Macon County AlArchives Biographies.....Campbell, T. M. 1883 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 15, 2008, 11:47 pm Author: Clement Richardson, Editor T. M. CAMPBELL CATCHING the spirit of his illustrious teacher, Booker T. Washington, Mr. Campbell, the pioneer Negro Farm Demonstrator is bringing to a realization the dreams of the late Dr. Seaman A. Knapp, the father of farm demonstration work. "I am thinking," said Dr. Knapp, "of the people of rose covered cottages in the country, of the strong glad father and his contented, cheerful wife, of the whistling boy and the dancing girl with school books under her arms so that knowledge may soak into them as they go; I am thinking of the orchards and the vineyards, of the flocks and the herds, of the waving woodlands, of the hills carpeted with luxuriant verdure, and the valleys inviting to the golden harvest." Mr. Campbell and his large corps of workers are doing all this for the colored people of Alabama and the South. Born February 11, 1883, just outside the corporate limits of the little town of Bowman, Elbert County, Ga., Mr. Campbell's life was typical of the average boy of that section, and at the age of fifteen, he found that he had attended school less than twelve months. Hearing of Tuskegee from an older brother who had gone there, the lad determined to attend. His father failing to keep a promise to let him use the money earned working on a neighboring plantation, the boy walked and worked his way to Tuskegee from which he was graduated eight years later in 1906. He speaks as follows of his Tuskegee experience: "My training was such that I was unable to make the lowest class when I came to Tuskegee, and I sometimes think that my only salvation was that I was large and strong and my services were needed on the farm. By constant study, both day and night, I was able to make a class the next year and every year after until my graduation. During my eight years stay here as a student, I received only $2.00 cash and one suit of clothes as assistance. When Dr. Knapp came to Tuskegee in 1906 seeking his first Negro demonstrator, he found his man in the field following a two-horse plow. This man was T. M. Campbell, who had recently been graduated and was specializing in agriculture. "Young man", said Dr. Knapp, "I want you to travel over a given territory and show the Negroes how to prepare land just as you are doing now." This Mr. Campbell did, traveling in the Jesup Agricultural Wagon, an idea of the far seeing Dr. Washington who conceived the idea of taking education to the farmer. This work was later merged into the United States Farm Demonstration work and has taken Mr. Campbell into every part of Alabama and other portions of the South. For the past twelve years, early and late, in sunshine and in rain, he has been going about Alabama and other Southern States making the waste places blossom. Mr. Campbell defining the term demonstrator says: "A Demonstrator is a farmer chosen by the government Agent because of his ability to attract the people of his community to himself, he is commonly called a community leader." Mr. Campbell, who is now officially known as District Agent for Farm Demonstraton Work for the colored people of Alabama, possesses these qualifications in a high degree. He has a very winning personality, and a rich musical voice which wins friends wherever he goes. Unlike most public men of the race, Mr. Campbell is not a lodge man, due perhaps to the fact that he is so seldom at home; for his duties keep him ever on the road. He is a Methodist and zealous church worker. On June 1st, 1911, Mr. Campbell was married to Miss Annie M. Ayers of Virginia, who is also a Tuskegee graduate. Four children, Thomas Jr., Carver, Virginia and William help to make the home a happy, cheery place. The two older boys are in school and promise to follow in years to come the footsteps of their father. Additional Comments: Extracted from: The National Cyclopedia of The Colored Race Editor-in-Chief CLEMENT RICHARDSON President of Lincoln Institute Jefferson City, Mo. ASSOCIATE EDITORS Dr. C. V. ROMAN, Nashville, Tenn. Professor of Meharry Medical College. W. T. B. WILLIAMS, Hampton Institute, Va. Field Agent of the Jeannes and Slater Funds. H. M. MINTON, M. D., Philadelphia, Pa. Board of Directors Mercy Hospital. SILAS X. FLOYD, Augusta, Ga. Principal of City Schools. DR. R. E. JONES, New Orleans, La. Editor of South Western Christian Advocate. DR. A. F. OWENS, Selma, Ala. Dean of Theological Dept. Selma university. FRED MOORE, New York City. Editor New York Age. ADVISORY BOARD EMMETT J. SCOTT, Chairman, Secretary of Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee Institute, Ala. N. B. YOUNG, Tallahassee, Fla. President of A. and M. College. DR. J. W. E. BOWEN, Atlanta, Ga. Dean of Gammon Theological Seminary. J. R. E. LEE, Kansas City, Mo. Principal of Lincoln High School. J. S. CLARK, Baton Route, La. President of Southern University. DR. M. W. DOGAN, Marshall, Texas. President of Wiley University. Volume One NATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY, Inc. PUBLISHERS MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 1919 COPYRIGHT 1919 NATIONAL PUBLISHING CO., Inc. MONTGOMERY, ALA. Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/macon/photos/bios/campbell55nbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/macon/bios/campbell55nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/alfiles/ File size: 5.7 Kb