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 In- fantry, 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 emplyees are devoted to him just as are hs 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 thrity-second degree Mason and a member of the Odd Fellows. Elks and Modern Woodmen. He belongs to First Presbyterian church.
From 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.
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming

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