John Campbell Biography Hancock County, WV ********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ********************************************************************** Submitted by Dale Patterson Copied from " History of the Panhandle, being Historical Collections of the Counties of Ohio, Brooke, Marshall and Hancock, West Virginia". Compiled and Written by: J.H. Newton, G.G. Nichols, and A.G. Sprankle Published by: J.A. Caldwell, 1879, Wheeling, W. VA. Biographical Sketches of Hancock County: John Campbell: was born August 12, 1820, in what is now Hancock County, West Virginia, within one hundred and fifty rods of where he now resides, on the farm at that time belonging to the heirs of his grandfather, whose name was also John Campbell. This farm at that time contained 187 acres, which included all the first and second bottom, between the Black Horse fire brick yard, and the mouth of Hardin's Run. On the 19th of August, 1832, a deed was executed by all the heirs (except William, who had received his share, in a farm in Jefferson County, Ohio). W. H. Grafton and John McMillen, commissioners, divided the land into five shares, after setting off one- third as dower to the widow, Mary Campbell. The deed was signed by John Campbell and Elizabeth his wife, James Campbell and Agnes his wife, Lloyd Campbell and Harriet his wife, Joseph Stewart and Elizabeth his wife, and John Brandon and Mary his wife. James, the father of the subject of this sketch, settled upon his share and subsequently bought all the other heirs out, except John. At that time a large portion of it was thickly covered with timber. The subject of this sketch remained with his father, helping clear and farm the land, till March 4, 1841, at which time he married Miss Ruth C. Swearingen, of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. They commenced house keeping about the first of April following, in the same old cabin in which he had spent most of his early life. He remained there until 1847, when he moved into his new brick house--the first brick dwelling in the town, where he remained till the fall of 1851, when one of his tenants, living in a frame house adjoining, set fire to the building, consuming three frame buildings and the woodwork of the brick, together with a large portion of their contents. Mr. Campbell then built, and within three months moved into the frame house now owned and occupied by J. W. Flowers, and remained there until 1854. During this year he built and moved into the brick where he now resides. In December 1848, he in copartnership with his brothers, Lloyd and James, bought 64 acres of the above mentioned land, at commissioners sale, and at the same time sold some sixty-eight lots, as an addition to the town of New Cumberland. In 1849-50, they added about 120 more lots to the town and built the brick dwelling now occupied by James B. Stewart; and in September, 1850, they sold at public auction, fifty of these lots at an average of about $50 per lot. In 1851, he built the brick dwelling, now owned and occupied by N. B. Grafton Esq., for his mother, who occupied it till her death, which occurred August 23, 1859. In 1873, he built the frame building on the ridge, now occupied by Brown and Morrow, as a printing office, where the first newspaper ever printed in the town was published. In 1856 he engaged in the lumber business, at which he still continues. Prior to this time, and after his first marriage, he was engaged in various occupations, such as farming, boat and house building, and in the coal trade, &c. In January, 1858, he was chosen justice of the peace under the old Virginia system, which office he held till 1864. On the fourth Tuesday of April, of that year, he was elected county treasurer for Hancock County, and served in that capacity from June 20, 1864 to January 1, 1867, during which time he collected and disbursed $56, 654.19, besides a large sum raised by private donations for soldiers families. Most of this sum was for soldiers bounties, free schools and school buildings, the free school system, having been just introduced. January 1869, he was again elected justice of the peace, which office he has since continued to hold by successive re-elections, his last term of four years commenced January 1, 1877. On the fourth Tuesday in October, 1868, he was elected President of the Board of Education of Clay Township, which included New Cumberland, in which capacity he served till January 1, 1872. In the spring of 1870, he with the other members, J. L. Freeman and J. L. Toap, decided to build the house now occupied by a graded school. After some delay for want of an architect to prepare a plan for the building, Mr. Campbell was appointed architect and submitted a plan that was approved and accepted. He was also appointed to superintend the work. The building, furniture and fixtures cost $13,300. On the 17th of July, 1873, his wife died aged fifty-six years. After her death he spent a large portion of his time in traveling. He married for a second wife, Mrs. Emily L. Hamilton, whose maiden name was Grafton, born and raised in Wellsville, Ohio. By his first wife he raised six children, three sons and three daughters. The fourth child, a son, died at two years. The eldest daughter and youngest son remain at home with him. By his second wife he had one child, a daughter, born May 6, 1875.