Gilliam-Marion County OR Archives Biographies.....Campbell, Walter A. January 8, 1862 - February 3, 1914 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 27, 2009, 3:39 pm Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company WALTER A. CAMPBELL. Endowed with the qualities of a leader, Walter A. Campbell pressed steadily onward and upward, never losing sight of his objective, and in the fullness of time he became one of the most popular and successful life insurance men in the northwest. He was a progressive agriculturist, and also aided in framing the laws of Oregon. His was a symmetrical, well rounded development and all that he possessed was won through his own unaided efforts. For many years he made his home in Condon, which counted him among its most valuable citizens, and by his many friends throughout the state he was affectionately termed "Sandy." A native of Canada, Mr. Campbell was born in Strathroy, Ontario, January 8, 1862, and attended the public schools of that locality, being graduated from the high school, and later taking a course in the Ottawa Normal School. After his graduation he taught for a time in Canada and then came to Oregon. Having reached the conclusion that educational work was not his real vocation, he turned his attention to commercial affairs, becoming a member of the sales force of the Salem Nursery Company. Soon afterward he entered the employ of the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company and located in Condon, where he maintained his home during the remainder of his life. His mastery of salesmanship and comprehensive understanding of the intricate details of the life insurance business made him one of the most valuable representatives of the Penn Company and few agents in the northwest were able to equal his record. Mr. Campbell wisely invested his savings in land and eventually became the owner of a large wheat ranch in Ferry canyon near Condon. Through earnest, systematic effort and scientific methods he improved and developed the farm, which comprises more than twelve hundred acres of fertile land and is now the property of his widow. Painstaking, methodical and thorough, he made his labors count for the utmost and never failed to accomplish what he undertook. On the 16th of April, 1911, Mr. Campbell married Miss Emma Mary Wood native of Wales, England, and a daughter of William H. and Harriett Campbell. After coming to this country the family located at Grants Pass, Oregon, and for Years the father was connected with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. Since his death Mrs. Wood has lived with her daughter, Mrs. Campbell. Her son, Dr. Joseph F. Wood, is a prominent physician of Portland. The family came to Oregon on the first train following that of Henry Villard, the noted railroad builder, and experience, many phases of pioneer life in the west. Mr. Campbell passed away February 3, 1914, leaving two children, Richard and Jane, who reside with their mother in Portland . In 1913 Mr. Campbell was elected to the general assembly of Oregon by a large majority and ably represented the district comprising Wheeler, Gilliam and Sherman counties. His support was given to all constructive legislation, and he espoused the moral side of every issue brought before the house. He was identified with the Masonic fraternity and a number of commercial organizations, including the Condon Business Men's Association, whose members passed resolutions of respect at the time of his death. J. C. Anderson, then mayor of The Dalles, wrote a letter of sympathy to Mrs. Campbell and paid high tribute to her husband, whom he characterized as "man's masterpiece of God's own handiwork." A man of progressive spirit, high ideals and admirable character, Mr. Campbell materially advanced the standards of citizenship in Condon and his death was an irreparable loss to the community. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, Pages 777-778 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/gilliam/bios/campbell710gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 4.4 Kb