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Below is a family biography included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published by Biographical Publishing Co. in 1894.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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GEORGE H. CAMPBELL, a well known citizen of Sparta, who since 1881 has been one of the editors and proprietors of the Sparta Plain Dealer, is a representative of an old family of this community. His grandfather, Abel Campbell, was born in Mansfield, Conn., and his wife in Norwich, Conn. He was of Scotch-Irish lineage, and was descended from one who served as a soldier under Charles the Pretender, and after the battle of Culloden, fled to Ireland, where he married, and then emigrated to America.

Lewis H. Campbell, father of our subject, was the sixth in a family of eight children, and was born in Middlebury, Vt., in 1818. At the age of twenty-five he went to Troy, N. Y., where he worked in the car factory of Eaton, Gilbert & Co. In 1846, he, emigrated to St. Louis, where he engaged in painting, and in 1858 came to Sparta, but in 1879 again returned to St. Louis, where he now makes his home. In politics he is a Republican, and he has served as Justice of the Peace in this county. He is a faithful member and active worker in the Baptist Church.

In Albany, N. Y., Mr. Campbell wedded Mary Scott, a native of that city, and a daughter of Marshall Scott. Her grandfather was Uriah Scott, of Sharon, Conn., and there her father was born. When a young man, he went to Albany, and there married Maria, daughter of Leonard Lewis. She died of cholera in 1832, leaving Mrs. Campbell, then a babe of two years. The parents of our subject had a family of five children. Lewis F., the eldest, now of St. Louis, wedded Mary Gorsuch, of Sparta, daughter of Dr. Gorsuch, a druggist and physician of this place. They have one child, Frank. Charles M., who is business manager for the Word & Works Publishing Company of St. Louis, married Clara Morrow, and they have two children.

Our subject started out in life for. himself at the age of fifteen, beginning work as a printer in Monmouth, Ill. Since that time he has been identified with newspaper work. In 1881, he became connected with the Sparta Plain Dealer, in company with Don E. Detrich, and is now a member of the firm of Campbell & Smith, editors and proprietors of that paper. This is a well conducted sheet and receives from the public a liberal patronage.

Mrs. Campbell bore the maiden name of Marian Crawford. She was born in this county, and is a daughter of Bryce Crawford, who now resides in Sparta. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have one child, Grace. They are members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics, he is a Republican, and has served as a member of the City Council. Socially he is a Master Mason, and belongs to Hope Lodge No. 162, A. F. & A. M.

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This family biography is one of 679 biographies included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published in 1894.  View the complete description here: The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois

View additional Randolph County, Illinois family biographies here: Randolph County, Illinois Biographies

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