James W. Campbell

CAMPBELL, RUNKLE

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 6/29/2006 at 13:20:39

J. W. Campbell, a carpenter contractor of Winterset, has done much important work in the city and enjoys a high reputation both as a business man and as a workman. He was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, on the 21st of March, 1857. Silas H. Campbell, his father, was a farmer by occupation and at the time of the Civil war served for four years in the southern army, being willing to give his life if need be in defense of the cause that he believed to be just. His wife was in her maidenhood Miss Mary Catherine Ritchie.

During his boyhood, J. W. Campbell studied under a private tutor, as the public schools of Virginia were then very inadequate. When sixteen years of age he put aside his textbooks and devoted the greater part of his time to assisting his father in various occupations, including farming. At the same time he learned the wheelwright's trade and thus prepared to earn a livelihood. In 1877, when twenty years of age, he decided to take advantage of the opportunities offered by Iowa, which was much less thickly settled than the states farther east. Coming to Winterset, he engaged in carpentering in addition to farming, but after eleven' years' residence here he removed to Beatrice, Nebraska, where he remained for a year, after which he went to Lincoln, that state. For nine years he followed the wheelwright's trade and was also employed in a planing mill for five years during this period, but in 1898 returned to Winterset, where he has since resided. He is an excellent carpenter himself and also does contracting, having erected some of the best structures in Winterset and vicinity. He demands from all of his employees conscientious, thorough work, and as he invariably lives up to his contract in every particular, his reliability is rewarded by a large business.

Mr. Campbell has been twice married, his second wedding occurring January 10, 1912, when Miss Rella J. Runkle, of Lincoln, Nebraska, became his wife. He is a democrat and for seven years has been a member of the city council, during which time he has voted for a number of ordinances that have proved well advised. Fraternally he has taken high rank in the Masonic order, belonging to Evening Star Lodge, No. 43, A. F. & A. M.; Lebanon Chapter, No.11, R. A. M.; Des Moines Consistory, No. 3, A. A. S. R.; and Za-Ga-Zig Temple of Des Moines, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. The spirit of fraternity has found realization in his life and has won him many sincere friends, who value highly his good opinion.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.