The last week of March holds one of those family date convergences that make one wonder. Between the 26th and the 31st, I have four birthdays in one family covering three generations. And if you go back to the 10th of March I can add two more folks and another generation. In calendar date order I give you;
My great-grandfather - Samuel W. Campbell. Great-grandad Samuel was born 26 March 1861 and died 8 February 1861. His obituary states he spent most of his life in Boggs Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.
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| Samuel W. Campbell's Obit - 15 Feb 1924, The Democratic Watchman |
Next on our list is Samuel's daughter-in-law, Josephine (Josie) Melinda Bodle. Regular readers will know Josie as Nanny. She was born 27 March 1885 in either Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania (which is what I find in most records) or Romola, Pennsylvania according to my father's birth certificate.
I grew up with Nanny as part of our household. I joke that I'm more of a Bodle than a Campbell simply because of how much of an influence she was on me. She passed away 21 July 1975.
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| Josie Bodle at 17 |
Since I mentioned my dad, his birthday would be next. Donald Sherwood Campbell born 28 March 1912, died 19 February 1985. It is very interesting that dad's birth certificate doesn't have his given name. Only his middle and last names.
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| Don's birth certificate |
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| Josie and Don c. 1919 |
Now, let's complete this little family group with my grandfather, Josie's husband, and Don's dad; Herbert J. Campbell. Dear ol' granddad (not to be confused with 'Old Grandad' which is something completely different) was born in Milesbugh, Centre County, Pennsylvania on 31 March 1884 and succumbed to the "Spanish flu" on 5 February 1919. And just like his father, I have no idea what either of their middle initials stands for.
Herbert in 1905. Love the hat!
Let's move back a bit in March. On 10 March 1860 Nanny's mother, Elizabeth Eve Chapman was born, and on 15 March 1831, Samuel's mother, Ann Elizabeth McCauley was born. That is an amazing couple of weeks. Sadly, Ann McCauley died about 1891 so she would have not been able to celebrate her grandson Don's birthday. But between Don's birthday in 1912 and Herbert's death in 1919, there could have been a big celebration with Samuel, Herbert, Don, Josie, and Elizabeth all together. What a party that would be!
This year would mark Samuel's 161st anniversary, Josie's 137th, Don's 110th, Herbert's 138th, Elizabeth Eve's 162nd, and Ann Elizabeth's 191st.
Hope you enjoyed this trip down birthday memory lane!
Peace,
B
