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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
with Biographical Selections
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"A stoic of the woods, a man without a tear."
- Campbell's "Gertrude of Wyoming."
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H. C. Bradsby, Editor,
Chicago: S. B. Nelson & Co., Publishers
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1893
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CHARLES P.
CAMPBELL, assistant clerk, Orphans
Court, Shickshinny, was born at Beach Haven, Luzerne Co.,
Pa., Jan. 13, 1862, a son of William A. and Alice (Post)
Campbell. He was reared at Shickshinny, educated
at State Normal School, Bloomsburg, Pa., where he graduated
in 1877, and at Swarthmore College, where he was graduated
in 1882. After that he spent nine years in his
father's store at Shickshinny, and since Jan. 1, 1891, he
has held his present position. On June 3, 1891, Mr.
Campbell married Florence F., daughter of
Lot and Irene (Fellows) Search, of Shickshinny, and they
have one daughter, Irene Alice. Mr.
Campbell is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and of
the F. & A. M.; in politics he is a Democrat.
Source: History of Luzerne
County, Pennsylvania, Published Chicago: S. B. Nelson & Co.
1893 - Page 762 |
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J. HIRAM
CAMPBELL, collector for the
Pennsylvania Canal Company, Beach Haven, was born in
Nescopeck township, this county, Mar. 4, 1843, and is a son
of Joseph and Catharine (Kester) Campbell. He
was reared in Salem township, educated in the common
schools, and took a commercial course of instruction at a
New Haven (Conn.) business college. Mr.
Campbell began life as a clerk in the office of the
commissioners of Luzerne county, and later learned the
wagon-making trade, which he followed seven years at
Shickshinny and Hobbie, this county. In 1875 he was
appointed foreman of the canal, by the Pennsylvania Canal
Company, continuing as such ten years, and has held the
position of collector for the company at Beach Haven since
1885. He took part in the Civil war, enlisting Aug.
18, 1862, in Company F, 143d P. V. I.; was orderly sergeant
of the company two years; was wounded at battle of
Gettysburg and the engagement at Weldon Railroad, and was
honorably discharged June 12, 1865. On May 30, 1868,
Mr. Campbell married Melissa, daughter
of Lewis and Mary (Benscoter) Post, of Union
township, this county, and they have five children living,
viz.: Frank (who married Ida Eddy, and
has one daughter, Irene), Bertha, Gertrude,
Edmund D. and Earl. Mr.
Campbell is a member of the M. E. Church and of the G.
A. R. In politics he is a Democrat, and is now serving
his second term as school director of Salem township, and
has been the secretary of the board since elected in 1889.
Source: History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania,
Published Chicago: S. B. Nelson & Co. 1893 - Page 762 |
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JACOB W. CAMPBELL,
carpenter, P. O. Berwick,
was born in Neacopeck township, Nov. 3, 1841, and is a son
of Joseph and Catharine (Kester) Campbell. [For
genealogy of Campbell family, see sketch of
William A.
Campbell, Shickshinny.] He was reared in Salem
township, educated in the common schools and Wyoming
Seminary, and at the age of eighteen taught school.
He followed teaching as a vocation eight years. At the
age of twenty-six he began the carriage-making trade, under
instructions, and followed the business seventeen years, at
Shickshinny and Beach Haven. In January, 1883, he
located at Berwick, where he was engaged as foreman of the
foundry of W. B. Freas & Son live years, and since
1888 has been in the employ of the Jackson &
Worden Manufacturing Co. On Apr. 12, 1862, he
married Margaret J., daughter of Henry and
Elizabeth (Rabert) Thomas, of Salem township, and has
five children living: Harry E., Samuel T.,
Elizabeth (Mrs. Walter Suit), Ella and
Thomas B. Mr. Campbell is past
master in the F. & A. M., and in politics he is a Democrat.
Source: History of Luzerne
County, Pennsylvania, Published Chicago: S. B. Nelson & Co.
