The Campbell Families of Jasper County, Iowa

ABNER B. CAMPBELL.

We should indeed be proud of the fact that there is no limit in this country to which natural ability, industry and honesty may not aspire. One born in the most unpromising surroundings and reared in the most adverse environment may, nevertheless, break from his letters and rise to the highest station in the country, and the qualities do not have to be of transcendent character to enable him to accomplish this result. It is more the way he does it and his skill in grasping the opportunities presented than to any remarkable qualities possessed by him. Accordingly it is found that very often in this country the leaders in political, business, professional and other lines of endeavor often possess no greater ability than thousands of others. They have simply taken better advantage of their opportunities than their fellows. And this truth runs through every occupation. The farmer who rises above his fellow tillers of the soil does so merely because he takes advantage of conditions which they overlook.

One of the successful agriculturists of Jasper county is Abner B. Campbell, of Independence township. He was born on the place and in the house where he now resides on June 2j, 1864, and here he grew to manhood and received his education in the public schools of his district. He has always followed farming, his fine farm of two hundred acres being under a high state of improvement and cultivation. In connection with general farming he makes a specialty of raising full-blood Duroc-Jersey hogs. He keeps the old homestead in ship shape in every respect.

The subject's parents, Allen D. and Nancy (Tramel) Campbell, were among the early settlers in Jasper county, having located in Independence township in 1852. The father was born in Ohio on February 23, 1827, and the mother in Indiana, September 17, 1830. They grew up and were married in the East, and they spent the last years of their lives in this county, the father's death occurring on August 25, 1899, his wife having preceding him to the grave on March 25, 1886. They became well established here through hard work and economy, developing a splendid farm from the wild prairie.

Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Allen D. Campbell, named as follows: Cynthia Caroline, born August 5. 185 1, died September 13, 1882; Francis William, born May 18, 1855, died April 26, 1856; James Alexander, born May 29, 1857. lives in Manning. Iowa; Mary Alice, born February 10, 1860, died December 16, 1889: Abner Beecher. of this sketch: Mrs. Iva Cora Rumbaugh, born June 2, 1870. lives in Independence township. These children were reared on the home place in this township, and they were educated in the local schools.

Abner B. Campbell, of this review, was married on October 28, 1906. to Anna Henning, who was born in Independence township, this county, on May 9, 1882, and she was educated in the local schools, having always lived in this community. She is the daughter of John George and Eva Barbara (Musig) Henning, both born in Germany, the father on November 20, 1848. and the mother on October 3, 1847. There they spent their earlier years, emigrating to the United States when young, and became residents of Independence township, Jasper county, Iowa, and here the father spent his remaining days, dying on May 30, 1905: the mother is living in this township.

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

IRA A. CAMPBELL.

One of the most enterprising and public spirited men of Collins and vicinity is Ira A. Campbell, who has long had the interests of Clear Creek township, Jasper county, at heart and who has labored in every way possible to promote the general good of the same. He is now getting well along in years, and his long record has given evidence of enterprise, honorable dealing and usefulness and he is one of the highly esteemed men of this locality, being one of our worthiest pioneers.

'Mr. Campbell was born in Meigs county, Ohio, September 21, 1836, and there grew to maturity and attended school in the old time log cabins. In the fall of 1855 he left the Buckeye state and removed to Clear Creek township Jasper county, Iowa, and has been a successful and active resident of the community ever since, having witnessed its remarkable growth and taking a leading interest in the same. He tells many interesting things relating to early life here, vividly recalling the incidents and hardships of the early days here, but being a man of courage he was not discouraged by any obstacle. He has devoted his life principally to farming and still owns a good place of one hundred and seventy acres in Clear Creek township, this county. Twenty years ago he left the farm, moved to Collins, where he built an excellent home and here he still resides; however, he did not retire from active life at that time and since coming here he has built many houses in this town. He recalls the fact that there were only a few homes in Clear Creek township, and they of rude logs, when he moved here. In his early life he followed blacksmithing, which he finally gave up on account of failing health and removed to a farm in Jasper county, having formerly lived in Keokuk whither he returned in 1859 from Ohio where.- he had gone for his bride.

Robert Campbell, father of the subject, was born in Vermont, later moving to Meigs county, Ohio, where he remained until his death, lacking only a month and a half of being ninety years of age. The subject's mother, known in her maidenhood as Anna Packard, was born in New York and her death occurred in Meigs county, Ohio. Their family consisted of ten children, four sons and six daughters, three of the sons still living, namely: William; Mrs. Esther Tiffany, deceased; Sallie, deceased; Ira A., of this review; Elmira, deceased; Alba, who lives in Ohio: Sybil, deceased; Mary Ann, deceased; Harriet, deceased.

