My Genealogy Hound

HON. ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, M. D. (deceased). One of the most distinguished pioneers of Brown County was Hon. Alexander Campbell, the first physician of Ripley. He was born in Greenbrier County, Va., in 1774, and removed near Lexington, Ky., with his parents when a boy. He was a colleague with Henry Clay at Pisgah, nine miles southwest of Lexington. He read medicine and attended lectures in Lexington Medical College, while the distinguished Kentucky orator practiced law there. August 6, 1801, he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Dunlap. Soon after this event, he removed to Cynthiana, Ky., and practiced his profession two years; then, in 1803, he came to Brown County and located 300 acres of land in Union Township. He established a store and ran it in connection with his profession till 1815, when he removed to Ripley, then known as Staunton. Here he continued mercantile pursuits as one of the first merchants of Ripley, going to Philadelphia, Penn., on horseback, to purchase goods. He was Ripley’s first physician. In his profession he stood eminent, and established a wide and successful practice. At one time, he was tendered the Professorship of one of the most important branches of medicine in the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, but owing to his vast practice he declined. He was chosen a Representative and served in the Legislature when that body convened at Chillicothe. He was subsequently elected to the State Senate, and in that body he filled the office of speaker. In 1809, he was chosen United States Senator and did valuable service in that important capacity for four years. During his Congressional duties, as there were no railroads, he rode on horseback all the way to Washington, D. C. His labors in Congress were worthy and efficient, and highly merited the approbation of his constituents. He was Mayor of Ripley from 1838-40, where his death occurred November 5, 1857. He was a man of uncompromising anti-slavery principles, and their earnest defender and promoter. As a citizen he was loyal to the best interests of his city and county, and earnestly devoted to the high trusts with which the people had honored him. He died esteemed for his many noble traits of character and the purity and usefulness of his life. His son J. A. Campbell now owns and occupies a part of the old Campbell homestead. He was born in Ripley June 27, 1819. He studied medicine with his father and in 1850 learned telegraphy, which he followed for five years. In 1862, he located on his present farm, where he has since resided. In 1856, he was married to Frances, daughter of Elijah and Matilda Sniffin, and a native of Ripley, where she was born February 22, 1834. Three children were the fruits of this union — Matilda N., born January 11, 1858; Mollie N., born Oct. 31, 1859, and Thomas C., born May 18, 1861. Mr. Campbell was one of the organizers of the Ripley Fire Department and was engineer for twenty years. He was also connected with the Ripley Band for fifteen years.