WILSON S. CAMPBELL. The great-great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch came from Scotland in the beginning of the sixteenth century, and settled in eastern Pennsylvania or New Jersey, where he died. The great-grandfather of Wilson S. was married to ------ Hammond about 1775 (a native of eastern Pennsylvania), and shortly afterward they came further west, settling in the northern part of Washington county, Penn., near what is now Cross Creek village, at a time when the forests were abounding in wolves and other wild beasts. They had nine children: Gracie, John, James, William, David, Charles, George H., Betsey and Polly, all of whom lived to be married, and scattered. Gracie, John, James, William and David moved to Belmont county, Ohio; the other four married and remained in Pennsylvania. Gracie married Benjamin Bay; John married Betsey Lyle; James married Peggy Smith; William married ----- Smith; David married Ann Ray; Charles married Easter Mason; George H. married Elizabeth Ray; Betsey married William Ray; Polly married William Fulton. George H. and Charles remained on the old homestead, and died there at advanced ages. George H. Campbell, grandfather of subject, had eleven children: Jane, married to John Wilson, of Noble county, Ohio; John, married to Eliza Moore, of Hickory, Penn.; Mary, married to John Graham, of Knox county, Ohio; William, married to Elizabeth Nichols, of Greene county, Penn.; Elizabeth, who died at the age of fifty-eight, unmarried; Samuel S. (named for Dr. Scott, deceased, Mrs. President Harrison's father; was married three times: first time to a daughter of Dr. Wright, of Ashtabula, Ohio; second time, to Ann E. Wallace, of Washington, Penn.; third time, to Mary Law, of Harrison county, Ohio); George W. (the father of our subject); Esther I. (unmarried), living in Cadiz, Ohio. The others died when young. Mason Campbell, son of Charles, now lives on the old home place. George W. Campbell was born in 1826, in Cross Creek township, and was reared to agricultural pursuits on the old home farm, attending in his boyhood the subscription schools of the vicinity. In 1855 he married Miss Charlotte, daughter of James and Margaret Wilson, of West Pike Run township. After marriage they located on the old farm in Cross Creek township, and there remained till October, 1867, when they moved to Midway, Robinson township, and two and one-half years later built the hotel in Midway, which they occupied, and carried on till September, 3, 1885, at which date the father died very suddenly, aged fifty-nine years. The family remained at Midway, continuing the hotel business, until March, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. George W. Campbell were the parents of five children, as follows: Johnetta Jessie, who died at the age of ten months; Wilson S. (our subject); Graham S., living at McDonald, this county; Esther Elida, married to W. H., Baldwin, of Cadiz, Ohio, and Mary Velma, deceased at the age of nine months. Wilson S. Campbell was born April 20, 1858, in Cross Creek township, Washington Co., Penn., on the homestead where he was reared to farm life, his education being received in the public schools of the neighborhood. he removed with his parents to Midway, and at the age of fifteen commenced clerking in a general store in that town, in which he continued nine years. Then for six years he conducted a furniture establishment in the same town. On January 5, 1891, he was appointed clerk of the commissioners of Washington county, and removed into the city of Washington, where he is now residing. Under President Arthur's administration he had been appointed postmaster at Midway, and served in that office until the appointment of a Democratic successor under President Cleveland. On September 20, 1882, Mr. Campbell was united in marriage with Miss Kate E., daughter of J. J. and Margaret Cleland, of Buffalo township, this county, and two children were born to them, James St. Clair and Flora Elida. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are members of the Second Presbyterian Church at Washington, and while at Midway he was a member of the Session, of Raccoon Presbyterian Church. In politics he has always been a straight Republican.

Text taken from page 722 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Karen Souhrada of Pittsford, NY as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]