Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Page 392

W. H. H. CAMPBELL, of Wichita, first came to this State in 1870, and settled in Sedgwick County on the northeast quarter of section 24, in Minneha Township. Here he preempted a quarter-section of land, and began its improvement by building what was called a dug-out, 8x12 feet. In this crude habitation he kept bachelor's hall till he could haul lumber from Humboldt, Kan., over 100 miles. But, nothing daunted, he built a house, set out trees, and planted hedge around and through the farm. He kept the finest breed of hogs in the State, besides which he raised horses and cattle. After he settled there buffalo, deer, wolves and other game were plenty. He remained on this farm until 1883, when he came to Wichita. Here he bought three lots and a house, and settled in the city. The same year he had foresight enough to buy 160 acres two miles south of Douglas avenue. It was under cultivation, so he rented out the place for two years. He then platted eighty acres of the land, half of it in each of two additions, called Campbell's First and Second Additions. Not content with this he has been buying and selling other real estate.

      Our subject is a representative Virginian, born there in 1842. His father's name was James A., and his mother's, Elizabeth Updike. They, too, were natives of Virginia. The paternal grandfather was Rev. James A. Campbell, of Scotland. The father of our subject moved to Ohio in 1843, locating in Morgan County, where farming and stock raising engaged his attention. He now resides in Hocking County, Ohio. His good wife died in 1879, leaving a family of eight children, seven of whom are now living-John C., James S., Middleton S., W. H. H., Samantha E. (now Mrs. Miller), George E. and Mary F. Mr. Campbell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife was also a member.

      W. H. H. Campbell was reared on a farm, where he remained until he was eighteen years of age. He then began speculating in stock in Ohio, and continued it until he came to Kansas, in 1870. In 1873 he was united in marriage with Miss Armilda Boyd, the daughter of W. M. and Harriet (Robinson) Boyd, natives of Kentucky. His business was farming and stock-raising. His father was named Thomas, and his mother Edna (Parker) Boyd, natives of Virginia. Harriet Robinson's father was named Robert, and her mother's maiden name was Martha Howard; he was a native of South Carolina, and she of Maryland. Farming was their occupation.

      Mrs. Campbell's parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her mother died in 1860, leaving four children, two of whom are yet living-Mrs. C. and her brother John. Mr. Campbell has two children-Rhua E. and Ira E. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he is a liberal contributor, as he also is to many public enterprises in the city.

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