The Campbell Families of Butler County, Ohio

LEWIS D. CAMPBELL was born in Franklin, Warren county, Ohio, August 9, 1811. He attended school in Franklin, in a log school house, with R. C. Schenck until he was fourteen years old, when he was transferred to the farm, on which he labored for three years. From 1828 to 1831 he served an apprenticeship in the office of the Cincinnati Gazette. In the latter year he came to Hamilton, Ohio, where he published a weekly newspaper, writing the editorials and other matter, setting it up, printing the issue on an old Washington press, and acting most of the time as his own carrier. In this paper he advocated the election of Henry Clay to the presidency. While editing his journal he studied law and in 1835 was admitted to the bar. He soon acquired a large and profitable practice. In 1848 Mr. Campbell was elected a representative in congress over General Baldwin. In 1850 he was elected to the same position over Judge Vance; in 1852, 1854 and 1856 over Hon. C. L. Vallandigham, and in 1870 over Hon. R. C. Schenck, his old schoolmate. This was his most celebrated campaign, for he had not only the influence and money of the administration to contend with, but a large Republican majority and the influence and money of eastern monopolies that favored a high tariff. During his first service in congress, from 1849 until 1858, slavery was the all-absorbing question. He participated prominently in the debates, contending that slavery should be excluded from the territories by congressional enactment. In the thirty-third congress, when the great question of repealing the Missouri compromise came before the house of representatives, he was selected, in a conference of the opposition members, as their leader on the floor. The debate between him and Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, on the relative advantage of free and slave labor, gave him rank with the ablest debaters of congress.

At the opening of the thirty-third and thirty-fourth congresses Mr. Campbell received the votes of a large majority of his party for the speakership, and, no doubt, would have been elected had he continued to be a candidate, but in consequence of pledges exacted from him he withdrew his name. After a struggle, prolonged for many weeks, Hon. N. P. Banks was elected. During this congress Mr. Campbell served as chairman of the ways and means committee. The arduous duties thus devolving upon him were discharged with great ability. Among the measures reported by him which became laws was the tariff act of 1857, which levied the lowest average duties on imports of any act passed within the last three-fourths of a century. It was during this congress that Preston H. Brooks made the assault on Charles Sumner in the old senate chamber. Mr. Campbell was the first to reach the senate after he was stricken down. On the following day he introduced the resolution for an investigation, was chairman of the committee appointed for that purpose, and made a report for the expulsion of Brooks. The challenge which the latter subsequently sent Mr. Burlingame was one of the results of the assault on Mr. Sumner. Upon the pressing request of Mr. Burlingame Mr. Campbell took charge of the affairs as his friend. General Joseph Lane, of Oregon, being the friend of Mr. Brooks. The correspondence on the part of Mr. Burlingame was wholly written by Mr. Campbell, who retained all of the original papers. It was through his skillful management that Mr. Burlingame was carried safely through without a stain upon his honor. When the Southern rebellion commenced Mr. Campbell ardently espoused the cause of the Union. In the spring and summer of 1861 he was assisted in raising several regiments. In the autumn following he organized the Sixty-ninth Ohio Regiment, and was commissioned colonel. In the winter of 1861-2 he was in command of Camp Chase, where he received and kept as prisoners of war the officers taken at Fort Donelson and in other battles. In April following he went under orders with his regiment to Tennessee, where he served in the Army of the Cumberland until the failure of his health unfitted him for the service, when he reluctantly retired.

In 1866 Mr. Campbell was appointed minister to Mexico — the successor of Hon. Thomas Corwin. In November of that year, accompanied by General Sherman, he proceeded on his mission. The French army of occupation and other forces of Maximilian were then in Mexico holding the capital and other principal cities. President Juarez and his cabinet officers had been driven to a point on the northwestern border. Failing to reach the government of that republic in its then migratory condition, Mr. Campbell was directed by Mr. Seward, secretary of state, to make his official residence temporarily in New Orleans. He remained there until June following, when, tired of that kind of service, he resigned.

Taking his seat as a member of the forty-second congress in March, 1871, he was at once recognized as possessing commanding influence which is attained only by a long and honorable public service. Acting with the minority, he was not placed in such a position as to take the leading part which had fallen to his lot in previous congressional service, yet his influence was very perceptible in the promotion of salutory legislation. In April, 1873, Mr. Campbell was elected a delegate to the convention to revise and amend the constitution of the state of Ohio. After the convention assembled at Columbus he was elected, on May 22(1, its vice-president by a unanimous vote.

In politics, Mr. Campbell was a Whig until the dissolution of that party. Subsequently he was a Republican, but after the rebellion closed he left that party and cooperated with the Democratic party. He was in failing health for months before his death, which occurred November 22, 1882. He was survived by an aged wife, who has since died, and three daughters. In his death Butler county sustained a great loss, and the state one of its greatest and most distinguished sons.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HON. JAMES E. CAMPBELL, Governor of Ohio in 1890-92, and one of the most eminent men of the state, was born in Middletown, Ohio, July 7, 1843, being a son of Dr. Andrew and Laura P. (Reynolds) Campbell, the former of Scotch extraction, and the latter of English descent. Further mention concerning the family history will be found in the biographical sketch of Dr. Campbell, elsewhere presented. The maternal grandfather, John P. Reynolds, was at one time a publisher in New York State, and later became a leading citizen of Middletown.

