Lewis Cass Campbell Biographical Review

LEWIS CASS CAMPBELL, a prominent and esteemed resident of Camden village, Illinois, was born on a farm in Camden township, February 23, 1851. His father, John Milton Campbell, was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, March 30, 1807, and was a son of James and Jane (Campbell) Campbell, natives of Scott county, Kentucky. Both of the grandfathers of John Milton Campbell bore the name of Campbell and were born in Scotland, but emigrated to America and died in the Colonies in the decade of 1700. John Milton’s maternal grandmother was a Cellers. His maternal uncle, Lindsey Campbell, married a widow by the name of Graham. Her son, Furgerson Graham, died in Schuyler county, Illinois, at the residence of his son-in-law, Singleton Wright, deeply lamented for his many sterling qualities of character. William Campbell, an own cousin of John Milton Campbell, on his father’s side, married a sister of Furgerson Graham. John Milton’s father, James Campbell, was a skilled mechanic, who passed nearly all of his life in Kentucky, and died in Pendleton county, that State, aged eighty-six years. He was twice married, having by the first marriage five children, and one child by his second. John Milton was the oldest of the family, and his early life was spent on his father’s farm. He received a fair education, and, under the instruction of his father, became a good mechanic. He afterward taught school and worked at his trade. He was married in Kentucky, to Ann Lake, and, in 1832, came to Illinois to look over the country. Being favorably impressed, he removed to the latter State in November, 1835. He entered and settled on land located on the southwest quarter of section eight, in Camden township, Schuyler county, where he improved a farm. His health failing in 1845 he passed a few years in the South, afterward returning to his farm. His first wife died in Kentucky, leaving one child, Thomas J. In 1850, Mr. Campbell was again married, his second wife being Miss Mary A. E. Aldrich, of Putnam county, Indiana, born June 8, 1826. She was a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Strupp) Aldrich, natives of North Carolina, of English and German ancestry, respectively. She accompanied her sister to Illinois in 1847, and lived in Schuyler county. John Campbell died December 20, 1880, sincerely mourned by all who knew him. A Democratic in politics, he took an active part in all local affairs of importance. He frequently held office, being elected at various times to all positions in the gift of the county; he served one term as County Surveyor, and for many years as Deputy Surveyor. He was the clerk of his party, and, being a fine penman, the records of the county are remarkable for their neatness and legibility. He was a devout member of the Christian Adventist Church. His worthy wife survives him and resides in Camden. She also is an earnest and useful member of the church to which her husband belonged. This estimable couple were the parents of four children: Lewis, Stephen, James I. and Emma J. Lewis was reared a farmer and educated in Camden township. After his marriage he resided on the farm of his father-in-law, but upon the death of his wife he returned to his mother’s farm and managed it for some years, until 1885, when he married again and settled in Camden village and opened a hotel. He also engaged in farming and the carpenter trade, putting up some of the best buildings in the county, outside of Rushville. He afterward sold the hotel and devoted his attention to his trade. He has 240 acres of land and some valuable property in Camden village. Hard as Mr. Campbell has worked, it is nothing to the privations that his father had to endure. He was the pioneer school teacher of the county, and besides pursuing that occupation he made maple sugar and split rails to get the money with which to enter his land and purchase saddle-bags to carry his surveying tools in. What farmer of today has to endure such hardships? He was married to Alice Callison in 1875, the daughter of John L. and Eliza (Smith) Callison. She was born in 1857, and died April, 1879. Mr. Campbell was again married in 1885, his second wife being Alice L. Irvin, a native of Littleton township and a daughter of Osburn and Martha Irvin. They have had one child, Paul Irvin, born July 26, 1891. Mr. Campbell is independent in politics, being a supporter of the Farmers’ Alliance, and has filled the office of Town Clerk. He is a member of Camden Lodge, No. 648, A.F.& A.M., of which he is a Senior Warden. He is also correspondent for the Rushville Times, editing the Camden department. He was for many years an active member of the Patrons of Husbandry.