John Putnam Campbell
As one of the men whose advice and assistance have been furnished the editors and publishers of the history of Grant County, the publishers take pleasure in presenting the following brief record of John Putnam Campbell, who is a citizen so well known throughout Grant county that any introduction might seem superfluous.
When he was only two years old John O, Campbell came with his parents from Ohio to Indiana in 1838, and to Grant County in 1847, and for more than sixty-five years he has resided continuously in the same locality. There is a Revolutionary soldier buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, James Campbell who fought for seven years in the effort to establish American independence. He came to Grant county in 1847 with the family of his son John P. Campbell, Sr. Because of his association with and admiration of Israel Putnam of Revolutionary fame, both the son and grandson of James Campbell have had the initial "P" although neither use used the word Putnam written in full. James Campbell, the Revolutionary veteran died within a year after becoming a resident of Grant County. Every Decoration Day his grave is visited and decorated by his grandson who performs a similar office in two other cemeteries, namely: Prickett and Marion Odd Fellows Cemeteries. James Campbell lived in Pennsylvania before removing with his son to Indiana. He is one of the three Revolutionary soldiers whose graves are known in Grant County.
John P. Campbell, Sr., on reaching Grant County entered the land along Pipe Creek, and he and his wife lie buried by the side of the Revolutionary ancestor, not far from the original family homestead. While he was too old for service in the Civil War, having been born September 3, 1797, and dying in Grant County January 29, 1892, John P. Campbell Sr., furnished two sons to the service, -his namesake and Crayton Campbell. At the present time John P. Campbell, Jr., is the last of his father's family, and represents the third generation of the Campbell family in Grant county, and there are two younger generations after him, who are now active on the state of action. John P. Campbell, Jr., married Miss Mary Elizabeth Hamilton, a daughter of Captain Isaac Hamilton, who came from Ohio to Indiana in 1855. Mr. Campbell and wife lived in the vicinity of Jalapa, where they were married October , 1866, until the election of Mr. Campbell as treasurer of Grant county in 1876. They then moved to Marion which has since been their home. Both Mr. Campbell and wife were school teachers before and after their marriage and they taught in Pleasant and Richland Township. They have distinct knowledge of pioneer life in all its phases. A son and a daughter constitute their family. Otho B. Campbell, bears the name of both grandfather and his father. Otho B. Campbell lives in Marion, Campbell & Son being a business partnership well known in the city. Mrs. Gertrude Campbell Weaver, the daughter of Mr. Campbell and wife, is the wife of S. L. Weaver and lives in Uhrichsville, Ohio. Her children are Lawrence Campbell, Martha Elizabeth and Mildred Gertrude. Mr. Campbell has always been very fond of music, and both his children and grandchildren possess musical talents. Since the Weaver children have lived away from the music center in Marion where they received their training, they have contributed much to the musical activities of their new home, and when they return to Marion there is much music and good cheer around the family homestead. Mr. O. B. Campbell and Mrs. S. L. Weaver both had the best training available and their children have the advantages of cultured homes and the facilities offered by the modern school.
Mr. Campbell's war record was with the Thirty-fourth Indiana Regiment, and he was in the thick of the fighting with his comrades all through the Vicksburg campaign. When the memorial sermon is delivered each year he is with the General Shunk Post of the Grand Army at the services. For thirty-nine years the Campbell family residence in Marion was on West Fourth Street. From time to time changes were made in the place and it was looked upon as one of the best residence properties in Marion. Its location appealed to J. Wood Wilson, who desired to erect a mansion in Marion, and after he bought the building and grounds MR. Campbell moved from Fourth to First Street, where two commodious residence properties were made of the one house. The Wilson mansion now graces the spot where the Campbell family associations for so many years centered. While MR. and Mrs. Campbell belong to the pioneer civilization, they have advanced with it and they are growing old together amid most comfortable surroundings.
Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.