1893 - Page 763 |
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JOHN CAMPBELL,
supervisor, Duryea, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, Jan. 12,
1835, and is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Hart)
Campbell, natives of the same place. They reared a
family of fifteen children, of whom our subject is second in
order of birth. He was educated in a private school,
and was employed as a locomotive fireman, and later as an
engineer. In May, 1870, he came to America, and
settled in this county, where he worked first as fireman,
and afterward as engineer at the mines until 1876, when he
was employed as a miner until 1890, in which year he
retired. He was united in marriage Feb. 28, 1857, with
Agnes, daughter of James and Lillian (Gilbraith)
Stuart, natives of Scotland, and their union has been
blessed with the following issue: Lillian, born Dec.
29, 1857 (married May 8, 1875, to William Jones, a
miner of Scranton; he died June 30, 1879, and she afterward
married Nov. 10, 1884, Owen Burleigh, a miner
in Wyoming Territory); Robert, born Oct. 17, 1859;
James, born Aug. 7, 18__; John, born Sept. 1,
1863; Elizabeth, born Oct. 8, 1865 (married Aug. 17,
1883, to Johnson B. Randall, a carpenter in
Lackawanna); David, born Apr. 22, 1868; Agnes,
born May 10. 1870 (married Aug 3, 1889, to Rudolph
Gottwalls, a wheelright in Lackawanna): Ellen,
born July 2, 1873 (married Aug. 27, 1890, to John
White, a teamster in Lackawanna): Alexander, born
June 7, 1874: William (deceased at the age of fifteen
years, ten days); Jane (deceased when six months
old), and Joseph, (deceased when an infant of two
days). Our subject is a member of the M. E. Church, and in
politics is a Republican.
Source: History of Luzerne
County, Pennsylvania, Published Chicago: S. B. Nelson & Co.
1893 - Page 763 |
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JOSEPH W.
CAMPBELL, contractor and builder, No.
112 Gaylord avenue, Plymouth, was born in Chester county,
Pa., Mar. 1, 1850. He is a son of William and
Harriet (Butter) Campbell, both of whom were also native
of Chester county, the former of whom was a cabinet maker by
trade, thoroughly conversant with his craft. He was a
son of William Campbell, who was a native of
Scotland, and who came to this country to enjoy the freedom
so much loved and coveted by Scotia's sons. William
Campbell, father of our subject, had a family of ten
children, nine of whom are now living, Joseph W.,
being the eighth. He was reared in Chester county,
educated at the common schools of his district. In
early life he was a farmer boy until his country called for
volunteers, then his young heart beat with enthusiastic
patriotism; but youthful years debarred him the privilege of
striking for freedom until 1864, when he was permitted to
enter Company B, One Hundred and Eighty-seventh P. V. I.,
for the term of three years. Here he displayed the
heroism characteristic of his ancestors, who fought for
liberty amid the "Highlands" of their native land.
Although a boy, Mr. Campbell took the place of a man
in the army of the Potomac. He showed his undaunted
courage as he faced the enemy in the following severely
contested battles; Wilderness, Cold Harbor,
Petersburg, Weldon Railroad and many other engagements
of minor importance. At the close of the struggle he
was honorably discharged, and came home to adorn society as
a citizen of the commonwealth he fought to defend.
After his discharge Mr. Campbell served at the
carpenter's trade in York county, Pa., where he became an
adept in his profession. He first came to Plymouth in
1871, and worked in the planing-mill for Harvey
Bros, for ten years. He then conceived the
important idea of being his own master, and if there were
any profits in business he would reap those profits.
He succeeded even beyond his most sanguine hopes.
Beginning at the first round in the ladder of success with
nothing but two honest hands and a young and buoyant heart,
Joseph W. Campbell has made himself independent, thus
showing to the world what a young man can do by close
attention to business, and the observance of those
principles which make business a success, namely: honesty,
energy, economy and a large stock of "go-abeadativeness.''
He now owns six double houses on Gaylord avenue, a street
which he was the means of making and beautifying. He
also owns five single houses on Randell street. Mr.
Campbell is yet a single man. He is a member of
the Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a Republican, and
has acceptably discharged the ofiice of councilman for two
terms.
Source: History of Luzerne
County, Pennsylvania, Published Chicago: S. B. Nelson & Co.