The Reynolds family was for many generations identified with the history of Devonshire, England. From Plympton Earl, in that shire, Jonathan Reynolds emigrated to America in 1645, and on his arrival in this country, took up his residence near Plympton, in Plymouth Colony, now a part of the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Governor Campbell is the sixth in line of descent from this original pioneer. After some time in Massachusetts, members of the family removed to Rhode Island and New York, where they are now numerous, as well as influential, holding important positions in state and national councils. Through the Reynolds family, his lineage is traced to John Parker, who commanded the American troops in the heroic struggle at Lexington at the beginning of the Revolution. Our subject’s paternal great-grandfather, Andrew Small, when eighteen years old went with Montgomery on the fatal expedition to Quebec, where he suffered untold miseries, but finally succeeded in effecting a return through Canada to the United States. Both grandfathers were soldiers in the War of 1812.

Governor Campbell gained his early education in the public schools of Middletown, and also conducted his studies under the preceptorship of Rev. John B. Morton, an early and successful teacher of that place, and for many years pastor of the Presbyterian Church. His studies completed, he taught school for a short time, employing his spare moments in the study of law.

In the summer of 1863, when the navy had been thoroughly organized in its various departments, and had won some of its most glorious victories, he became a master’s mate on the gunboats “Elk” and “Naiad,” serving on the Mississippi and Red River flotillas, and taking part in several engagements. However, the climate proving unhealthful, he was discharged from the service, returning home so attenuated as to be almost unrecognizable. As soon as he had sufficiently regained his former health, he resumed the study of law, being admitted to the Bar in 1865.

After having filled the position of bookkeeper for the First National Bank at Middletown, and also serving as Deputy Collector in the Internal Revenue Service of the Third District for eight months in Hamilton, under Gen. Ferdinand Van Derveer, the subject of this narrative entered upon the practice of law, in the spring of 1867. It was not long before his superior ability won for him public recognition. From 1867 until 1869 he was United States Commissioner. In 1875 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney for the county, and in 1877 was re-elected, serving four years altogether. In 1879 he was nominated for the Ohio State Senate, and the contest was very close, he being defeated by only twelve votes.

During the war Governor Campbell affiliated with the Republican party, and remained an adherent of its principles until the Greeley campaign of 1872, when, in common with thousands of others, he threw off the old party yoke and cast his ballot for Greeley and Brown. Since that time he has acted with the Democratic party, and has for years been one of its national leaders. Upon the party ticket in 1882 he was nominated for Congress, and his popularity was proven by the fact that he was elected, notwithstanding the large Republican majority usually given by the district. So efficient were his services that he was re-elected in 1884. There were few more influential and active members than he, and in that honored body he stood very high. He was Chairman of the Committee on Alcohol Liquor Traffic, but his most conspicuous services were on the Committee on the District of Columbia.

The campaign of 1886 was one of the most exciting in which he was ever engaged. Again the nominee of his party" for Member of Congress, the Republicans, in order to secure his defeat, “gerrymandered”'the district, adding Greene County, which had a large Republican majority. In spite of this fact, and in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, he gained the victory, though by a majority of but two votes. His services in Congress terminated in March of 1889, after a long, honorable and successful career. So prominent had he become in the councils of his party, that in 1889 he became the nominee of the Democrats of Ohio for the position of Governor, to which he was elected. January 1, 1890, he assumed the office of Chief Executive, and his service of two years added luster to the fame he had before achieved. In 1891 he was a candidate for re-election, but was defeated by Governor McKinley.

As a campaign speaker Governor Campbell is known throughout the United States, and wherever his name is announced for a speech, thousands always gather to hear him, including not only his own party, but the opposing organization as well.

He has the respect of those who are his political opponents, and who, while differing with him in national issues, are one with him in desiring the welfare of the state and the progress of the nation. Financially prospered, he is connected with various commercial and manufacturing enterprises, and is the owner of valuable real estate. Though not at present following a general practice, he occasionally acts as attorney in important law cases in Washington, D. C., and other cities.

In 1870 Governor Campbell married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Job E. Owens, one of the pioneer manufacturers of Hamilton. They are the parents of four children now living, namely: Elizabeth, Andrew, Jessie and James.

Thus briefly have been pointed out the leading features in the life of one of Ohio’s most eminent citizens, and one who has made an honorable record both in public positions and private enterprises. Now in the full vigor of his mental and physical faculties, it may be safely predicted that the future years will bring to him added honors and emoluments from the hands of his fellow-citizens.

