The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-06-16
THE FOUNDER OF BETHANY.
Career of Alexander Campbell. Tho First
President Of tho Famous College.

Career of Alexander Campbell. Tho First
President Of tho Famous College.
Alexander Campbell was born in
County Antrim, Ireland, September u,
1888. His mother was the descendant
of French Huguenots, but his ancestors
on both sides emigrated from Scotland
to Ireland. In early life he was more
fond Of field sports and field work than
OF books, and in such pursuits laid the
foundation Of that iron constitution
which, in utter life, enabled him to per-
form with such ease and cheertulness3
the great mental labors that he imposed
upon himself,
His first lessons wore learned at an ell
ementary school in Market Hill, County
Armagh later he attended IN academy
in charge OF his two uncles at Newry;
and lastly, he was student 40 the Uni
versity Of Glasgow, Scotland. His pa
ternaf grandfather had died in the COM
munion of the Church of England, but
his father, Thomas Campbell, had unit
ed with the secession, or Antlburger
Presbyterian church, and it was under
its Jurisdiction that he came to Ameri-
ca, in 1907, and located near Washing
ton, Pa, WHITTIER he was followed by
Alexander in October of 1903.
The biography OF Alexander Campbell
is narrative of his labors for the restor-
alton OF primitive Christianity with the
union al Christians. So entirely, so
singly, with such answering applica..
ton did he consecrate his time and
talents to this cause, that, apart from
its already so we'll known details, there
is little left to say. His first effort at
public speaking was an elaboration be-
fore q small audience in private house
and following sermon by his father.
He was then twenty-four years old.
Shortly after this, in May, 1Sl0,o he
preached his first regular discourse, in
the little church at Brush Run, eight
miles south of Washington, Pa, the
first building owned by the Disciples.
A year later, March Il, 1911, he was
married to Margaret Brown. at her
fathers residence, still standing near
the present village OF Bethany, and now
owned by his youngest daughter, Mrs.
J.J. Barclaj. Shortly afterward his
father-in-law gave him the house and
farm, and here he made his homo for
the rest OF his life. In 1872 he was for
mally ordained to tho ministry. In 1878
he opened his own house school for
both sexes, known us the Buffalo acad-
envy. In 1927 his first wife died, and in
1925 he was married to Selma II. Bake
we'll. In 1880 he was delegate TO the
Virginia convention for amending tile
State Constitution. He served here in
what has been called 1.-THE most august
Virginia Assembly OF this century" and
when he preached, us he did from time
to time in the First Baptist church,
many of the first intelleCts of the day
were his eager and fascinated hearers:
The year lS4l saw the founding OF
Bethany College.
The life OF Alexander Campbell was
filed with arduous and varied labors.
He taught he Travelled, he preached at
home and abroad; he wrote early and
late; he debated in private and in pub
lie before vast audiences; with the rep
rosentative men OF the day in behalf OF
O simple faith against tho strongholds
OF creeds, in behalf OF the Protestant
world against Romanism, in behalf OF
universal Christianity against lnfdel-
ity; putting the civilized world under a
debt that to-day it is slowly recognizing.
In stature he was tall, and to tho last
his bearing was majestic. He died in
1850, at the age OF eighty. The noble
cheerfulness OF disposition that had
been the witness Of 0 perfect tatth IN