My Genealogy Hound

Joseph Campbell, one of the large land owners and substantial citizens of Oakland County, residing on a large farm in sections 8 and 9, Waterford township, was born in Chesterfield, Macomb County, Michigan, August 28, 1832. He is a son of Zephaniah Campbell, and a grandson of John Campbell.

At a very early day John Campbell, who was a native of Scotland, settled in Cayuga County, New York, where he reared a family of nine children, one of these being the father of our subject. Zephaniah Campbell was born in Cayuga County, New York, and from there came as one of the early pioneers to Michigan. In 1825 he took up 160 acres of government land, in Macomb County, Michigan, made a clearing of 40 acres of it, and then sold advantageously, buying from the proceeds 140 acres in the same vicinity. Mr. Campbell was a hardy, sturdy man, industrious and provident, and for 15 years lived in a log cabin in the wilderness without sighing for the loss or lack of modern conveniences. He was a careful farmer, and while he did not cultivate an extensive farm he had the thrift to make all his operations successful. When he retired he gave his sons the farm, and died in 1880, in Ionia County, Michigan, aged 84 years. His political sentiments were in accord with the Whig, and later the Republican party.

Our subject is one of a family of nine children, only four of whom reached maturity, and the only other survivor being Alexander, a farmer of Ionia County, Michigan. He grew up in Macomb County, and in 1855 made the trip to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama on the “George Law” which consumed two months on the voyage. After three months of mining, he returned and resided in Macomb County until 1883, when he came to Oakland County and secured his farm of 165 acres in Waterford township. He owns much land in other localities, and is regarded as the wealthiest man in Waterford township. Mr. Campbell thoroughly understands farming and stock raising, and intelligently devotes his time to agriculture with most satisfactory results.

Mr. Campbell was married first to Agnes Crittenden, who was born in Macomb County, Michigan, where she died October 7, 1877, at the age of 40 years. The four children of this marriage were: Cora A., who is living at home; Irwin and Edwin (twins), the former a stenographer in Detroit, with two children, Helen and Mildred, and the latter a farmer in Waterford township, with five children, — Irwin G., Agnes, Hazel, Ruth A. and Irma A.; and Carrie (Pool), of Independence township. In 1880 Mr. Campbell was married to Elizabeth Jones, who was born in Waterford township, Oakland County.

Mr. Campbell has always been identified with the Republican party, and during the Civil War supported the administration. In 1863 he was drafted and paid a substitute the sum of $350 to take his place, his affairs being such that he could not leave. Mr. Campbell is well known in Oakland County, and is generally considered one of its leading capitalists. He is a man of the most excellent business judgment, and possesses, with his Scotch name, the thrift and integrity of the fine old stock from which he came.