Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-07-04
An Old citizen GONE to His Rest.

Mr. John W. Campbell, one Of the oldest and
most distinguished citizens of jackson, died at
his residence in the suburbs of the city on
Tuesday last. With his death one Of the last
links in the golden chain that unites jackson
now, with Jackson past, is severed. His death
WAS sudden, and but n few days before the last
sad hour, he was well aRd boastlul Of his
health. lie was born on the lst day of Nav,
I599, at Lexington, kentucky. While an in
FAINT his parents moved 10 the Green River
country and settled at Greenvilfe, Christian
county, Ky. He received his aeademical edu-
cation at HopkinsyilR KY, aud graduated at
Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
While 1t college he was associated with the
late DIR. Holmes, DR.. Mccullough, DF. John c.
Terry, Bishop McCrosky and Others who, in
their day were distinguished as scholars aud
-diyines. At college he took a highsposition as
M accurate scholar, paFticularIs in the DC
.partmeHt Of languages and belles-lcttrcS, the
study-of which he kept up during his whole
-itfc. Before he had Completed bis collegiate
course his father mased 10 Nashville, to which
place he returned and commenced the study Of
law. In lS27 he married Miss Jane E Porter
daughter OF the late Alexander Porter one of
the earliest citizens of Nashville. BY this mar.
riayC he had ten children, four of whom still,
survive him.
Afler the Legislature hal chartered the
Union Bank it was difficult TO procure the ser
vices Of persons OF experiences rs bank officers.
and rs he, N the early age Of nineteen, had
been placed in charge OF bank in kentucky,
he was induced TO abandon his profession and
take charge Of the Branch of the Union Bank
at Jackson. He arrived in jackson on the 9Th
day of July, lsS3, when the Bank was organ
g., rT,.. 1.r,
and John W. Campbellas cashier. His famt
ly moved to jackson in November, 1855. In
1873 he attached himself to the Presbyterian
Church, and soon afterwards was elected one
Of the Elders, position he continued TO hold
up to his death.
He never took an active part in politics. al
ways preferring the secIusion of private life
nd the compaRionship of his books TO the
wrangle aud strife of public career, but was
always a Jealous, unhiDching Democrat of the
Jeherssnian school. One remarkable trait in
his character was that he was never known to
abandon cause or desert a friend. Whatever
the world might say of his friend, il he beIiey-
ed him honest and true he would stand by him
20 the very last. No anecdOte could more fully
illustrate his character than this shortly after
the Federal occupation OF Jackson the Yankee
soldiers commenced making depredations upon
him. In the space of a few hours they burned
houses, barns, mills and fencing on his planta-
tion worth thousands Of dollars, drove on his
horses, mules and cattle, entered his smoke
house and stripped it Of everything, until there
was not provisions enough left on the place to
feed tbs family, white and black, for twenty
four hears. He looksd on Al witnessed all
this destruction of property without uttering
one word OF complaint or soliciting any tx
emptiOns from the vandalism until some Of
them went TO a lot where he kept an old horse
y years old and had been his favorite riding
horse for many years. In the lot was a stable
with provender provided especially for his old
horse. They had taken nearly all the proven
der ont Of the stable when he went 10 them and
requested that they would leave enough TO feed
the horse until he could procure more. IN
willing TO ask anything Tor himself, he made
this concession for his old horse, but was in
dignantly refused. As two Of the soldiers came
out of the stable with the last sack of corn he
me; them At the door and with a stout hickory