William T. Campbell

As printed in 1880

WILLIAM T. CAMPBELL, farmer; P. O., Pulaskiville; son of Benjamin and Sarah Campbell; was born Oct. 8th, 1795, in Northumberland Co., Pa.; his father came from New Jersey to Penn, just after the Revolutionary war and engaged in farming. They raised a family of eleven children — John, Mary, William T., Margaret, Lanah, Jesse, Joanna, Sarah, Benjamin, Levi and Jane — all grew to manhood and womanhood. William T. being only a boy came to Cincinnati, 0., in 1812; he remained in the State until 1817, when he and two others began a pilgrimage to the “Keystone State;” they walked 550 miles. He was married May 10, 1818, to Sarah, daughter of Robert and Mary (Reynolds) Campbell; she was born in Oct., 1798, in Pennsylvania. He remained here four years; he ran a saw-mill a short time, taught school in the winter and wove during vacations. He emigrated with his family to this township about 1822, living in a cabin near where Center schoolhouse stands. Here he taught in the old cabin schoolhouse mentioned in the history of this township. In the spring of 1824 he removed to the farm where Samuel Hull now lives; with a strong and willing hand he wielded the ax until the sun phone on the smiling fields. He continued for many years to teach school in the winter; he was the first and only one for many years who taught grammar and geography in the district school; he taught in all fifteen terms; the lowest wages he received was $12.50 per month, and was also a teacher of vocal music, using the old patent notes in his singing school. The sterling integrity and quick intelligence of Mr. Campbell peculiarly fitted him for a leader in public affairs; he has been chosen to fill the office of Trustee, which he filled with honor to himself and satisfaction to all; but in the church has his many zeal, coupled with a benevolent Christian spirit, phone with untarnished lustre for more than half a century; during a membership of fifty-four years in the M. E. church, he successfully filled the offices of Trustee, Class-leader and Steward many times; no solicitor for church enterprises ever appealed to him in vain. The subject of temperance early engaged his attention, being a charter member of the first society organized in the neighborhood. He raised a family of nine children — Mary A., Jane, Jackson, Sarah, William E., Levi, Ermina, Lodema and Lovina. Two others, Baxter and Joseph, died young; his second son, William E., served as engineer in the late war. Mr. Campbell’s success in farming has been commensurate with his unremitting labors; before he retired from business he owned 350 acres of land, which he has since bequeathed to his children. He moved into the present house in 1858. The wife of his youth died Feb. 27, 1868, and he married Mary Harris Feb. 20, 1873. [He received only a common school education in boyhood, but many night found him pouring over his books by firelight.

As printed in History of Morrow County and Ohio : containing a brief history of the state of Ohio ... a history of Morrow County ... biographical sketches, portraits of some of the early settlers and prominent men, (1880). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.