DAVID McMILLEN CAMPSEY, one of the leading representative and substantial citizens of the county, is a native of the same, having been born October 13, 1843, in Donegal township. His grandfather, James Campsey, a farmer by occupation, was born June 22, 1772, in Mountertany, Parish of Raphoe, County Donegal, Ireland, and in 1794 emigrated to America in the ship "Liberty.'' In 1792 he had married Elizabeth Johnson, of the same county, born February 1, 1770, and when he immigrated to the United States he was accompanied by his faithful wife and two children: William, born July 1, 1793, and John, born May 4, 1796. For a few years, or until 1801, they lived east of the mountains, and then proceeded westward to Washington county, Penn., making a settlement about two miles south of Claysville, this section being at that time an unbroken and sparsely settled wilderness. When they arrived, the neighbors formed a ''bee," and built them a log cabin, the foundation of which was four stumps, one for each corner, but one day being occupied in its erection. Here our little pioneer family made their home, gradually surrounding themselves with the necessaries and comforts of life, and here four more children came to enlarge the domestic circle: Margaret, born February 20, 1795; Joseph, born February 20, 1800; James, born February 20, 1803, and Rebecca, born June 2, 1805. The head of this pioneer family was a vigorous, energetic man, incessantly and assiduously toiling to make a home for his little ones, and to convert the forest wild into a fertile farm. On November 23, 1843, the loving partner of his bosom was called from earth, and Mr. Campsey, having then made an equitable division of his property, which was considerable, retired from active labor, and passed the remaining portion of his days on earth with his son James. He died September 1, 1851, full of years and honor, and was laid to rest by the side of his wife in Claysville cemetery. All their children lived to adult ages, excepting Margaret, who died in her girlhood. James Campsey, the third son of this pioneer, was born February 20, 1803, in Donegal township, this county, and attended the subscription schools of the neighborhood, the building being made of logs, while the interior was furnished in the most primitive manner, the seats being merely slabs, and the writing desk another slab, supported by pegs driven into the wall. The fireplace, which occupied the greater part of one end of the school-room, was a "yawning chasm,'' wherein was thrown the wood, which was cut by the scholars. The books used in those early times were the English Reader, the U. S. Spelling Book and the Western Calculator. Mr. Campsey was a natural mechanic, and could turn his hand to almost any kind of work in that line, being very ingenious and skillful. He constructed a distillery complete, including all the plant, which he operated for some time until he became aware of the harm liquor was doing among those who could not discriminate between use and abuse; he then gave up the business, and disposed of the plant. Mr. Campsey was twice married, the first occasion on November 7, 1827, to Isabella Daugherty, a native of Washington county, born April 21, 1811, by which union there were five children: Mary Ann, born May 29,1830; Harriet, born November 18.1832; Margaret E., born May 19, 1835; James D.. born May 24, 1838, and a son. unnamed, born November 2, 1840, dying four days afterward. The mother of this family departed this life April 29. 1841, and March 10, 1842, Mr. Campsey wedded Mrs. Susanna Ralston (also a native of County Down, Ireland, widow of James Ralston, and daughter of David McMillen, of the same township, and two children (twins) came to this union: David M. (subject of sketch), and Rebecca, born October 13,1843, died February 19, 1876. Soon after his first marriage James Campsey purchased of Samuel Stokely a valuable farm property, comprising 352 acres of prime land lying one and one-half miles north of Claysville, to which he moved and where he followed farming till December, 1869, when he removed to Claysville, and there lived a retired life, having amassed a comfortable sufficiency by hard toil and earnestness of purpose. On April 4, 1883, he was called from earth, his wife having preceded him to the long home September 24, 1874. Mr. Campesy was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Claysville, Mrs. Campsey being a member of the U. P. Church of South Buffalo. In politics he was originally a Whig, in later years a Republican. D. M. Campsey received his primary education at the common school of his district, and in 1862 entered Millsborough Normal School, where be remained one year; in 1863 he prosecuted his studies in Carversville Institute, and October 19, 1865, commenced a commercial course at Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., from which he graduated in February, 1866. After his graduation, he entered the employ of Lord & Taylor, of New York, with whom he remained some time. On April 7, 1870, having returned to his native county, our subject opened a dry-goods store in Claysville, which he carried on eleven years, and then in 1878 formed a partnership with B. B. Daugherty, in the same line at West Alexander, at the same time conducting a hardware store in Claysville, in company with William Wilson. For many years he has been engaged in the wool and grain trade, buying and selling, and he is now largely interested in the oil business. On July 31,1873, Mr. Campsey was married to Addie K., daughter of David Kennedy, and the names of the children born to them are James Arthur (died September 22, 1876, at the age of thirteen mouths), George A., Susannah J., David M. (born March 26, 1883, died July 29, 1891), and Donald McLain. The family are adherents of the U. P. Church at Claysville, of which Mr. Campsey has been a member of Session since 1885. Politicallv he is a Republican, and an active worker in the party. Fired by a spirit of patriotism during the Civil war, he enlisted for three months in Company D, Forty-fifth P. V. I., serving the full term of his enlistment.

Text taken from page 276 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed August 1997 by Jean Suplick Matuson of Plano, TX as part of the Beers Project. Published August 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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