USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of contemporary biography of Pennsylvania, Vol. I > Part 17
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Blintic Publishing & Engraving .N.Y.
J. m. Campbell
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CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
and means to promote the cause. In 1856 he was sent as a delegate to the convention held in Buffalo at which John C. Fremont was nominated for the Presidency. "His loyalty to the Union and the Constitution was unswerving and unqualified" to the time of his death. He was an uncompromising foe to jobbery and utterly incapable of descending to meanness or trickery to increase his fortune. His kindness of heart was not the least distinguish- ing of his many excellent characteristics, and was well exemplified by his active interest in the House of Refuge of Western Pennsylvania, the Western Pennsylvania Hospital, and other eleemosynary in- stitutions. The care of the insane was a subject near his heart, and he was one of the most out- spoken advocates of the erection of the hospital for the insane now known as "Dixmont," and a firm supporter of the late Dr. Reed. His religious con- nections attached him to the Episcopal Church, and in early life he attended "Trinity " and afterwards "St. Andrews." He was married in 1836, to Mary, daughter of the late Peter Beard, who is described as a tall, handsome woman, noted for her natural goodness and kindness of heart. Mr. Jackson was not in good health during the last years of his life. He died at the comparatively early age of sixty-one, being taken in the midst of his activities and use- fulness. His death was widely regarded as a pub- lic loss. In a lengthy and admirably conceived obituary notice in the columns of the Pittsburgh Dispatch, under date September 23, (1862), this worthy man's character and deeds are exhaustively reviewed. The notice concludes with the follow- ing summary : " He was in the truest sense a good citizen. Possessing large means, he employcd them with judicious enterprise and liberality to advance the material prosperity of the community. We have often heard him spoken of as a kind landlord, suf- fering many losses from the dishonest and unworthy rather than cause distress to unfortunate tenants. He was indeed in all his relations to his fellow men not merely just, but merciful and charitable. He conducted an extensive private business success- fully and always honorably. * *
* * In short, George W. Jackson was an unassuming, humane, fearless, enterprising, sincerely honest man, and his death is a most serious calamity."
JACOB MILLER CAMPBELL.
GEN. JACOB MILLER CAMPBELL was born in Allegheny Township, Somerset County, Penn., Nov. 20, 1821, and died at his home in Johnstown, Sept.
27, 1888. His father, John Campbell, was a native of Scotland, who came to the United States in 1817, and his mother, Mary (Weyand) Campbell was a native of Somerset County. In 1826 his parents removed to Allegheny City, Penn., where he atten- ded the ordinary schools of that day. In 1835 he returned to the town of Somerset, and became an apprentice to the printing business in the office of the Somerset Whig, where he remained until he had mastered as much of the printing business as could be acquired in a country printing office. In 1840 he left Somerset and worked for some time "at case " in the office of the Literary Examiner, a monthly magazine of considerable merit, then pub- lished in Pittsburgh, Penn. In the fall of the same year he went to New Orleans, and worked in the newspaper offices of that city until the spring of 1841, when he engaged in steamboating on the lower Mississippi River and its tributaries ; and for several subsequent years filled the position success- ively of matc, clerk, and part owner of a vessel. In April, 1847, he married Mary R., daughter of James and Mary Campbell, and, in the fall of that year he abandoned steamboating, and went to Brady's Bend, Penn., where he engaged in the iron business at the Great Western Iron Works. In 1851 he went to California, but returned within a year and resumed work at the Brady's Bend Iron Works. In 1853 he removed to Johnstown, Penn., and assisted in the construction of the mammoth Iron Works of the Cambria Iron Company at that place, with which enterprise he remained connected, holding all the time an important and responsible position, until the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion in 1861. Upon the first call of President Lincoln for three months volunteers to defend the National Government, he was enrolled as Lieuten- ant in the first company from Cambria County ten- dering their services to the Governor, and with it arrived in Harrisburgh, early on the morning of the 18th of April, 1861, being the first company to enter Camp Curtin. Upon an organization of regiments, which was effected during the next few days, his company was assigned to the Third Regiment, and designated as Company G., and Lieut. Campbell was appointed Quartermaster of the regiment, and with it served in Gen. Patterson's abortive cam- paign in the mouth of the Shenandoah Valley, and, returning to Harrisburg with the troops of that command, was mustered out of service on the 28th day of July, 1861. Immediately upon his muster out, he was commissioned a Colonel by Gov. Cur- tin, and authorized to recruit a regiment of volun- teers for three years' service. In due time the regiment was recruited, mainly through Col. Camp-
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CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