Ira A. Campbell was married on April 9, 1859, to Emily Green, who was born in Meigs county, Ohio, October 5, 1836, and her death occurred in Collins, Iowa, September 28, 1899. She was the daughter of William and Susan Green, both of whom died in Ohio, and in that state she grew to womanhood and spent her girlhood days.

To Ira A. Campbell and wife nine children were born, six sons and three daughters, four of whom are living; they were named as follows: Charlie, born at Keokuk, Iowa, November 13, 1860, died in Story county, this state, in 1909; Alice, born in Keokuk March 29, 1861. is living with his father in Collins; Ellsworth, born in Clear Creek township, this county, December 20, 1864, is also a resident of Collins; Curt, born in Jasper county, December 27, 1868, also lives in Collins; Horace, born March 28, 1867, is deceased; Frank, born March 15, 1871, lives in Collins; Laura, born December 20. 1874, is deceased; Clarence," born July 25, 1878; Josephine, born February

ID, 1881, died October 9, 1881. These children were reared in this county and educated in the local schools.

Politically, Mr. Campbell is a Democrat and has been more or less active in public affairs. He has been a member of the board of trustees and school director.

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

Among the substantial men whose labor and influence gave impetus to the agricultural interests and general material improvements of Jasper county in years gone by and who today occupies a high place in the esteem of the community in which he lives is the worthy gentleman whose name introduces this article.

Willis Campbell was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, January 22, 1854. He is the son of John and Sarah (Leeper) Campbell, both natives of the same locality in which the subject was born, the father's birth occurring in 1820 and the mother's in 1822, and there they grew up, were educated in the pioneer schools and were married. John Campbell devoted his life to farming, at one time owning one hundred and sixty acres. He was a soldier in Company I. Eightieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, having enlisted in 1861, and he died of the fever just after the siege of \''ick-burg on August 28, 1863. He proved to be a gallant and splendid soldier. He enlisted as a private, and for meritorious services he rose to the rank of adjutant-general. His family consisted of six sons and one daughter, namely: James, Alexander, Thomas (deceased), Willis (of this sketch), Colin, Mrs. Jessie Kelly, George.

Willis Campbell attended school in Ohio and after his father's death, or in 186: he moved to Iowa county. Iowa, with his mother and the rest of the family, driving through with wagon and team. In 1867 the whole family came to Jasper county, locating in Sherman township. In 1869 they bought a farm for the mother, and the boys all remained at home and worked the place, until the death of the mother in 1875. In 1872 Willis Campbell bought eighty acres in Mound Prairie township. He has prospered through good management and close application until he now owns about nine hundred acres of choice and valuable land, all in Mound Prairie township, where he carries on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale, in fact, is known as one of the county's most progressive and substantial agriculturists. He keeps his land under modern improvements in every way and his fields are scientifically farmer so that maximum results are obtained. He has a commodious and attractive home and convenient outbuildings, everything about his place denoting thrift, system, good taste and wise foresight. Mr. Campbell is one of the most extensive feeders in this section of the state, often feeding five hundred head annually, and owing to the high grade stock he handles he always finds a very ready market for all he offers for sale. He is regarded as one of the best judges of cattle in the county. Mr. Campbell is a Republican and while he takes a good citizen's interest in all public matters, he has never sought office.

In January, 1894, Mr. Campbell was united in marriage with Selina A. Worden, a native of Lynn county, Iowa, and the daughter of Joseph Worden, a prominent citizen there. One winsome daughter, an only child, has graced the home of Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, whom they named Gertrude.

Willis Campbell's career is one that should be held up as a model for the young men whose destinies are yet matters for the future. It shows what determination, rightly directed ambition and honesty can accomplish even in the face of opposition. He never lets the grass grow under his feet, but is one of the most energetic, hardworking and straightforward men in the county. Early in the morning and late in the evening he may be seen attending to something on his broad acres, whose management he always has well in hand, careful of every detail. He started out a poor boy and has. without assistance or influence of others, risen to a position of affluence and independence, and every dollar in his possession has been honestly earned. He has been a keen observer and a close student of progressive farming. He has been on the same farm on which he still resides for a period of forty years,' lower than most farmers in Jasper county to spend on any one farm.

