Campbell, Mrs. C. W.

Mrs. C. W. Campbell

Mrs. C. W. Campbell was a member of the Newton Public Library board of trustees from 1896 to 1912.[1] Margaret Elizabeth Campbell was born in Blairsville, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, on December 27, 1848[2], the daughter of James and Marg (Stouffer) Skiles.[3] In about 1853, she moved with her family to Muscatine, Iowa.[4] Her father taught school during the winters; reading was a favorite recreation of the family.[5] In her late teens, Margaret, known as Maggie, entered Rockford College, in Rockford, Illinois, where she studied for one year.[6] Later she completed a course of study at Grandview Academy in Louisa County, Iowa.[7] She was married to Culver Woodburn Campbell (1843-1925), a farmer, on December 29, 1870, in Muscatine.[8] They came to Newton in 1886 from Muscatine.[9] At that time they moved into the house which became Mrs. Campbell’s home for 59 years.[10] The Campbells were the parents of ten children.[11] Even with her large family, Mrs. Campbell found time to contribute actively to the Newton community.[12] A member of the Presbyterian Church since February 19, 1887[13], she served as president of the Ladies Aid for ten years.[14] In addition to her service on the Library board, she was a member of the Social Union and the Monday History Club.[15] She was the 173rd member of the Newton Daily News’ Three Quarter Century Club of Jasper County.[16] Mrs. Campbell died November 3, 1945.[17] She had been bedfast for several years.[18] Burial was in Newton Union Cemetery.[19]

-Larry Ray Hurto

 

[1] 1896-1957 Library Trustees, Newton Public Library History. https://cdm16179.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16179coll1/search/searchterm/library%20trustees/field/subjec/mode/exact/conn/and/order/title/ad/asc.

[2] The Newton Daily News, January 2, 1933.

[3] Iowa, U.S., State Census Collection, 1836-1925 for Margarett E Campbell.

[4] The Newton Daily News, November 8, 1945.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid., March 25, 1925.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Ibid., November 8, 1945. In 1886, this was an acreage on what was then known as Greencastle Road. It later became 1005 N. 4th Ave. W. In Newton, C. W. Campbell gave up farming except for the care of his gardens and orchard, and was engaged in the business of lending money. Ibid., March 25, 1925.

[11] Ibid., November 8, 1945. They were Frank Howard Campbell (1871-1939), Lucy Iowa Campbell (1872-1974), Wilson Lee Campbell (1874-1921), Clare Alena McCusker (1876-1959), Grace Campbell (1880-1944), Campbell Foster Campbell (1883-1977), Maud Campbell (1886-1947), George Skiles Campbell (1887-1944), Ruth Campbell (1892-1984), and Mary Margaret Campbell, who died in infancy.

[12] Ibid.

[13] A History of First Presbyterian Church, Newton, Iowa, 1855-1955. At the time of her death, Mrs. Campbell was one of the oldest members of the church and was the oldest member in point of years.

[14] The Newton Daily News, November 8, 1945.

[15] Ibid.

[16] Ibid., January 2, 1933.

[17] Margaret Elizabeth Campbell in the U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current.

[18] The Newton Daily News, November 3, 1945.

[19] Jasper County Genealogical Society, comp., Jasper County, Iowa, Cemeteries: Newton Union Cemetery, Blocks 13, 14, and 15 (Des Moines: Iowa Genealogical Society, 1994), p. 551.