bell's exertions, and was designated as the 54th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. As soon as organized the regiment was ordered to Washing- ion, D. C., in which vicinity it remained until the 29th of March, 1862, when Col. Campbell was ordered to report with his regiment to Gen. Miles, commanding at Harper's Ferry, Va., and in accord- ance with instructions from that officer, proceeded to occupy the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- road, from North Mountain Station, Va., fifty-six miles westward to the South Branch of the Poto- mac; the regiment occupying the most important points along the line. In September, 1862, the forces under Gen. Miles were all, except the 54th Penn- sylvania Volunteers, driven into Harper's Ferry and captured by the Confederate forces under Gen. Jackson. Col. Campbell retained his position on the line of the road, and succeeded in saving it from destruction, although his regiment was the only one left south of the Potomac, between Cumberland and the defences of Washington. After the battle of Antietam, Col. Campbell's regiment was tem- porarily attached to Gen. Franklin's Corps, (6th). On the 6th of March, 1863, he was ordered to Rom- ney with his regiment, and there assigned to the command of the Fourth Brigade, First Division, Eighth Army Corps. With this force he proceeded to occupy the different mountain passes in that sec- tion, making his headquarters at Mechanicsburg Gap. Whilst occupying this position, they were in almost daily conflict with detachments of the Confederate army, and the guerilla forces which infested that section. On the 14th of June, 1863, Col. Campbell, with his brigade, was ordered to New Creek, to assist in the defence of that post, which was threat- ened by the enemy. On the 5th of July his com- mand formed part of the column under Gen. Kelly, which marched to Fairview, Md., to prevent the forces under Gen. Lee from gaining possession of the forts at Cherry Run and points further west on the Potomac. On the 16th of July he crossed the Potomac at Cherry Run, and marched to Hedges- ville, driving the enemy's forces from that place. On August 2, 1883, Col. Campbell with his brigade, was ordered to return to his former stations among the Hampshire mountains, where he remained, doing active duty until the 6th of November, when he was ordered to Springfield, West Virginia, with his command, and all the troops along the line of the railroad from Cherry Run to New Creek, a distance of ninety miles, were assigned to his command, in addition to his brigade. On the 4th of January, 1864, he removed with his brigade to Cumberland, which place was threatened by the forces of Rosser and Fitzhugh Lee. Here he remained until Gen.
Siegel took command of the Department of West Virginia. In April, 1864, in the re-organization of the troops that took place preparatory to the con- templated movement up the Valley of the Shenan- doah, Col. Campbell, at his own request, was relieved from the command of his brigade, and returned to his old regiment. At the battle of New Market, May 15, 1864, he occupied the extreme left of the line with his regiment, and it suffered heavily, two hundred and eighty-four of its number being killed or wounded. After the battle, Gen. Siegel fell back to Cedar Creek, where he was relieved of his com- mand by Gen. Hunter, who again renewed the march up the Valley, meeting the enemy at Pied- mont, on the 5th day of June, 1864. In this battle, Col. Campbell, with his regiment, again occupied the left of the line, flanking the enemy's right and attacking them in the rear, capturing twice as many of the enemy as he had men in his command. For gallant conduct and superior skill exhibited at this battle, Col. Campbell was brevetted a Brigadier General, a position doubly earned by long and effi- cient service as a brigade commander. Three days after this battle, when the forces under Crook joined those of Hunter, at Staunton, Va., Gen. Campbell was assigned to the command of the Third Brigade, Second Division, and as a special favor the 54th Regiment was transferred to the same brigade, that it might be under its old commander. In all the engagements under Gen. Hunter, while on the cele- brated "Lynchburg Raid," Gen. Campbell took a prominent part, and on the return from that place covered the retreat. On the 24th of July, 1864, he took part in the battle of Winchester under Crook, and upon the fall of Gen. Mulligan in that battle, assumed command of the division, and participated in all the subsequent battles of Crook while he was in command, and, after Sheridan came to the head of the Department, he took part in all the engage- ments in the Shenandoah Valley under that re- nowned chieftain. Gen. Campbell was never absent from his command but three weeks, which occurred in February, 1864, when he was detailed by the Sec- retary of War to act as a member of a Court of Inquiry, at Wheeling, W. Va. With but one single exception he was with his comrades in every fight of his brigade or regiment, from the time of its organization until he was finally mustered out of service. After the close of the war, on the 17th of August, 1865, Gen. Campbell was nominated by the Republican State Convention of Pennsylvania as a candidate for the office of Surveyor-General (since called Secretary of Internal Affairs) and elected for a term of three years. In 1868 he was again elected to the same office for a second term, and served with
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CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
great satisfaction to the people and credit to him- self. He declined a nomination for a third term, and devoted his time to mechanical and other in- dustrial pursuits until the fall of 1876, when he received the Republican nomination for Congress from the 17th Congressional District of Pennsylva- nia, composed of the Counties of Bedford, Blair, Cambria and Somerset, and was elected by a ma- jority of 520 votes over the Hon. John Reilly, Democrat, who had carried the district two years before by a majority of 1147 votes. In 1878 he was a candidate for re-election, but, owing to the organ- ization of the Greenback party in the district, he was defeated by a majority of 305 votes. In 1880 he was again a candidate, and elected by a majority of 1436 votes over his former competitor, Hon. A. H. Coffroth, and in 1882 he again defeated Coffroth. In 1884 he was elected to the XLIXth Congress, by a majority of 3,564 votes over Dr. Americus Enfield. When in Congress he served as a member of the Committees on Education, Labor, Railways