My Genealogy Hound

LEAVITT CAMFIELD, a self-made man, an energetic citizen, upright and industrious, was for a number of years closely identified with the growth and improvement of Berrien County, Mich. Our subject, a native of Ontario, Canada, was born in 1835. His father, Rev. Ziba Camfield, was a prominent Baptist minister of the Dominion, and was one of the earnest Christian workers of his day. Guided by excellent influence and trained to the habits of useful thrift and self-reliance, Mr. Camfield attained to a vigorous and enterprising manhood. He received a good common-school education, and in after years constantly added to his knowledge by intelligent observation and reading. A man of advanced ideas and interested in the subject of reforms, he was an ardent advocate of temperance, and while residing in Canada often lectured upon that subject.

In 1858, Mr. Camfield was married to Miss Carrie Omstead, daughter of Harvey Omstead, a native of Canada. Unto the husband and estimable wife was born a family of five children, one son and four daughters. Elva became the wife of Byron Drake, a leading citizen of the county; Cynthia is the wife of Gale Handy, who is a successful agriculturist of the county; Mary is the wife of Frank Brown, a prominent young farmer of Berrien County; Martha died in infancy; Bradford A., the only son, after a thorough preparatory course of study, entered the Bennett Medical College at Chicago, and graduating from that institution remained in the Garden City engaged in practice with Dr. Henry Olin. Later, Dr. Camfield made a specialty of the eye and ear, and graduated from a celebrated institution devoted especially to the study of those organs. He has achieved marked success in his practice and is widely known and highly esteemed as a physician and citizen,

In the spring of 1865, our subject located permanently in Michigan, working for two years at his trade of a mechanic in St. Joseph. At the expiration of that time he began the cultivation of a farm of thirty acres, which he brought up to a high state of productiveness and improved with substantial and commodious buildings. Mr. Camfield died in 1874, regretted by a large acquaintance and mourned deeply by his friends and family. The wife, to whom was left the care and responsibility of rearing and educating the children, has enjoyed the satisfaction of seeing them grow up to an intelligent and honored manhood and womanhood. Mr. Camfield was in many respects an exceptional man. Devoted to the betterment of his fellow-creatures, he was a valued member of the Good Templars of Canada, and throughout his life exerted his influence for the real good and advancement of others. He was politically a Republican and took an earnest interest in the management of local and national affairs.

Mr. and Mrs. Camfield, both from early years members of the Baptist Church, were ever foremost in the promotion of its social and benevolent work. The parents of Mrs. Camfield yet survive and reside in Canada. Surrounded by her children the widow of our subject spends her busy days, and in the retrospect of her well-spent life may view with unalloyed satisfaction the successful termination of her struggles to rear to positions of usefulness and influence the son and daughters intrusted to her faithful care.