James Campbell from Walpole As It Was and As It Is (188)

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Source: Walpole As It Was and As It Is by George Aldrich, 
        The Claremont Manufacturing Co., Claremont, N.H., 1880, pages 222-2224

CAMPBELL, JAMES, was a lineal descendant of John Campbell, Duke of Argyle, who was born in 
Argyleshire in 1660, and was an officer in the army of William the Third, at the battle of
"Boyne waters."  At the close of the war the Campbells settled in the north of Ireland. One of 
the Campbells, named Henry, was born in 1679, and married Martha Black, who sailed with his 
wife and five sons for America in 1733. James Campbell was the youngest of the five sons and 
was born in Londonderry the same year that his father arrived in America, and died at Cambridge,
Vt., Apr. 11, 1816. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary army for three years, and was wounded
at the battle of Stillwater. After the close of the war he settled in Acworth, having purchased 
a farm there in 1781. He was often in office during his sojourn in Acworth, and the accuracy 
with which he kept the town records and the legibility of his penmanship were remarkable for 
those days. He was a surveyor and conveyancer, and taught school winters from 1783 to ‘91. He 
was elected Register of Deeds for the county of Cheshire in 1803, and held the office by 
re-election until his death in 1825, without opposition. Precisely at what time James Campbell
came to Walpole has not been ascertained, but probably about 1800. He lived in a house that 
formerly stood where Isaac M. Graves now lives, and the Register’s office is now Mr. 
Graves’ wood-shed. During his life in Walpole he was for many years Justice of the Peace. 
Before coming to Walpole he married Desire Slader by whom he had ten children.
I. Henry, b. 1793; d. 1855; m. Sarah Cummins and had four children.
II. Emily, b. 1794; m Lewis Gilmore and had six children.
III. James Harvey, b. 1795; d. at Mason, N.H., 1851.
IV. Mason, b. 1799; m. Mary L. Chaddick and had seven children and is the only surviving 
member of James Campbell’s family.
V. Solon, b. in 1801; d. in 1827.
VI. Lewis, b. in 1802, Aug. 17; d. Apr. 23, 1877. He was, after his father’s death, from 1825,
till 1836, the courteous Register of Deeds for Cheshire county. His legible handwriting and the 
care and pains he bestowed on the County records will ever be brought to mind on opening the 
folios of the office.
VII. Sarah Slader, b. October 1, 1804; m. John S. Walker.
VIII. Jane Chandler, b. November 4, 1807; m. Cyrrel Carpenter and had three children.
IX. Mary Wilder, b. June 13, 1810; m. Elbridge Keyes, of Keene.
X. Edna Augusta, b. Aug. 2, 1814; m. William Whitaker; issue, one child.
The Campbells used to claim a relationship to the Scottish clan of that name. The family was one
of highest respectability in this town and some of the descendants of those five sons who first 
came to America have occupied high positions of trust and honor in various parts of the United 
States. James Campbell's wife Desire, was a woman of many virtues and highly esteemed by her 
neighbors and acquaintances. She was very large and obese and consequently not active. In 1823,
her son Solon, a young man, went to the yard to milk the cow but returned with an empty pail, 
saying to his mother, "The cow won’t allow me to milk her," whereupon she took the pail saying
"I guess I can milk her." No sooner had she entered the yard, than the cow plunged at her with
all the fury of a maddened Bison, tearing her abdomen in a most shocking and dangerous manner. 
It was thought that her injuries would prove fatal immediately; but she lingered and suffered,
for two long years, the most intense agony, which she bore with patience and Christian 
fortitude; but at length she had to yield. She died May 22, 1825 aged 53. He died the following 
Oct., at the age of 65 from no other cause than grief at the loss of his wife. He was a mason,
and at his death the funeral was conducted by the craft, and was large and imposing the 
procession reaching, it is said, from his house to the village.