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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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William M. Campbell The
gentleman whose name initiates 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 community
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 horde 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 and 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 born 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. Nine 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; Alien 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 Poweshiek
Township, and there she grew to womanhood and attended the district schools.
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 10, 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,
was 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; Ila,
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. The Past and Present of Jasper County,
Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN,
1127. |
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