JOHN CAMPBELL, D.
D. S., residing at Bloomington, is a native of
West Virginia, born in 1833. He is the son of Archibald and Susan
(Jones)
Campbell, natives of West Virginia, where the father followed the
calling of a
farmer. Nine children were born of the parental union, five of whom are
now
living. The subject of this notice was reared to the calling of a
farmer, and
lived with the old folk until he was twenty years old. His early
education was
received in the common schools, and supplemented by an academical
course at
Union, Monroe Co., W. Va. His preceptor was Rev. Samuel Houston, a
Presbyterian
clergyman. After leaving school our subject began the practice of
dentistry,
borrowing $50 wherewith to purchase his first case of dental
instruments.
Our subject continued
this profession until the breaking out of the late Civil War in 1861,
when he
enlisted in Co. F., 22d West Virginia Volunteers, as Lieutenant. He
resigned
his office during the first year of service, and while at home was
elected
Captain, and returning to the field of conflict continued in the
service until
the close of the war. He participated in the battle of Fisher Hill,
where he
received two wounds, one in the left shoulder and one in the left hip.
At the
battle of New Market he received a flesh wound in the foot. Here he was
ordered
to charge the pits of the enemy, and starting on a run, our subject at
the head
of his men soon fell into the pit himself, and that, too, right on top
of two
of the enemy. He immediately demanded their surrender, and they,
doubtless
thinking there were many more to assist him in their capture, there and
then
surrendered, although they were
afraid to stick their heads out of the pit. Mr. Campbell told them to
throw up
their hats and get out, and they did so.
After returning from
the war Mr. Campbell once more entered upon the peaceful pursuits of
life and
engaged in farming in West Virginia. This he continued for about one
year, and
March 18, 1800, we find him at Bloomington, Ill., with a cash capital
of
seventy-five cents in his pocket. He, however, had a large amount of
energy,
and was determined to succeed in the practice of his profession, and
engaged in
partnership with his cousin, Dr. J. M. Skaggs, at Danvers. This
relationship
continued for about eight months, at the expiration of which time Dr.
Campbell
opened an office at Leroy, and there practiced his profession until
1808.
During this time, however, he practiced three months of each year at
Concord,
Mo. During the years 1809-70 he was a student in the Dental College at
St.
Louis, where he received his degree of D. D. S.
Coming to Bloomington
in 1870 Dr. Campbell opened an office at No. 208 North Center street,
and at once
entered upon practice as Dental Surgeon and there remained for two
years. He
then changed his location to the corner of Center and Jefferson
streets, where
he is at present located, and where he is meeting with success.
Mr. Campbell was
married to Miss Katie Jarrett, of West Virginia, in 1879. She is the
daughter
of Ira and Eveline (Johnson) Jarrett, natives of West Virginia. Of the
union of
Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, one daughter, Nettie J., has been born. The
Doctor is a
member of the Illinois Dental, State Dental and the Central Illinois
Dental
Associations. He is Democratic in politics, and has been a member of
the
Masonic fraternity since 1803.
Portrait and biographical album
of McLean County,
Ill. : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent
and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and
biographies of all the governors of Illinois, and of the presidents of
the
United States. (Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887), 132-133.
Transcribed by Judy Rosella Edwards
