Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-06-18

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thought they could see.
Mr.. Campbell was born about one
and-a- half miles south OF the spot
on which stands Bethel store, on Au-
gust 26, 1929. Of his early life THE
ENQUIRER has but little information,
further than that his principal occu :
patton was farming.
At the breaking out Of the war,
Mr.. Campbell was member of one OF
the first companies to leave this coun-
ty for the front. His company, in
which he was first lieutenant, was
commanded by the late Captain r. H.
Glenn, and was afterward known as
Company H of the 18th Regiment of
South Carolina Volunteers.
Of Mr.. Campbell's record as a SOL
dier a great deal might be said but
it is not the purpose of this article to
go into details. His comrades say
that he was brave, efficient and deter
mined. Often his company was in
dangerous situations, and on each oc-
casion he was where his duty placed
him-at the head of his men. The
last sight that met bis eyes on earth
was the charging foe. While leading
his men at the battle of Boonsboro,
Md, with his face and footsteps to the
enemy, Federal bullet passed through
his head just behind his eyes, failing
only by what has since seemed mir
acle, to kill him but at the same time
destroying his sight forever.
After the war, though seriously
handicapped by his blindness with
very little property and family to
support, Mr.. Campbell bravely set to
work to make a living. Notwith-
standing. his terrible affliction be was
not accustomed to complain. AS he
recovered from the immediate effects
of his wound he learned to utilize the
sense of touch as the best substitute
for his lost eyesight, and being endow-
ed with tremendous physical strength,
devoted himself principally to manual
labor. For 15 years or more he was
in charge Of the railroad pumping sta
ton at Clover, and every employe of
the line knew his station as the most
reliable on the whole road.
When not otherwise employed, the
old gentleman used to divert himself
by shaping various articles from wood
with his pocket knife. Many Of these
articles gave evidence not only of great
patience, but much ingenuity, and the
old gentleman took pleasure in selling
them to those who wished to buy, and
in giving them to his friends.
When not otherwise employed, Mr..
Campbell delighted to talk to visitors
and listen to the reading of the news
papers. He kept we'll informed as to
the current events, and especially had
his own notions as to the fitness of
the various candidates for county Of
fees. For years the candidates have
recognized that when in the vicinity
of Glover, they must not fail to Call on
"Blind Sam" Campbell. In. fact the
Glover people always insisted upon it..
They appreciated the fact that it gave
the old gentleman pleasure, and what
they could contribute to this they usu-
ally did. But his special delight was
in young people, and here the pleasure
of association was mutual, for on &C
count of the charteristics referred to,
there were few who could not learn
valuable lessons from the well-inform-
ed, patient, philosophic, physically
blind old Christian.
Mr.. Campbell's wife was sister Of
Mr.. J. F. Wallace, of Yorkville. She
died several years ago. Four children
were born to them-two sons and two
daughters. One daughter is the wife
of Mr.. Emmett Walker and the other
of Mr.. Martin Matthews. The sons
DR.. James w. and Mr.. Isaac Camp
bell-are twins, and are both highly
esteemed citizens of Clover.
Mr.. Campbell was member of Clo-
yer Presbyterian church and also be-
longed to Philanthropic Lodge, A. F.
NJ, of Yorkvile. He was buried at
Glover, yesterday morning, at II
o'clock a. M, with Masonic honors.
LOCAL LACONICS.
The Executive Committee.