A LEM CLARK is an old resident of Reiley Township, and was born one mile east of his present residence, February 26, 1818. He has therefore seen the development of that part of the country, and has been identified with the interests of Reiley Township all his life. 1 1 is parents were Isaac and Catharine (Miller) Clark, the former a native of Madison, I nd., where lie was born in 1793, and the latter of the state of Pennsylvania, born in the same year.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

AARON L. S. CAMPBELL is one of the most wealthy and influential agriculturists of Fairfield Township, and is proprietor of the Hamilton City Ice Company. He possesses good business ability, and has acquired a fortune by his wise management and sagacity. On his two large and valuable farms, situated not far from Hamilton, he keeps a number of fine Jersey cows, and is the owner of the Hamilton Jersey Dairy Company, supplying milk to numerous city patrons.

Mr. Campbell was born in Fairfield Township, September 1, 1849, and is one of seven children, three sons and four daughters, four of whom are living. His sister Ellen is the wife of H. L. Morey, Delia is Mrs. Ford, and his brother William H. C. is represented elsewhere in this volume. The father of these children, William II. H. Campbell, was born in Warren County, Ohio, and followed farming as a means of obtaining a livelihood in early life. Later he became interested in the wholesale ice business, and made a good success of the undertaking. He was very prominent as a citizen, served as Deputy Sheriff for one term, and at one time was State Senator, lie died May

17, 1894, when in his eighty-first year. His father, Andrew Campbell, was of Scotch ancestry. The mother of our subject, Ellen L., was a daughter of Aaron Longstreet Schenck, who was born of American parents. He was a successful farmer and an extensive stock raiser, and one of the earliest settlers of this county. He served in the capacity of Sheriff for one term, and was held in great respect by his neighbors. The death of W. H. H. Campbell occurred May 17, 1894, when he had reached his eighty-first year. His wife, who was a native of Ohio, died about 1877.

The subject of this sketch was born in Fairfield Township, September 1, 1849. His early years were passed in this township and Hamilton. He was reared to farm duties and learned the business of cutting ice, in both of which lines he is still interested. He employs a large number of men to carry on the work of his farm and to assist him in the ice business. His two valuable farms near the city limits comprise between three and four hundred acres, and annually yield abundant harvests.

Politically Mr. Campbell is affiliated with the Democratic party. He is a man of public spirit, and one who has a firm belief in the increasing success and prosperity of this region. He brings to bear upon his various enterprises perseverance, clear foresight and good judgment, all of which qualities have been instrumental in the success which he has accomplished.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM H. C. CAMPBELL, one of the most enterprising and thrifty young farmers of Butler County, comes from a worthy pioneer family of this state. His valuable farm is very conveniently located near the outskirts of Hamilton, in Fairfield Township, and comprises a tract of one hundred and sixty-three acres.

The birth of William Campbell took place in this county, August 5, 1863. His parents were William H. II. and Ellen L. (Schenck) Campbell, both of whom were natives of Ohio, and spent their lives within the limits of Butler County. They lived to attain advanced years, the father’s death occurring May 17, 1894, when he was in his eighty-first year; his wife died June 10, 1877. Mr. Campbell was an influential and highly respected citizen of this county, and on various occasions was honored with positions of responsibility and trust. For one term he served most efficient tlyr, and to the full satisfaction of his constituents, as County Sheriff, and for two terms represented this district in the Ohio State Legislature. He was a man of public spirit, who endeavored to the best of his ability to promote and advance the prosperity of the community in which he dwelt. He and his worthy wife were for years members of the Presbyterian Church. His father, Samuel Campbell, was a native of New Jersey, and in young manhood came to Ohio, being one of the early settlers of Warren County. He reared a large family, and passed the remainder of his life in the county just mentioned. On the material side our subject’s grandfather was Aaron Schenck. He was also one of the pioneers of Ohio, and died in this county when about fifty-three years of age.

In a family comprising three sons and four daughters, four of whom are 3'et living, W. II. C. Campbell is the youngest. Mis surviving brothers and sisters are: Aaron L. S.; Ella R. C., wife of H. L. Morey; and Lelia L., who became the wife of Jarvis Ford. The early years of our subject were passed on his father’s farm, where he was born. His education was such as was afforded by the district schools in the neighborhood, but he has constantly added to his knowledge by a wise course of reading and study on various topics of the day and of general interest. With his father as an instructor, he learned the various duties pertaining to farm life, and became a practical agriculturist by the time he had reached his majority. He is very successful in the operation of his farm, which bears evidence of the care and attention bestowed upon it by the thrifty proprietor.

May 23, 1889, Mr. Campbell was united in marriage with Miss Evaline, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Lewellen) Wooley. Four children have been born to this union, who are named as follows: Horace Chester, Eleanor Schenck, Verona and William, Jr.

In his political relations, Mr. Campbell is a Democrat, and uses his influence in the support of that party’s candidates and measures. In his religious views he is liberal, and though he gives of his means to the support of the Methodist Church, with which his wife is connected, he is not identified with any denomination.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.