a child, locating in Birmingham, Van Buren county, Iowa, where they spend the remainder of their lives. Benjamin Troette, who was a brick mason by trade, passed away thirty-two years ago. He had long survived his wife, whose demise occurred fifty-three years ago. Unto Mr. and Mrs. CAMPBELL have been born eight children. Walter, an agriculturist of Crawford county, Iowa, wedded Miss Lettie GUNN of that county, by whom he has four children: Geraldine, Anna, Willie and Crawford. Jessie, who gave her hand in marriage to Enos LEWMAN, a farmer of Jefferson county, passed away on the 18th of July, 1910. Clarence E. devotes his attention to general agricultural pursuits in Crawford county, Iowa. Myrtle is the wife of James W. GRIMES, a farmer living west of Libertyville, by whom she had three children: Cecil; Clive; and Intha, who is deceased. William passed away when a youth of eighteen. George, a well known land agent of Packwood, Iowa, handles western and northwestern farm lands and local real estate. Charles and Fred are both at home with their parents.

In politics, Mr. CAMPBELL is a stanch republican, loyally supporting the party which was the defense of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war. He was a member of Abingdon post of the Grand Army of the Republic, until it was disbanded. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church of Brookville, Iowa. Mr. CAMPBELL has many friends in Jefferson county, among whom he is most highly esteemed and respected.”

I am copying this for genealogical purposes and am not related to said individuals.