The main reason I got into genealogy all those years ago was to find my direct Campbell ancestor that immigrated to America from Scotland. When I asked my father where in Scotland our family came from “Argyll” was his answer. Well, no duh! Basically, the entire clan’s name came out of the vast Argyll region. It would be like if a European asked me where I was born and I answered, “In the south”. While that is a true answer, it’s not very specific. And now after twenty-some years of researching I can see why dad’s answer was so vague.
I’ve blogged about the frustrations of researching my
Campbell line before, but I’ll give a quick recap for new readers. I do have new readers, right??
My father’s father died during the Flu pandemic in 1919. Dad was not quite six when he died, so he
never really had a chance to ask questions about his family. I do remember dad mentioning an Uncle Hiram,
but that was the only relation I remember him mentioning. Turns out he was dad's great uncle! Dad’s mother never remarried making dad an only
child. This complicates things as I have
no Campbell cousins (that I have found) to help with research or DNA
tests.
Nanny (dad’s mom) lived with my family for as long as I can
remember until I entered 10th grade.
She had an amazing photo album and did give me a few names on both her
and dad’s families. If I was ever told
my father’s paternal grandfather’s name, I forgot it. Neither my mom nor my siblings could remember
it either. It was pure luck that going
through old boxes in mom’s storage shed (where there aren’t any family things
out there…) I found my eldest sister’s baby book. In that book were not only my father’s
paternal grandparents but his maternal side as well. There were many other family history items as
well, but only on his maternal side, no other Campbell items. But I was still doing the Genealogy Happy
Dance.
As I now had named, dates, and places for my Campbell side
Including confirmation of my great grandfather, Herbert J. Campbell, I had his
father’s name, Samuel W. Campbell, and his mother’s name, Eleanor Taylor.
With this information, I could find Herbert with the correct
parents, and his brother, my dad’s Uncle Lester in census records, death
certificates, obituaries, and newspaper articles.
It took much research and even more luck to my great grandfather’s
death certificate. The biggest problem I
had found with this record is due to the custom of not listing the wife with her
given name. The name shown as the informant
on his death certificate isn’t Eleanor Campbell or Taylor, just Mrs. Samuel Campbell. Luckily, I had two obituaries for Samuel so I
could match date and place with a certificate.
Now I had his parent’s names; James Campbell and Ann Calley. Also, his obit listed a brother, Hiram. That means it’s back to researching census and
the other available records. Since I
knew his birth date from the death certificate, 26 March 1861 I started looking
at the 1870 census. It didn’t take long
to find this family in 1870, 1880 and even in the 1890 Centre County (PA) Centre
Lines publication that is based on the now lost 1890 census. More on this source is below.
The basic timeline here is finding great grandfather about 1999
and finding James about 2005. And sadly, I’m still rather stuck there. I have a better than average idea of his parents. I’m not totally secure in this info though.
The earliest verifiable record I have of James is the 1850
census. In this record, he is in Antis
Township, Blair County, Pennsylvania, USA.
The date of the census was 1 June 1850, and this family was counted on
25 September 1850.
In this census, James is listed as 23 years old, and his
occupation is a forgeman (ironworker).
Also listed with James are Margaret Jane Campbell, age 21, Ann Eliza
Campbell, age 8 months, Anne Elizabeth McCauley, age 19, and Henry McCauley, a
laborer, age 69.
 |
| 1850 U.S. Census Antis, Blair, Pennsylvania https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M44L-MH2 : 21 December 2020 |
Now, this opens even more questions. Namely, who is this Margaret Jane? Several possibilities come to mind.
1. She was James’ wife. If so, then is she related to the McCauley’s
that are also listed? Since I can find
no other mention (yet) of Margaret Jane, I am unsure, but this is my current
approach.
2. Is Anne Elizabeth Margaret Jane’s little
sister? This is my current theory.
3. If the ladies are sisters, then is Henry their
father? Again, my working theory.
4. But what if the census worker got the ladies
backward? Maybe James only had one
wife, Ann Elizabeth, and Margaret is her older sister, but not married to
James? Henry could still be their
father, and the child Ann Eliza now becomes the daughter of Ann Elizabeth. I don’t like this for two reasons. First, because naming conventions usually
have a grandchild child reuse a name, not an immediate child. It’s not unheard of, but mostly with males,
not as common among mothers and daughters.
Second, I can find a headstone for Margaret Campbell, wife of J.R.
Campbell. Many trees out on the
inter-webs have a middle name of Richard for this gentleman.
The 1860 census has this family, without Margaret, in
Franklin Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, USA. This census was enumerated on 20 August 1880,
with 1 June 1860 as the official date.
The ages are about 10 years older as is expected, and James is still
listed as a forgeman. Henry is still
with them but has no occupation listed.
