Campbell, Alexander

CAMPBELL

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 11/12/2008 at 13:39:45

Alexander Campbell

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.254, Waveland Twp.)
Alexander Campbell, farmer, P. O. Griswold, Cass County, was born in Northern Scotland in 1845, son of Simon and Isabella (McKenzie) Campbell; he was born in Scotland in 1822, and now lives in that country; she was born in Scotland in 1825, and died in Iowa in 1877. Mr. Campbell was an only child, and began life as a fisherman. He emigrated to this country and began work as a farm hand in Illinois in 1868. In 1871, he bought 160 acres of land in Waveland Township, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa. This farm he moved onto in 1877. Mr. Campbell paid $6.50 per acre for his farm. He now has 547 acres, valued at about $35 an acre. He has two very fine orchards, and some artificial groves. He has fifty-five head of cattle, ten horses and 100 head of fine hogs - a cross between Berkshire and Poland. The cyclone of 1873 passed near Mr. Campbell's place, but he fortunately escaped damage. In 1876, Mr. Campbell returned to Scotland, and after a thirteen years' separation, married Miss Mary Ann McKenzie, born in Elgin, Scotland, October 24, 1852, daughter of William and Betsey McKenzie; he died in Scotland in 1863; she was born in Scotland in 1822. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have four children - Bella, William J., Betsey and Janet - all born in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. When Mr. Campbell came to Iowa to buy land in 1871, there was not a house to be seen on Walnut Ridge, and he had to use his compass to find his way back to a settlement. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is Independent in politics.