The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-09-07
VIRGINIA. ! HISTORIAN

,
"a VIRGINIA. HIS T0RII'AE |'l
81 sKETeH or THE LIFE OF CHARLES CAMP
B BELL. sAUTHoR or x HISTORY VIZ IL
GINIh,s ao,-HH ANCEsTRY-HIs r UR e.
EARNEsT. AND DEVOTED LABoRs IN Be
HaLFoF EDUCATION AND LITERATURE
HIsINTIstATEs AND DISTINGUISHED CON
TEMpoRhRIEs-e oEoNfAE REmiN1s'
CEScEs-THE SOUTHERN LITERARY NEE
sENGER, IT'S EDITORS AND INFLUENCE.
3fessrs. Editors: Though some weeks
have elapsed since the death OF the distln-
FINISHED subject of the following sketch, ye!
~ the public were not then from want OF
the requisite data In the hands OF our Jour
na]ists1 favored with any extended account
Of his life, and as no more competent manu-
has since undertaken an office manllestiy 50
riphteously demanded, / have been leu,
through q consideration OF duty, to essay my
humble abilities in such pious TRIBUTE; 1
am confident Of your willingness TO ala III
disseminating among our citizens more
definite knowledge Of the career OF usetuI-
ness OF one to whom they were so greatiy
indebted: but when I inform you that our
dictionaries of American biography 1or Tue
,compilation OF which we have ever Deen
dependcnt upon authors OF other imam Oh
southern birth) are not unanimous IN thelr
recognition Of his distinguished literary SER
vices, YOU will be the more DESTROYS OF pre-
senting information which will enable them
TO accord tardy Justice in future edltlons OF
their works, The Encyclopedia OF Amerl-
can Literature, edited by Messrs. +. A. ana
George L, Duyckink, New York, 1886, among
other notable omissions, failed to mention MI.
Campbell at all, and though their work met
with scathing review at the hands OF Mr.
r. w. Griswold, who arraiSned them 1or
manifold delinquencies, yet in reprint OF
the work issued with supplement in 1861
the errors in the body OF the work remain
without correction, whilst the supplement
only partially supplies grievous omissions;
Allibofe, in his wonderfully accurate ana
crudite Dictionary OF Authors, Phllaaei-
phia, edition of 1859, briefly mentions DIT.
Campbell, but the pretentious Encyclopadia
and the Biographical Dictionary bearing
the name of Appleton ignore MN entireiy,
whilst the Comprehensive Dictionary OF
American Biography, by Mr.. Francis S.
Drake. Boston. 1872, eDdeavors full EMU
meration of his literary productions. The
work OF Mr.. Drake is characterized by an
apparent desire for fairness of statement
throughout, and though not free from
errors, which it is to be hoped that its pains
taking editor will correct in future edt-
ton, is valuable work OF reference, whilst
ts:heapness places it within reach Of all.
Very truly yours,
r. A. BROCK.
Richmond, Va, September 4, 1876.
THE SKETCH.
Charles Campbell, son OF John Wilson
and Mildred Walker (Moore) Campbell, was
born at "Portcr Hill" Petersburg, Va,
Nav /, 1907. His father was native OF
Rockbridge county, and was descended from
that "Sc0tcll-IriSh" race whose patriotism
and sterling worth have so distinguished the
"Valley Of Virginia." lie was for series
of wears prominent bookseller of Peters
burg, and:was the author OF little Il mo.
vollmc-"A History OF Virginia." &c.
" PHILADELPHIA: Published by John w.
Campbell d NJ. Carey. 1871 1t was com
mon at the close OF the last and the begin
ming Of the present century for the book
sellers of Richmond, Petersburg, and Nor
folk to unite with some prominent pub
Usher of philadelphia, Baltimore, or New
York in the publication OF books, the inl-
print of which would contain the names OF
each firm 50 interested. A brother OF Mr..
Campbell, Samuel L. Campbell, married
Sarah, the sister of Rev. Archibald AleNan-
der, D. d.
THE MOTHER OF CHARLES CAMPBELL
was the granddaughter OF Anne katharine
daughter of Governor Alexander Spots
wood and Bernard Moore, OF "Chelsea,"
King William county, Va. Mrs. Campbell
still survives at the ripe age OF nlnety-one
years, and resides with her son, Alexander
S.. near Warrenton, Va. \ long and IN
teresting letter which lies before the writer,
giving particulars Of the career OF her dis
tinguished son, attests in the lrmness and
entire legibiity of its characters, the re-
markable preservation OF her. faculties.
Charles Campbell, after undergoing a pre-
naratory course in the school OF Peter Cooke,
q native OF Ireland and a graduate OF Trim
ity College, Dublin, entered in 1923 the
Sophomore class OF Princeton College. New
jersey, from whence he was graduated with
the first honors in 1925. lie was designated
to deliver the Greek Salutary Oh that
occasion. His name is enrolled among the
members of the Wing Society OF the college.
He next attended the law school OF Chancel-
lor Henry st. George Tucker at Winchester,
Va; was duly licensed, and entered upon
the practice OF the profession in his native
city. 1t is possible that the calling was one
not entirely congenial with his nature,
though he appears to have acquired re-
sDcctable knowledge Of its principles and
rules of practice. He did not continue long
thus fettcrcd. He was from childhood OF
delicate constitution, and whilst in attend
ancc, in feeble health, in October, 1920, upon
the sessions OF the famed Constitutional
Convention Of Virginia OF 1S29c30, he was
suddenly FRUSTRATED by an attack which rem
dercd him an invalid for Il year or more, and
from the effects OF which he never entirely
recovered.
HIS LEGAL CAREER
thus interrupted, was abandoned pelmi-
ncntly. His health finally somewhat i'm
proving, he was employed for time as an
engineer upon the Petersburg railroad, then
being constructed.
About the year 1885 he went to Alabama,
where he was engaged for a time in teach
ing private school. During this period,
whilst on a visit to Tennessee, he married
Miss Elvira Galloway, OF that State, who
died within a year, leaving issue SOIL
Callaway-now residing in Murray county,
Tenn, farmer, and unmarried. Mr..
Campbell married secondly, in 1850, Miss
Anna Birdsall, OF New Jersey, who is now
residing in Fredericksburg, Va, with their
children, two accomplished daughters,
Misses Mary Spotswood and Mamie, and a
son, Charles, youth of nineteen years.
Mr.. Campbell returned to Petersburg in
1887. He was now employed for several
years in the Office of his father, who held
the Federal appointment OF