New to this census are three children, Martin, age 6, Lloyd age 4, and
Mary M., all of ten months old.
 |
| 1860 U.S. Census Franklin, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9BSC-9QNC?i=7&cc=1473181&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMX5M-L3G |
In 1870 we find them in Snyder Township, Blair County, Pennsylvania, USA. It would seem that James and his family traveled around following the work in the iron forges.
 |
| 1870 U.S. Census Snyder, Blair, Pennsylvania https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-D4BC-X8Z?i=19&cc=1438024&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMZLG-DJX |
Henry McCauley is no longer with them. Seeing as to how he was 80 years old in the
1860 census, I have to think he had passed away. He may be with a different family member, but
I haven’t researched that yet.
The ages for the family from the previous census are
correct, and now we have Samuel (my great grandfather) age 8, Susan, 7,
Catherine, 5, Thomas, 3, and Hiram, 2. There’s
that (great) Uncle Hiram! Martin and Lloyd are
now listed as laborers. Everyone in the
family, even those too young, say they can read and write. And everyone states they were born in
Pennsylvania.
Interestingly, there is a tick mark, maybe a stray mark but
I don’t think so, for James in the column (number 20 – see below) for “Male
Citizens of the U.S. of 21 years of age and upwards where rights to vote is
denied on other grounds than rebellion or other crime”.
From the census website:
“… It
is a matter of more delicacy to obtain the information required by column
20. Many persons never try to
vote, and therefore do not know whether their right to vote is or is
not abridged. It is not only those whose
votes have actually been challenged, and refused at the polls
for some disability or want of qualification, who must be reported in
this column; but all who come within the scope of any State law denying or
abridging suffrage to any class or individual on any other ground than the participation
in rebellion, or legal conviction of crime. Assistant marshals, therefore, will
be required carefully to study the laws of their own States in these
respects, and to satisfy themselves, in the case of each male citizen of
the United States above the age of 21 years, whether he does not,
come within one of these classes.” https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/technical-documentation/questionnaires/1870/1870-instructions.html
So just what did great-great granddad James do to lose his
right to vote? I have no idea, but that’s
going on my research to-do list!
On to 1880, the last known record I have for James. In this census, they are in Boggs Township,
Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA. Most
of the family stayed in or near to Centre County for some time after this
census. The official date was,
as always, 1 June. This family was
counted just six days later 7 June. The
only children left at home are Samuel, Catherine, and Hiram. Samuel is now listed as a foreman, as is his
father. Ann Elizabeth is a housekeeper
(a very underappreciated profession). In
this census, we see that not only were all the listed folks born in
Pennsylvania, so were James and Ann’s parents. James claims to have been out of work for 3
months during the census year.
 |
| 1880 U.S. Census Centre, Boggs, Pennsylvania https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBG-94SC?i=6&cc=1417683&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMWXN-4KW |
Martin, Mary, Susan, and Thomas are not found in this
census, and frankly, I completely lose track of them after the 1870 census. I can find a Martin Campbell in the basic
area, but his death certificate has different parents. There is also a Sara Catherine Campbell with
a J.R. Campbell as a father on her death certificate. Further research shows this to be a James Ray
Campbell and his wife Ann Story. So
that’s not a match. In fact, with the
help of an atDNA match, I now have my Catherine (AKA Kate) married to a James
Heverly.
Most of the 1890 census was lost in a fire. Fortunately for me, Centre County used the
1890 census as a basis for a business directory, the “1890 Centre County,
Pennsylvania Business Directory”. It not
only served as business directory, but it also listed citizens as well. Using this “Centre Lines” publication, I find
the family in several places. In
Milesburg is Anna E. with Catherine S., and Hiram J., age 22. They only give ages for men in this
publication.
 |
| 1890 Centre Lines Publication Showing Campbell family, but no James |
Samuel (as S.W.) is in Boggs Township with his family, wife Eleanor Adaline (as Ada E.), Herbert (my grandfather – as H.J.) age 6, and Florence I. Also in Boggs is Samuel’s brother Lloyd with his family, wife Ellen, daughters Arrie B. and Clara, and son Harry.
 |
| 1890 Centre Lines Publication Showing Samuel and Lloyd's families |
Find A Grave for Anna Campbell number 33462815. The picture on Find A Grave does not have her
headstone but it is with the granddaughter Clara Campbell who married David Paterson.
Clara is the daughter of Lloyd Campbell
and Ellen Jane Bair as shown in “Centre Lines” as noted above. This
is in the McKeesport in Versailles Cemetery in McKeesport, Allegheny,
Pennsylvania. There are many other
Campbell relatives in this Cemetery.
That’s a lot of words just to say that I have a good handle
on James between June 1850 and June 1880.
But that’s all I have! I have tax
records for Huntingdon County for the 1840s that list James Campbell. I asked the Huntingdon County Historical
Society what they could find for me with just a name a possible year of
birth. Not surprisingly, not much turned
up. They could find no record of a
birth, marriage, or death for any James Campbell. They did find the tax records I mentioned for
a James Campbell, but it’s not enough for me say it’s the correct James Campbell. It is a rather common name, after all.
