Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 224 - 225

 JAMES S. CAMPBELL is a leading farmer and stock-grower of Sedgwick County. He came to Wichita, Kan., in 1884, and at once invested in a 160-acre tract of land, paying $40 per acre, and subsequently bought on the East Side another tract of 160 acres adjoining his first purchase, and has become the possessor of other valuable land. He has sold forty acres of his land on the West Side, clearing a large profit by the transaction. His second purchase on the East Side is now known as the Logan, Ohio and Kansas Additions, and is platted for sale. He retained 107 acres of the first purchase for his own use. Besides owning all this city property, he has two tracts of land, containing respectively 160 acres and eighty acres, lying three miles from the city. He has made farming, stock-breeding, and buying and selling stock his principal business since he started out in life, and by his enterprise and business ability has become quite prosperous.

             Mr. Campbell comes of good Virginia blood, and is himself a Virginian by birth. He was born in Rappahannock County, that State, June 7, 1837. His parents were James A. and Elizabeth (Updike) Campbell, natives of Loudoun County, Va. His father was born Feb. 12, 1809, and his mother in March of the same year. She was a true Christian woman, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She closed her eyes to the scenes of earth Aug. 11, 1882.

             Mr. Campbell moved to Ohio during some period of his wedded life, and is engaged in farming in Hawkins County, where he has accumulated a considerable amount of this world's goods, and has gained for himself a warm place in the esteem of his fellow-citizens. He is prominently identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has been for many years Deacon and Class-Leader in that denomination. In politics he is a Republican, and was a strong Union man; he has never taken an active part in political affairs, but has clung tenaciously to his political beliefs as embodied in the platform of the party of which he is a member. The union of himself and wife was blessed by the birth of nine children, namely: John C., James S., Middleton Summerfield, Samantha E., William H., Joseph P., George E., Henry M. and Mary. The latter is the youngest of the family, and lives in the old home in Ohio; Henry M. is deceased. Middleton is Principal of the Cleveland (Ohio) High School, and is regarded as one of the ablest and most scholarly instructors in that State; in politics he is identified with the Republican party. William H. has been a farmer in this county since 1871, and resides in Wichita at No. 320 North Market street; Joseph died aged eight years; George was born in Ohio, Aug. 27, 1846; he is now in the loan and real-estate business, buying and selling city property and farms, with his office at No. 250 North Main street. He received his education in the Ohio University at Delaware, Ohio; he spent twelve years in teaching in Ohio, and has a life certificate from the State Board of Education. He is now prominently identified with the educational institutions of Sedgwick County. He came to Wichita in 1884, whither his renown as an educator had preceded him, and he was at once placed in charge of the public schools of the city, and is still a member of the Board of Education. Wichita will ever have cause to be grateful to him for his untiring efforts to secure the excellent system of education which she now enjoys. Mr. G. E. Campbell was married, in July, 1876, to Miss Hattie R. Patterson, who was born in Adelphi, Ohio, in 1850. They have two children - Robert J., born Dec. 5, 1878, and Alice B., Oct. 13, 1886.

             Our subject was reared on his father's farm. He was a bright, intelligent lad, and his parents gave him the advantages of a good common-school education. On the 27th of March, 1872, he was married to Miss Ratie A. Rinker, of Brownsville, Ind. She was born in that town, April 27, 1850. Her father was a well-to-do farmer, and gave her a superior education.

             The wedded life of Mr. and Mrs. Campbell has been clouded by the death of their two children - Edward H. and Alice B., both dying in childhood.

             Our subject did good service for two years or more as an army carpenter during the Civil War. He was a member of the 155th Ohio Regiment. In 1872 he joined the I. O. O. F. Like all who bear the name of Campbell, he is a Republican, and stands firmly by that party, endorsing its measures by his influence and vote.

[ Home ]