Shelby County, Indiana
Biographical Sketches
Charles H. Campbell
Biographical Sketches
Charles H. Campbell
The Shelby county family of this name originated in Virginia, filtrated through Kentucky, but finally settled on solid ground in Indiana. But when Andrew Campbell, the pioneer founder, was a good-sized boy and able to take notice of things as they are, there was nothing round about that looked particularly pleasing. As he was born on November 25, 1785, before Washington became President, the student of history will understand that Indiana Territory was at that time a howling wilderness filled with wild beasts and still wilder men. It seems that he made his way into Kentucky early in the last century, later crossing into Indiana, and left a family of six small sons. One of these, named Abraham H., was born at Lexington, Scott county, Indiana, in 1825, and in later life became a mechanic and cabinet maker. In 1862 he enlisted in the Sixty-sixth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was elected first lieutenant of one of its companies. He married Mary Jane Doolittle, who was born at Lexinton in 1825, and died in 1895, after becoming the mother of five children, of whom two sons and one daughter are now living. Edward, the oldest of these, is a farmer in Scott county, and has six sons. Mrs. Amick, the only daughter, is a resident of Shelbyville, and a widow with four children.
Charles H. Campbell, the youngest of the family, was born at Lexington, Indiana, November 28, 1853. As he grew up he worked for a while with his father at the cabinet maker's trade, but gave this up to enter the employment of the Big Four Railroad, which he served for nineteen years in different positions. He was operator, train dispatcher and passenger conductor for short intervals and station agent at Shelbyville for fourteen years. At length, however, he struck his true gait in a line for which he was especially well qualified, and a business whose success was sure to greatly redound to the prosperity of Shelbyville. In 900, in connection with the late Frank D. Blanchard and J. A. Conrey, Mr. Campbell organized a corporation for the purpose of making furniture. The building in which the work is done occupies a space of one hundred by two hundred and twenty-five feet, and the material used is iron and brick combination.
The capacity of the plant is two hundred and thirty thousand dollars per year, and Mr. Campbell contemplates the erection of a factory that will double the capacity. The machinery is all of the latest pattern and one hundred and twenty-five men, mostly skilled workers, are given constant daily employment The factory which is located in Center, South and Taylor streets, is owned exclusively by Mr. Campbell, his wife and son holding one nominal share each to meet the requirements for incorporation. The furniture factories each turning out different grades of material, have been the making of Shelbyville, and none have been more enterprising or beneficial that the one established and managed by Mr. Campbell..
Mr. Campbell has been a life-long and very enthusiastic Republican, with a decided taste for and quite influential as a local party leader. He has served two terms in the City Council, three years on the city School Board, and last year was sent as a delegate to the national Republican convention, which met at Chicago and nominated Taft and Sherman. Mr. Campbell is indeed a man who deserves well of his community, to which for many years he has contributed his fine energy and strong power of organizing and leading men. His employees are devoted to him just as are his many friends, and all agree that he richly deserves the prosperity that has come to him..
On September 3, 1876, Mr. Campbell was married to Lucinda M. Harding, and by this union there were six children: Ada L., now Mrs. Smith, has two sons; George W., Margaret M., wife of Mr. Baggie, editor of the Republican; Ruth, Florence and Stanley. The mother died in 1899, and in September, 1900, Mr. Campbell married Angeline Gowels, by whom he has one son, Charles H., Jr. Mr. Campbell is a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Odd Fellows. Elks and Modern Woodmen. He belongs to First Presbyterian church.
Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana by Edward H. Chadwick, B.A., assisted by well known local talent, B.F. Bowen & Co, Publishers: Indianapolis, IN, 1909, p 382-383.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
Charles H. Campbell. — Conspicuous among the enterprising and public spirited citizens of Shelbyville is Charles H. Campbell, who was born in the town of Lexington, Indiana, November 28, 1853. His paternal ancestors were among the early colonists of Virginia, his grandfather Andrew Campbell having been born in that State about the year 1777. The family came to Indiana in an early day, settling in Scott County in 1823, where Andrew Campbell's death occurred 1856. Subject's parents, A. H. and Mary J. E. (Doolittle) Campbell were both natives of Indiana, the former born in Scott County, October 17, 1825, and the latter in the southern part of the State, June 27, of the same year. Charles H. Campbell's early educational experience embraced the studies appertaining to the course prescribed by the public schools, in which he made commendable progress, obtaining a practical knowledge of the common branches of learning. In 1872, he accepted a position with the railroad locating in Shelbyville the following year and making this city his headquarters, until 1875. In the latter year he was transferred to Cincinnati, but in 1876, returned to Shelbyville and accepted the position of ticket agent for the C., I., St. L. & C. Railroad, the duties of which responsible trust he is still discharging. Mr. Campbell is a faithful and accomplished business man, alive to the interests of the company, by which he is employed and enjoys the respect and confidence of all who know him. In addition to his official duties he takes an active interest in all measures having for their object the public good deserving special mention for his efforts in behalf of the city's welfare as member of the common council to which body he was elected in 1885, and in which he displayed wisdom, and rare executive ability. Politically he is a Republican, and cast his first vote in 1876, for R. B. Hayes. He is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity, having identified himself with the same in 1885. He married in 1876, Miss Lucy Harding, daughter of William and Margaret Harding, of Ohio, a union blessed with the birth of two children viz.:: Ada L. and George W. Campbell.
History of Shelby County, Indiana, "Shelbyville Sketches", Chicago: Brant & Fuller, 1887, page 473-474.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