“In 1849, Jacob and Richard
Campbell appear. There is also an
Alexander Campbell listed. This is the
first year that James Campbell appears in the listing. He is listed as a single freeman and is
charged an occupation tax and he owned a cow. By 1850 James Campbell is listed with the
regular taxable men. This means that he
was married and had his own household. James
Campbell is listed in the tax records yearly through 1854, the last year for
which we have digitized records.”
(Letter from the society dated January 2020)
Other than the cow this kind of fits. If he was listed with the regular taxable men
in 1850, then his marriage would have been before then. And if Ann Eliza listed in the 1850 census is
8 months old, then the marriage would have been probably during 1849, maybe as
early as 1848. However, I have this family in Antis Township,
Blair County by the 1850 census. So, is
the James listed in the 1850 tax record the same as the James in the 1850
census? The family really did move.
This tax record also lists several gentlemen named James or
Jacob that may be his father. A possible
sister to James, Henrietta has Jacob Campbell and Sue Lambert as her parents.
My current “best scenario” (with reservations) is that the
Jacob listed in 1849 tax records match with the Richard in the same report and
the Henrietta shown on the death certificate. That gives me James or Jacob Campbell and
Susanna Lambert as my 3x great grandparents.
Fifteen years to get those names.
Using DNA matches from several sites, I now have a very good
idea of great-great grandfather James’ (c. 1827 – aft. 1890), family. Obviously, these are not set in stone. But I do have the hammer and chisel
ready!
For this family, I have James/Jacob as the father and Susanna
Lambert as the mother. I am calling it
95% sure.
The children in birth order;
Mary Ann 1818 – 1905 married George Gillam
Charles 1820 - ?
Jacob 1824 – 1862 (is this the father listed on
Henrietta’s death certificate? I can
find a Jacob Campbell with the correct age an American Civil War casualty,
buried in Annapolis, MD. No other records located.)
Richard 1825 – 1902 married Francis Sharp
James c. 1827 – aft. 1890 (middle name may be
Richard) – married 1st Margaret Jane McCauley, 2nd Ann
Elizabeth McCauley
Robert Martin 1835 – 1902 married Martha Harpst
(or Harpts) Robert & Gilbert may be twins.
Gilbert L. 1835 – 1908 married Nancy Moore
Henrietta 1837 – 1923 married Thomas Barnes
Possible census records for this family:
Mary Ann – 2
Charles – maybe infant?
 |
| 1820 U.S. Census Franklin, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYY1-6FB?i=1&cc=1803955&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXHGX-9JP |
Free White Males
16
– 25: 1 (Jacob/James (25))
Free White Females
Under
10: 3 (Mary Ann (2) +2 unknows)
26
– 44: 1 (Susanna (21?))
Manufactures: 1
(Iron Worker?)
Total All Persons: 5
Does not account for Charles (may not have been born).
1830 – Ages (approx.) (James/Jacob, 35 – Susanna, 31)
Mary
Ann – 12
Charles
– 10
Jacob
– 6
Richard
– 5
James
– 3
 |
| 1830 U.S. Census Franklin, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YYG-23V?i=6&cc=1803958&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXHPW-PXQ |
Under 5: 1 (James (3))
5 – 9: 3 (Charles (9/10), Jacob (6), Richard (5))
30 – 39: 1 (James/Jacob)
Free White Females
10 – 14: 2 (Mary Ann (12))
30 – 39: 1 (Susanna)
Total All Persons: 8
Mary Ann – 22
Charles – 20
Richard – 15
James – 13
Robert Martin & Gilbert – 5
Henrietta – 3
 |
| 1840 U.S. Census Franklin, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YYD-GBB?i=4&cc=1786457&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXHTB-98C (as Mrs. Campbelle – Believe James/Jacob is deceased) |
Free White Males
Under 5: 2 (Robert Martin & Charles (5 – twins))
10 – 14: 2 (James 13)
15 – 19: 2 (Charles (19/20), Jacob (16), Richard (15))
Free White Females
Under 5: 1 (Henrietta (3))
5 – 9: 1 (Unknown)
20 – 29: 2 (Mary Ann (22) + 1 unknown)
40 – 49: 1 (Susanna (41))
Total Persons: 11
I still do have one possible couple to research. One of my DNA matches shows a James Richard Campbell,
Sr. in place of James/Jacob, which would make great-great granddad James
Richard Campbell, Jr. He also has John
Campbell and Jean Ralston for his parents.
As of now, I have not found any way to link these folks together. But I haven’t given up.
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. Well, at least for now. At this pace, I’d say check back in a couple
of years to see who else I can eliminate from this search.
I hope you enjoyed my little story. Please pass along a link to anyone you might
know which Campbell family in Pennsylvania.
I’d love to find some new cousins.
You can also find me on Twitter from the link below. My FaceBook and Instagram are there as well,
but I don’t use them all that much.
Please leave comments on my research. Preferably how great a job I'm doing, but also any mistakes you see I've made. Suggestions are always welcome as well.
Here’s a quick view of the folks in this post.
PUT TREE HERE??
Peace,
B
