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Campbell, James
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| LAST: Campbell
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FIRST: James
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MID:
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| GENDER: M
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MAIDEN NAME:
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TITLE:
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| BORN: 6 Aug 1807
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DIED: 29 Jul 1873
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BURIED: 5 Aug 1873
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| OCCUPATION: Farmer
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| BIRTH PLACE: Greenville, Muhlenburg Co., Kentucky
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| DEATH PLACE: Salem, Marion Co., Oregon
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NOTES:
1850 OR CENSUS - James Campbell, age 44, occupation farmer, b. Kentucky, is enumerated with Sarah, age 15, b. Missouri, Elizabeth, age 13, b. Missouri, David, age 11, b. Missouri, Dabny, age 8, b. Missouri, and Virginia, age 7, b. Missouri. Also enumerated with the family is Edward Ross, age 17, black, b. Missouri.
1860 WA CENSUS - James Campbell, age 58, occupation farmer, b. Kentucky, is enumerated with N. H., age 58. b. Virginia, along with D. F., age 18, male, b. Missouri, Virginia, age 16, b. Missouri, and G. G., age 12, female, b. Missouri.
1870 OR CENSUS - Jas. Campbell, age 63, occupation farmer, b. Kentucky, is enumerated with Nancy, age 53, b. Virginia.
1st MARRIAGE - Margaret A. Finley
2nd MARRIAGE - Mrs. Eliza Eyres
[Wife of Miles Eyers - according to Probate record of Miles Eyers: "File F-2, misc probate papers. Intestate. Adm: James Campbell. Heirs: Eliza, wife [married to James Campbell by 29 Apr 1848]; Eliza & Amelia. Nov. 1843, family of deceased transported from Snake River to Whitman's Station. May 1844, family transported from Whitman's Station to Oregon Territory. May 1845, family tramsported from Oregon City to Champoeg County. 1846-47, Boarding & school for girls." Source - Marion County Oregon Probate Records. Vol. I, pg 79.
3rd MARRIAGE - Nancy H. Taylor
PROBATE: “File #491. Testate. Died 31 July 1873. Will dated 22 Jan 1868. David M. Keene & J. H. Bridges, sons-in-law, named executors. Heirs: Margaret Ann Bridges, dtr, 40; Sarah Jane Denny, dtr, 38; Elizabeth H. Keene, dtr, 36; David Rice Campbell, son, 34; Dabney Finley Campbell, son 32; Virginia McKinney, formerly Condit, dtr, 29; [all heirs of first wife and all of Marion Co.]; Susannah Martin Wooden, dtr, 26, King Co., W. T., heir by 2nd wife; Jno. Campbell, son 24, Texas. Reference to child 2nd wife had after she left him & before he obtained a divorce. Had land in King Co., W. T. On 9 Oct 1875, P. L. Willis said that Nancy H. Campbell was the wife, that he married her and she died a few months later. Witnesses to will: Paul Darst & Daniel Durbin.”
BIOGRAPHICAL (Source - Steeves, pgs 86-87):
Of all the immigrant trains coming to the far west during pioneer days, none other met with much greater hardship and suffering than that of the Campbell party.
James Campbell was born in Boon [sic] County, Kentucky, in 1806 [sic], and was united in marriage to Margaret Almira Finley in the state of Missouri, where the Campbell family had emigrated from Kentucky.
The chief reason for the westward journey undertaken by James Campbell was for the benefit of his wife’s health; but from the very outset, this delicate woman fared badly and soon after crossing the Missouri River she died and was buried by the roadside. Many years afterward, pioneers reported reading the inscription on the board marker at the head of her grave.
Other families making up the party were the Dunbars, Rev. Cornwall, Dunlava, Bridges, and others. Among all trains were many single men who either rode on horseback, drove ox team, or walked and drove stock. In some trains of a small number of wagons there would often be quite a number of folk in the party. The Campbell train was quite large and with only the usual amount of illness after the burial of the wife and the usual hardships, the party found themselves nearing the Oregon country.
At Fort Hall the caravan was persuaded to take the old Fur company trail, so as to cut off 200 miles of the distance to the Willamette. A man by the name of Meek, possibly Stephen H. L. Meek, offered to guide them over the mountains via this route. This seemed a wise thing to do but after going some distance on this road, that later on was known as Meek’s Cut-off, Meek left them and they lost their way and wandered about in the Deschutes wilderness much as the Gesner train did the year before, having been persuaded by the same man and left to shift for themselves in like manner; only the sufferings of the Campbell party were much greater and sickness and death stalked their train. Starvation faced them to the extent that all provisions gave out and they subsisted on weak soup for several weeks.