1893 - Page 763 |
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LOFTUS CAMPBELL,
retired, Sebastopol, P. O. Inkerman. was born Dec. 25, 1832,
in County Carlow, Ireland, and is a son of Andrew and
Ester (Hagar) Campbell, natives of the same place, and
of Scotch and English extraction respectively. The
family came to this country and settled in Carbondale, Pa.,
in 1847. Our subject was educated in the common
schools, and in 1850 went to work as driver in the mines,
where he stayed until 1852, and then proceeded to
California. In those days it was a more difficult
matter to travel to California than it is at present. Mr.
Campbell drove an ox-team twelve hundred miles of the
way, and rode the remainder on a wild mule, which the party
had captured on the plains. They were five months on
the road from Carbondale to Sacramento, in which latter city
our subject remained, working in the gold mines until 1860.
He then returned home and went to work for the Pennsylvania
Coal Company, on the Gravity road. In 1862 he once
more visited California, where he stayed until 1864; he then
returned home and once more took a position with the
Pennsylvania Coal Company as train dispatcher on the Gravity
road. Shortly afterward he took charge of No. 6
Breaker for the same company, which position he held until
his resignation early in 1892. Mr. Campbell was
united in marriage, Nov. 12, 1878, with Louisa,
daughter of Gideon and Mary A. Cadman, natives
of Wolverhampton, England; she died May 17, 1886. Our
subject is a member of the Episcopal Church; is a member of
the F. & A. M., and in politics is a Republican.
Source: History of Luzerne
County, Pennsylvania, Published Chicago: S. B. Nelson & Co.
1893 - Page 764 |
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WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL,
hardware merchant, P. O. Shickshinny, was born at
Nescopeck, this county, Aug. 13, 1837, a son of Joseph W.
and Catherine (Kester) Campbell. His paternal
grandfather, who was of American birth and Scotch parentage,
was a pioneer of York county, Pa. Joseph W.
Campbell was a native of York county, Pa,, and settled
in Luzerne county about 1830. For twenty-five years he
was division superintendent of the Pennsylvania Canal, and
was for several years engaged in farming in Salem township,
but spent the last twelve years of his life at Nanticoke.
His wife was a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Washburn)
Kester, and granddaughter of Daniel Washburn, who
came from Connecticut to Luzerne county prior to the
Revolution, and carried a musket at the Wyoming Massacre. Daniel
Washburn was at that time a resident of Plymouth, but
after the massacre spent some time in Northampton county; he
later removed to Nescopeck, this county, and died, in what
is now Conyngham township, when over ninety years of age.
The children of Joseph W. Campbell were William A.,
Charles H., Jacob W., Joseph and Sarah (Mrs. Wrighter
Thomas). Our subject was reared in Luzerne county,
educated in the common schools and Wyoming Seminary, and
from 1855 to 1872 taught school. In 1872 he was
elected superintendent of schools for Luzerne county, and
served two terms (six years). In 1879 he embarked in
the hardware
Source: History of Luzerne
County, Pennsylvania, Published Chicago: S. B. Nelson & Co.
1893 - Page 764 |
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HON. JOHN
NESBITT CONYNGHAM, LL. D.,
distinguished during a long and useful life in the threefold
capacity of Christian, citizen, and jurist, and, for thirty
years preceding his death, conspicuous as president judge,
at first, of the Thirteenth Judicial District of
Pennsylvania, and afterward, of the Eleventh District, was
born in Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 17, 1798, and died (the
victim of an unfortunate railroad accident) at Magnolia,
Miss., about one hundred miles above New Orleans, La., Feb.
