The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1904-02-06
LAND OFFICE RENDERS DECI.
SION IN HIS FAVOR.
is Well known in Bemidji and
Story Of His Early Life is
Interesting.

bell, has attracted considerable
attention, and brought many con.
gratulatory comments from those
who have met Campbell and be
come acquainted with the unusual
events of his early life.
Fragments Of thehistory of this
quaint, backwoods character,
which, patched together, make a
| fantastic tale, are now being re-
lated by those who are acquainted
with him and his hermit manner
of existence. Living as he does
at the big falls on the Big Fork
river, directly in the path of the
traveller through the northern
wilds, his tall, slightly bent form,
piercing eyes, peculiarly shaped
nose and heavy head of bushy
black hair are known to many.
Although 20 years old, Camp
bell has scarcely a gray hair in
his head, in spite Of the trou bles
of his early manhood, and he is
stronger than many a younger
man who has lived a city life.
Living for the past twenty 1.-TWO
years the wild, free life Of the
woods has kept his health in an
excellent state Of preservation.
But this same life has affected
him otherwise. The loneliness
of the great forests has given
him many peculiar traits, for he
lived entirely alone, scarcely ever
seeing white man until five or
six years ago, and visiting town
only about once year.
It is rather difficult to gather
connected story Of the events
leading up to Campbell's life Of
solitude, for the old hunter and
trapper never speaks Of them
himself. When the curious try
to lead him on, he Immediately
becomes morose and taciturn,
and scarcely a word can be gotten
from him for hours at time.
When the subject is mentioned q
revengeful CLEAN shines from his
eyes.
It is said to have been the
trickery ola brother that brought
.Old Dam to the woods of
Northern Minnesota. Dan, so
the story goes, was associated
with the brother in big lumber-
ing ventures when both were
comparatively young men, and
Dan was reputed to be wealthy.
He was then, as now, entirely
without education, however, and
was forced to entrust the hand
ling of the business ohis brother,
with the better educational
knowledge. The brother took
advantage Of Dams ignorance in
this line, it is said, and by trick
ery obtained possession of the
business Of the firm and all the
llatter's money, afterwards turn
ling his brother out in the world
4 to Shift for himself and make a
new start in life.
| Bitter in heart and in despair
lover the brutal tres tment accerd-
ed him by his rascal brother, Dan
gave up all hope of winning sue
cess in the world, and, buying a
small trapper's outfit, a couple
of blankets, a few provisions, an
ak and a gun, he buried himself
in the forests. He built his cabin
where it stands today at Big
. Falls. That was nearly twenty
] five years ago. For years moth
/ ing was heard of him, and his
people thought him dead. And
all this time he has lived alone,
except for a brief period when he
had an Indian squaw for a wife.
In the course of time, as the
country began to settle up, his
claim became valuable. His ig
nerance of land laws was taken
advantage of and his title to the
property was contested. After
a two years fight in the courts
the battle has been won, and Oh
Dan will die rich, for his land
will steadily increase in value as
the country settles up and the
railroad draws near. The Min
nesota & international railway
will cross his land, which i'm med
lately adjoins the plated town
lsite of Big Falls.