In the meanwhile, the party decided to send Mr. Campbell on ahead to try to reach the valley, so as to return with supplies. While he was absent from the train, J. H. Bridges took charge of the party and it moved very slowly a little each day. During this time the train had passed through tribes of hostile Indians, menacing them on every side.
The eldest daughter, Mary Campbell, died during these trying weeks and almost every soul in the train was ill. Oxen died by the way from lack of food and water and when Mr. Campbell returned to meet the train after having reached the settlement, there was much rejoicing when plenty of food was again available and they knew at least that those remaining would likely be able to reach their destination.
This party was nine months on the road, arriving in Southern Oregon in January 1847. Still there were swollen streams to ford. Boats were made from hewed logs to carry them across the rivers. One of the little Campbell girls, Virginia, was only two years of age at the time, but she told the writer she remembered her father wrapping her in a little white blanket and putting her in the boat, telling her to sit very still, and she said the river was so wide it looked like an ocean to them.
James Campbell settled in Marion County, choosing the Waldo Hills as a location. Their troubles were practically at an end by this time, and as Mr. Campbell believed in having all his children learn to be useful, it was not long before a comfortable home was made in the new country.
In a few years, however, Mr. Campbell went north to where the city of Seattle now is located and lived there some time, but returned to his Waldo Hills home, where he continued to live until his death in Salem, Oregon, 1872 [sic].
The Campbell’s were republicans and devout members of the Methodist church; they were farmers by profession.
The children of James Campbell, by his wife Margaret A. Finley, were:
Mary, who died in the Deschutes country, en route to Oregon.
Margaret A., who married J. H. Bridges.
Sarah J., who married Wiley Denny.
Elizabeth H., who married Rev. D. M. Keene.
Virginia, who married, first, S. J. Condit; second, E. E. McKinney.
Finley Campbell, who married Martha Baker.
Rice Campbell, possibly unmarried.
After James Campbell came to Oregon, he married a woman from Linn County and after two children were born to this union, a divorce was granted this couple, being the first to be recorded in Marion County. However, they afterward remarried. Susan M. Woodin was a daughter of this second marriage and remained a very bright, vigorous woman even to her old age. She was an expert knitter, beginning to do this at the early age of four years. During the world war her fingers were kept busy knitting socks for the soldiers. She was interested in all Red Cross work and often knitted four pairs of socks per week, knitting one complete pair on Decoration Day.
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OBITUARY:
ANOTHER PIONEER GONE.
The old pioneers of Oregon, those who have by their energy and indomitable perseverance cleared the trackless forests and prepared a place for coming generations in so goodly a county as ours, are fast passing away. It is but a short time since that Father Waller was called from this earth. Father Stratton soon followed, and now it becomes our painful duty to chronicle the death of another good man. On Thursday night, July 31st, at 11 o’clock, at his residence in Salem, James Campbell died at the advanced age of 66 years. Mr. Campbell was born in Greenville, Kentucky, on the 6th day of April in the year of 1807. From this place at an early age he moved to Boone county, Missouri, where he lived until the year 1846. In that year he started across the plains for Oregon, which State he reached some time in 1847. He settled near Salem, where he remained until the year 1859 when he moved to Puget Sound. After a residence in Puget Sound of seven years he returned to Oregon, settled near Salem where he lived until the time of his death.
The funeral will take place to-day at 11 o’clock from the Pleasant Grove Church on Mill creek. “Uncle Jimmy,” as he was affectionately called was respected and beloved by those who knew him best, and all feel that a good man has left us.
Daily Oregon Statesman 5 Aug 1873
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INSCRIPTION:
James Campbell
Born
In Greenville, Kentucky
Aug. 6, 1807
Moved to
Missouri in 1831
To Oregon in 1846
Died
July 29, 1873
In my fathers house are many mansions for you to pre-
pare a place for you. I will
come again, and receive you
unto myself; that where I
am ye may be there also.
[S. face of monument shared with Nancy]
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SOURCES:
Saucy
1850 OR CENSUS (Marion Co., FA #274)
1860 WA CENSUS (King Co., Seattle, FA # 836)
1870 OR CENSUS (Marion Co., East Salem, FA #453)
Marion County Oregon Probate Records, Vol I, pg 35
Steeves, pgs 86-87
DOS 5 Aug 1873
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