Thomas F. Campbell

As printed in 1906

HON. THOMAS F. CAMPBELL.

Hon. Thomas F. Campbell, president of the Henry County Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company and a prominent retired farmer living in Mount Pleasant, was born near Shelbyville, in Shelby county, Indiana, on the 9th of August, 1844, his parents being Hugh and Cheney (Ray) Campbell. The father was born near Knoxville, Tennessee. The paternal grandfather was one of five brothers who came from Scotland to this country prior to the Revolutionary war and served as a soldier in the struggle for independence. He was with the Southern Army and he participated in addition to the engagements of that war in the battle of Horse Shoe Bend with the Indians. After the close of hostilities he located near Knoxville, Tennessee, where he conducted a large plantation, being recognized as one of the prominent men of his day. There he spent his active life, but shortly before his death came to the north and made his home with his son.

Hugh Campbell, born in Tennessee, in 1 80 1, was reared to manhood there and when a young man of twenty-one years removed to Shelby county, Indiana, W'here he settled upon a tract of raw land With characteristic energy he began its cultivation and in the course of years developed it into a good property. In that county he married Miss Cheney Ray, who was born near Wilmington, North Carolina, and went with her father's family to Indiana. The home property of Mr. Campbell embraced four hundred acres of rich and cultivable land. In the development of this place he endured the usual hardships and trials incident to pioneer life. Their home on the frontier w'as far separated from the contingencies of the older east, for around them lay an uncut forest. From his own doorway Mr. Campbell shot deer and wild turkeys. The farm implements were of a very- primitive character compared to the improved agricultural machinery of the present day, and it required much arduous labor to bring the fields under cultivation. In public affairs Mr. Campbell W'as prominent and influential and was called to various county offices. Again he cast in his lot with pioneer settlers, w'hen, in the spring of 185 1, he came to Henry county, Iowa, and purchased twenty-five hundred acres of land from Samuel Wells. This was all wild and unimproved, save for a tract of about eighty acres. He divided this land among his children, who improved their respective portions and the father also developed a good home for himself. In the early days he espoused the cause of abolition and when the Republican party was formed to prevent the extension of slavery he joined its ranks. Both he and his wife held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and his death occurred in September, 1870, while her death occurred April 27, 1883. They had eight children who reached adult age, while four died in childhood: James H., now of Nebraska; Mrs. Maria Leach; Mrs. Martha J. Lafferty; Robert, who died in 1900; Susan, the wife of J. W. Keith; Mrs. Emily Payne, Thomas F., and Mrs. I. J. Holt.

Thomas F. Campbell was a lad of about seven summers when brought by his parents to Iowa, and in the common schools near Wayland he acquired his early education, which was supplemented by study in Howe's Academy. In 1862 he enlisted as a defender of the Union cause, becoming a member of Company K, Fourth Iowa Cavalry. The regiment was engaged in active duty in Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama, completing its services at Atlanta. Mr. Campbell was on active duty throughout that entire time and was never home on a furlough. He was too young to be promoted, but proved a brave and loyal soldier and returned home with a most creditable military record.

On again reaching Iowa, Mr. Campbell resumed the occupation of farming, to which he had been reared, early becoming familiar with the work of the field and meadow. His father had given him land six miles north of Mount Pleasant, which he improved, residing thereon from 1867 until 1892, and during that time bringing his farm up to a high state of cultivation. He added to the original tract until he owned two hundred and forty acres of land, which was splendidly developed. He carried on general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising and for a number of years dealt in high bred Norman horses, continuing in this business until the spring of 1905. In 1892, how'ever, he sold his farm and removed to !Mount Pleasant, where he now has an attractive home. He was one of the organizers of the Henry County Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, has been a director and vice president and is now the chief executive officer. His official service with the company covers fifteen years and he has been president since 1902. This company has had a successful career from the beginning and its risks now represent about three million dollars.

On the 8th of January, 1868, Mr. Campbell was united in marriage to Miss Hattie E. Button, a daughter of Willard Button, and they have six children: Hugh, who is now a merchant of Mount Pleasant; Ada, the wife of C. Carnahan, a resident farmer of Henry county; Susie, the wife of W. E. Young, also a farmer; Alice, a teacher in the schools of Mount Pleasant; Carrie, who is teaching in New London, and Bessie, who is now a student of the Iowa State University. The parents are members of the Congregational church. Miss Button was educated at Dunkirk, also Howe's Academy, Mount Pleasant, and was at home until her marriage. Hattie E. Button was born near Dunkirk, New York, a daughter of Willard and Anna M. (Jenks) Button. The Buttons were of New England ancestry; the father was born near Norfolk, Connecticut, and the mother at Amenia Union, New York. Soon after their marriage they moved to near Dunkirk, where he was a farmer and came to Henry county, Iowa, in the spring of 1864, and owned a farm seven miles north of Mount Pleasant. This he improved. He later moved to Page county, Iowa, where he died February 29, 1904, and the mother died about 1877. Mr. Campbell gave his political allegiance to the Republican party until 1876, since which time he has voted for the Democracy. He has been active in support of the cause of education and his services in this particular have been effective and far-reaching. In 1899 he was elected to represent Henry county in the twenty-eighth general assembly, and on the minority side he served on the committees of the agriculture, insane hospitals and others. His well directed business efforts have resulted successfully and he is today classed among the substantial citizens of the county in which almost his entire life has been passed.

As printed in Biographical review of Henry County, Iowa, containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of to-day and also of the past .. (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.