James Campbell, Esq., justice of the peace and formerly
police magistrate of Virden, Macoupin County, and one of the city's
venerable and most highly esteemed citizens, was born June 7, 1821, in New
Jersey. He is a son of Charles Muir and Agnes (Schenck) Campbell, the former
of whom was born in Scotland, of Scotch parents. The mother was of Dutch
ancestry.
Our subject received a good, common school education, the
best the time and locality afforded, and his father taught him his own
trade, that of coach and harness making. This he followed until 1840, when
he sought a home in the fertile farming lands of the West, locating in
Jersey County Illinois. There he engaged in farming until 1854 and then
moved to Sangamon County, where he continued to farm until 1873, when he
settled at Virden. Here he became one of the enterprising citizens and was
soon elected police magistrate, a position he filled with much credit to
himself and benefit to the city. For the past 15 years he has filled the
office of justice of the peace at Virden, bringing to it dignity, experience
and judgment, and his impartial decisions have gained him the respect and
esteem of his fellow citizens. Despite the weight of 82 years, his eye is
bright, his brain alert, his perceptions as quick as those of a man many
years his junior. Mr. Campbell is a great lover of music.
In 1841
Mr. Campbell married Catherine Whitlock who died in 1873, a few months after
the family located at Virden. To this union were born 10 children, all of
whom still survive, as follows: Charles W.; Jennetta A., widow of George E.
Warwick; Edward A.; James; Margaret C., widow of Daniel H. Warwick; John
Morgan; Agnes S.; Catherine M.; Ferdinand S.; and Mary Caroline, wife of
John Beasley. He also has 27 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, all
of whom regard him with the deepest respect and affection. In politics he is
identified with the Democratic party.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 543-544.
Macoupin County ILGenWeb Copyright
Design by
Templates in Time
This page was last updated
07/01/2022