The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-11-21
4 STRANGE CHARACTER.
Romance of Alexander Camp
bell in Pettis County Back
In the Sixties.

TcUIlS county Iids Iihu HcI shdic WI
them.
One is now before the writer. that
many in Sedalia will recognize.
At the outbreak of the war there
resided near Marshall, Illinois, a
family named Campbell.
They we're of Scotch descent, and,
of course, good people.
The CampbelIs were farmers.
When the call was made for v0lun-
teers in 1861, the eldest son of the
family. Alexander Campbell, volun-
teered in Colonel Mulligan's regiment
the calvary branch of the army SER
yice-and the regiment was sent to
Missouri
The regiment came to Sedalia
1t was possibly 1862 that the regl-
ment was ordered to Lexington TO
protect that place during one of the
many raids that were made into the
state.
In lis march to Lexington, ii camped
ON the farm of the late Reece Hughes.
where, near the town of Hughesville
now lies the farm owned by Colonel
G.. T.. Musick. Alexander Campbell
at that time was tail and exceed
ingly verdant specimen If humanity,
twenty years old. aS he was born in
1871.
The hero of this reminiscence adj
mired the farm of MIR. Hughes. The
beautiful. broad acres, Is fine sam
pie of landscape as ever the light OF
sun shone on, attracted his attention
and he declared that if ever he was
fortunate enough ID get out OF the
army and had money enough he would
come to Missouri and buy that farm.
The regiment marched to LeXing-
ton and there had an engagement and
a portion of the command was made
prisoners.
Alexander Campbell was among
the lot of hated yankees captured.
The Confederate forces could not
care for their prisoners, hence they
wee paroled not to take up arms
aoains. the Confederacy again unless
they were July exchanged !
t;,xapder Campbell and four Of
hi. comrades left and went to Mon.
tana, leaving their efi''er con ia
and paraphernalia of Sat ''"''''
them forever.
The FederalS were never eX-
changed.
In Montana they We're buried IN
the earth. mining for precious metals.
They were successful.
4 rich lead was struck and n one
said who knew, 1.-The gold nuggets
were brought into their tent daily by
the bucket full.
They mined Oh.
About the close of the war, possibly
in 1876. the mine was sold and the
five miners were wealthy.
In 1861 Alexander Campbell
landed in Sedalia with about 5000
600.
He had all these wears carried in
his mind the beautiful acres of Reece
Hughes farm, and. a> he thought,
they had enlarged and become more
beautiful. if such Il thing wa> pos
sible.
He deposited his gold in the First
National bank Of Sedalia and beat
his steps to the place he l"nged TO
own.
When he reached the farm the
long warming of years was partially
satisfied.
He lost no time in finding MIR.
Hughes and Intercepted him:
'.How many acres in your farm,
Mr.. Hughes ?"
Lone thousand replied the old
man as he took Whit at his pipe, he
being an inveterate smoker.
What do you ask for it, i'll
terrogated Campbell.
Forty dollars pc, acre, he re-
piled.
II will take it, said Campbell, and
his life wish was accomplished.
But" said Uncle Reece. "you will
have to give me time to dispose of the
stock, farming utensils and traps [
have before can give possession.
"What are they WORTH was
Campbell's prompt inquiry.
Ten thousand dollars WAS the
equally prompt reply of Hughes.
The two came to Sedalia and $780,
900 was transferred from the posses
sion of Alexander Campbell to that
of Reece Hughes, and deed to the
property was made and recorded, Civ
ing the title to Alexander Campbell.