23, 1871, in his seventy-third year. His ancestral
relatives on both sides, for many generations, were people
of eminence, respectability and worth. As the name
indicates, the family of Conyngham is of Scotch
origin. For several generations, however,
the ancestors of the Judge were domiciled in Ireland, and
ranked there among those who were the honor of the Land,
among them being numbered several distinguished divines and
prelates of the Church of Ireland. His grandfather,
Redmond Conyngham, a native of Ireland, was a
highly respected citizen of Philadelphia. He was a
prominent member of the old Christ Church of that city, and
was a vestryman and warden of the Church. He was one
of the founders of St. Peter's Church, of that city, and
continued a member of the united parishes of Christ Church
and St. Peter's until his death. His son, David
Hayfield Conyngham, was the father of Judge
Conyngham. He was born in the North of Ireland about
1750, and came to Philadelphia very early in life. He
took an active part in military affairs, and was one of the
founders of the first troops of city cavalry. As a
business man he stood among the wealthiest and most
prominent members of the mercantile community of
Philadelphia, being a partner of the firm of J. W.
Nesbitt & Co., and senior member of the house of
Conyngham & Nesbitt, which, in the darkest period
of the Revolution, in 1780, when Washington was
apprehensive that he could not keep the field with his
impoverished army, nobly came forward and supplied the
needed means (some five thousand pounds) for the relief of
the suffering patriots. This magnificent exhibition of
patriotism and confidence was gratefully acknowledged by
Washington, and also by Robert Morris, the
distinguished financier of the Revolution.
The subject of this sketch received his early
education under the most favorable auspices in the city of
his birth. He then entered the University of Pennsylvania,
and taking the full course, was graduated with high honors
in 1817. Selecting the law for his profession, he
entered the office of Hon. Joseph R. Ingersoll,
of Philadelphia, and was admitted to the bar, in that city,
Feb. 12, 1820. The same year he located in
Wilkes-Barre, where he was admitted to the bar of Luzerne
county, April 3, and immediately entered upon the practice
of his profession. To the careful training, fitting
him for its ordinary duties, the young lawyer added great
energy and superior discrimination. His practice was
scientifically conducted, and success came to him slowly at
first, but with increasing volume each succeeding year.
After a most successful career at the bar, covering nearly a
score of years, during two of which he represented his
District in the State Legislature, he was appointed in the
spring of 1839. by Governor D. R. Porter, to the
position of president judge of the Thirteenth Judicial
District of Pennsylvania, then consisting of the counties of
Susquehanna, Bradford, Tioga, Potter and McKean. The
first session of his court was held at Tioga. By an
Act passed Apr. 18, 1840, Luzerne was added to his District,
and Susquehanna was transferred to the Eleventh District - a
proceeding which permitted Judge Conyngham to
live at his home in Wilkes-Barre. His commission
expired in 1849, but in the fall of 1851, under the amended
constitution, he was elected to the presidency of the
Eleventh District, then composed of Luzerne, Wyoming,
Montour and Columbia counties. In 1853, and again in
1856, changes were made in the District, which finally
consisted of Luzerne county only. In 1861 he was
re-elected to office, although holding political opinions
differing on many points from those promulgated by the
national administration. The firing on Fort Sumter
aroused his patriotism, and immediately sacrificing every
party feeling he addressed himself with special vigor to the
preservation of the imperiled Union. His name and
influence were all-powerful in his judicial District, and
few men gave greater personal, or more support, than
Judge Conyngham. He resigned his position on the
bench in July, 1870, and on his resignation, the entire bar
of Luzerne county, as one man, rose up to do him honor - the
first instance of the kind in Pennsylvania. No less
than sixteen judges from the Supreme Court of the United
States, down through all the State judiciaries, gave in
writing their deliberate judgment of his character as a
judge. In 1824 he married Ruth Ann, daughter of
Gen. Lord Butler, and granddaughter of that
distinguished Revolutionary officer. Gen. Zebulon
Butler. His family consisted of seven children, six of
whom grew to maturity: Col. John Butler, U. S. A.;
William Lord; Thomas; Maj.
Charles Miner, U. S. A.; Mary (Mrs.
Charles Parrish), and Anna, who married
the Right Rev. William Bacon Stevens, of
Pennsylvania. Charles Miner Conyngham,
youngest in the family of the late Hon. John Nesbitt and
Ruth (Butler) Conyngham, was born in Wilkes Barre July
6, 1840; educated at the Protestant Episcopal Academy,
Philadelphia, also at Trinity College,
Source: History of
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, Published Chicago: S. B.
Nelson & Co. 1893 - Page 797 |
NOTES:
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