Alfred  J.  Campbell

          He is among the oldest and best known citizens of Henry County.  He was born in Sussex Co., Del., April 2, 1816, and is a son of  Robert  and  Hannah (Hazard) Campbell, both natives of the same state, where their whole lives were passed.  They were the parents of four sons and three daughters who grew up.  Besides the subject of this sketch, one other member of this family is now living, John S., who is now in his 77th year and is a resident of Pasadena, CA.  Both of his parents died when Alfred J. was six years old, and he went to live with older brothers and sisters.  He received such education as the schools of that day afforded, and was reared on a farm until he was 14 years old, when he came West with an older brother  William H., who kept a general store at Shelbyville, IN.  He was in his brother's employ for eight years, when he began on his own account in the same town.  Two years later he began trading in the South, and sometimes clerking, usually spending the summer in the North.
          On the breaking out of the Mexican War, Mr. Campbell enlisted in the 3rd IN Volunteers under Capt. Sullivan, their Colonel being the celebrated James H. Lane, of KS border war fame.  He participated in the battle of Buena Vista, fought by Gen. Taylor against tremendous odds, and which was one of the most brilliant victories of that war.
          On his return, he again settled in Shelby Co., IN.  Mr. Campbell was married in Sept. 1839, at Dayton, OH, to  Miss Mary Sullivan, who died in July 1848.  The fruit of this union was one child who died in infancy.  In Sept. 1849, Mr. Campbell was married to  Mrs. Prudence Lockhart, widow of  Benjamin Lockhart, of Ripley Co. IN, who died July 15, 1848.  This couple had no children.
          In 1853 Mr. and Mrs. Campbell emigrated to Iowa, settling on a farm in Henry Co., on which he lived for 20 years.  In 1873 he retired from active life on the farm and removed to his present home in Mt. Pleasant.  In early life Mr. Campbell was with the Democratic Party, but on the breaking out of the Rebellion he joined the ranks of the Republicans with whom he has ever since affliated.  He is not a member of any denomination and his wife is a member of the Christian Church.  Mr. Campbell commands the respect of his fellowmen.
Henry County, Iowa, 1888.
Contributed by Anne Ruby

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