Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 938 - 939

J. N. CAMPBELL has been prominently identified with the building interests of Wichita, as a brick and stone contractor, for some years. He is one of the leading men in his line of business, and some of the finest buildings in this city were erected by him. He was born in Jefferson County, Ind., Aug, 2, 1838, and is a son of Alexander and Lydia (Ingraham) Campbell, natives of Kentucky. They moved to Indiana in an early day, of which State Mr. Campbell became a wealthy and influential citizen. He engaged in milling and also was interested in boating on the Ohio River, sending lumber, wood and hay to Louisville and New Orleans. He served with credit in the Black Hawk War. To him and his excellent wife were born six sons and six daughters, nine of whom are now living; the following is the family record: Jane, Mrs. Reeves; Hannah, Mrs. Hood, deceased; Mary, Mrs. Cowell; Martha, Mrs. Brock; Sarah A., deceased; James; William, deceased; Joseph, John, Alexander and J. N.

             The subject of this sketch spent his younger days in school until sixteen years of age, and acquired a good education. After the completion of his schooling he engaged in farming in Morgan County, Ill., in 1857, and was thus occupied the following two years. He then turned his attention to the trades of bricklaying and plastering, and after mastering the work in all its branches, followed it for twenty-one years in Illinois. He became a large contractor in Jacksonville, that State, and built the High School, the Opera House in Waverly, and other fine buildings in the vicinity of that city. In 1884 he came to Wichita, whither his fame as a contractor of unusual ability had already preceded him, and ever since establishing himself here has carried on a large and prosperous business. His first contract immediately after coming here was to build the Manhattan Hotel, and shortly after he built the Methodist Episcopal Church, and also the county buildings. He built the Myers & Noble Block, the Basely & Stackman Block, the Kansas Furniture Block, the Throckmorton Block, and many other buildings, and has just finished the Fetch Hammer building. The beautiful building of the Garfield University is a fine example of his work, and we might instance others if it were not for the brief limits of this sketch. He has had as many as eighty men in his employ at one time. He has gained a good reputation for the substantiality and durability of his work, as he allows nothing but first-class material in his structures, and his keen eye readily detects any flaw in building or material.

             Mr. Campbell was first married in 1858, to Miss Harriet, daughter of John T. and Rebecca (Delf) Henry, natives of Kentucky. Her parents lived in Illinois after their marriage, where Mr. Henry was engaged in the tailoring business. They had four children--John D., David P.; Dorothy, Mrs. Ball, and Mrs. Campbell. Of her union with our subject six children were born, of whom the following is the record: Lulu, Mrs. I. R. Crow, of Sturgis, Dak., has four children--Grace, Blanche, John and Helen; May, Mrs. M. Cornett, of Woodson, Ill., has two children--Clifton and Stella M.; Kate, Mrs. Vore, of Sundance, Wyo., has one child, Frank; Harry, who married Mary Romig, of Wichita; John A., a student of Garfield University, and Grace C., at home. Mrs. Campbell, the devoted wife and mother, died at her home in Illinois in March, 1874. Mr. Campbell married for his second wife Mrs. Anna Caldwell, of Illinois, their union being solemnized May 4, 1884. After a few brief years of wedded life she died, Nov. 16, 1887. On the 4th of January, 1888, he was married to Miss Lydia Ealley, of Howard, Kan.

             Our subject has an honorable business record, and is a man of unchallenged honesty and integrity. In politics he is a genuine Republican, always casts his vote with that party, and uses his influence to sustain its measures. Mr. Campbell built his beautiful brick residence, which is an ornament to that part of the city, at a cost of $6,000; it is pleasantly located on East Central avenue, on a lot of land with a frontage of sixty-five and a depth of 170 feet. He has besides purchased many other lots in different parts of the city.

             The portrait of Mr. Campbell, shown in this connection, will be viewed by all as that of a representative and worthy citizen of Wichita.

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