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

WILLIAM M. CAMPBELL.

The gentleman whose name initiated this article is a native of Indiana, a state which has been the cradle of much of our western civilization and upon which the commonwealth of Iowa has largely drawn for its most enlightened, enterprising and progressive people. This Hoosier class has demonstrated continuously that they believe in extending the bounds of civilization to the utmost. They never shirk their duty, but plunge into the work to be done in any new commuiiity and bear their full share. The good they have done in Jasper county cannot be estimated in dollars and cents, for they have, while assisting with the material development of the same, not neglected the civic, religious and moral phases of civilization, but at once began to build school houses and churches, to place prudent men in public office. so that the laws would be respected and enforced. These traits were doubtless the result of the careful training by their honored pioneer ancestors, who are regarded as worthy of all honor — the kind of people that found empires and republics and who, believing with Bishop Whipple that "westward the course of empire ever takes its way," have sought to do their full share in the good work. One of these excellent gentlemen, who. while not among the earlier horse of his countrymen to cast his lot in ours, has yet been among us for upwards of thirty-five years, during which the most rapid ?nd astonishing changes have taken place, is William M. Campbell, farmer of Clear Creek township, who, while not among the leaders in agricultural and business affairs, yet has sought to do his part well as a citizen and has led a life that is in every way commendable.

Mr. Campbell was Ixjni in Rush county, Indiana, on April 26, 1864, and there he spent his early boyhood, coming to Jasper county, Iowa, with his parents in 1875. and with the exception of five years in Missouri and two years in Nebraska he has continued to reside here. The family located in Independence township, later moving to Clear Creek township where they have resided for some time.

The subject is the son of Frank and Mary (Kelser) Campbell, both natives of Indiana, the father born in Rush, county, and they grew up, attended school and were educated in their native state and were married there, moving to Jasper county. Iowa, in the year mentioned above and here they established a good home through perseverance and economy and they spent the balance of their lives, the father dying in Jasper county on July 31, 1898, and the mother's death occurred here in February, 1911, having survived her husband thirteen years.

Xine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Campbell, seven of whom are living at this writing, named as follows: Mrs. Alice Crosley died in June. 1911: Belle died when eighteen years of age; Allen H., born October 20, 1861. lives at Ira: William M., of this review; Solon lives in Des Moines; Mrs. Emma Eckles also lives in Des Moines; Ira makes his home at Valeria, this state; Samuel lives at Ira. Iowa: Mrs. Esther Smith and Fred also live at Ira.

At St. Charles. Iowa, on October 24. 1895. occurred the marriage of William M. Campbell and Agnes M. Boyd, the latter born on July 12. 1872. in Powesiiiek township, and there she grew to womanhood and attended the district shot)ls. Her grandfather Boyd bought land at that place for three dollars per acre in ])pioneer days. He was an influential man in his community. and was licensed as a layman in the Methodist Episcopal church three months after his conversion. Mrs. Campbell is the daughter of Parker and Sarah Jane (Cromer) Boyd, the father born in Ohio and the mother born in Indiana. They came to Jasper county, Iowa, in an early day and here became well established and here they spent the balance of their lives, the father dying in April, 1898, and the mother on October to, 1907. Their family consisted of ten children, of whom three are living, named as follows: The eldest child, a son, died in infancy; Agnes M., wife of Mr. Campbell, of this review; Hugh died when three months old; Emma F.. born July 28. 1875. s one of the prominent school teachers of Jasper county for several years; she was born on the old Cromer, homestead at Greencastle; the next three children died in infancy; Mary E. died when twenty years of age; Fred, born August 22, 1887; the youngest, a daughter, died in infancy. These children were born in Poweshiek township, Jasper county, and were reared and educated here.

To Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have been born four children, of whom three are living, named as follows: Omar, born in Clear Creek township, September 18, 1896; Iva, born March 30, 1898; a daughter, born July 16, 1902, died the same day; [name withheld], born September 19, 1907. The two older children are attending school in Clear Creek township, in their home district.

Mr. Campbell has devoted his life to farming, beginning on the home place when but a boy, working in the fields during the crop season and attending the common schools in the winter months. He is an advocate of the "intensive" farming idea and is successfully using these modern methods of agriculture on fifty acres in Clear Creek township.

Politically, Mr. Campbell is a Republican and both he and Mrs. Campbell are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, he holding membership at Ira and she in the congregation at Mingo. They are both highly respected and have a wide circle of friends throughout this locality.

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