and Canals, and other special committees. In the XLVIIth Congress he served as Chairman of the Committee on Manufactures. He was an earnest advocate of the resumption of specie payments by the Govern- ment, and was opposed to the unlimited coinage of the silver dollar, for the reason that 412} grains of silver were not worth one dollar in the markets of the world. He advocated the repeal of the Bank- rupt Law, believing its repeal essential to the restoration of financial and commercial confidence and prosperity. He voted for the restriction of Chinese immigration to this country. He was al- ways an earnest advocate of the principle of protec- tion to all branches of American industry. He favored all measures looking to the enlargement of our foreign commerce, the establishment of proper harbor and coast defences, the building of an effi- cient navy, and reform in the civil service, and kindred measures. In 1856 he was a delegate to the first Republican National Convention, assisted in the
organization of the party, and ever afterwards was an earnest advocate of its principles and supporter of its candidates. He was Chairman of the Repub- lican State Convention in 1887. This was his last public appearance, and though visibly failing in health, he proved, as on all former similar occasions, his remarkable ability as a presiding officer. So excellent an impression did he make by his dignified conduct, that, coupled with his previous unsullied public record, and coming as he did from a section
of the State whose claims had long been unrecog- nized, he was by many spoken of as a suitable can- didate to succeed Governor James A. Beaver, and had his physical vigor remained adequate, it is ex-
tremely probable that he would have received the Gubernatorial nomination. In business circles the General was no less esteemcd than in public life. Because of his high character, his name was a tow- er of strength in any enterprise. Prominent among the corporations with which he was connected as a director were the First National Bank, the Sav- ings Bank, and the Gas and Water Companies. He was a charter member of Alma Lodge and of Will- iam F. Packer Encampment, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and for thirty years took a lively in- terest in those organizations, in which lie rose to the principal offices. He was likewise a member of Johnstown Lodge, No. 538, Free and Accepted Masons. By his former comrades in arms, among whom he was affectionately known as "Uncle Jake," he was loved and honored for his sterling qualities both as a man and a soldier ; and some of his happiest hours were those passed in their society at the "camp-fires " of Emory Fisher Post No. 30, of the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was a prominent and enthusiastic member to the day of his death. In 1887, upon the re-organization of the Fifty-fourth Regiment as a civil body, he was enthusiastically chosen President by the survi- vors. Upon retiring from public life, General Campbell sought the quiet and seclusion of his home, and devoted himself to looking after his pri- vate interests, and to taking a well earned rest after his active and useful life. But he was not destined to enjoy it long. Up to the year 1883 he had been wholly exempt from any physical ailments, but in that year he sustained a severe attack of pneumonia which left his health seriously undermined. Twice subsequently the same disease prostrated him, the last time being in May, 1888; but owing to his strong constitution he recovercd, although with each attack his strength visibly diminished. When ap- parently recovering from the last attack of pneu- monia, he was stricken with general paralysis. Although his life was despaired of then, he exerted his indomitable will so effectively that he routed the disease and actually recovered sufficient strength to leave his bed and go about almost as usual. About two months before his death his final illness began with symptoms of heart failure. His death was directly due to acute inflammation of the brain. Under a plain and unassuming exterior General Campbell concealed high ability and a rare degree of manly virtue. Unselfishness and a sincere regard for the welfare of others were conspicuous among his striking characteristics. " As a soldier," said one who was familiar with his career in all its phases, " he was brave and noble, his heroism never having been questioned. As a State official he was
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CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
above suspicion, and although he instituted inany great reforms which met with opposition, no one, even amid the greatest political excitement, im- peached his integrity. As a Congressman lie was untiring in his work, and a faithful agent of his constituents, never failing to attend to a duty ex- acted of him and never neglecting to answer a letter asking for information. *
* * His private life, his home life, were beautiful. The youngest of his children was treated by him with the same manly consideration as the best of his fellows; and the strength of his affection for her who so nobly shared his trials and sacrifices, and participated in the honors and triumphs of his later years, was one of the loveliest traits of his character." He is sur- vived by his widow and ten children (eight sons and two daughters), to whom he leaves as a legacy " A life's work well done, a name historical in the annals of the State, a record of duty conscientious- ly discharged in every walk of life."
CHARLES J. HARRAH.
A VERY active, eventful, adventurous, and withal, successful life, has been that of Mr. Charles J. Harrah, one of Philadelphia's representative men. He was born in the old district of Kensington, in Philadelphia, on the 1st of January, 1817. Owing to the death of his father during the infancy of Charles, and the consequent impoverishment of his mother, his advantages for obtaining an education were of the most meagre character. He never attended but one school, and that was one kept by a Mr. Ketler at the northwest corner of Pegg and New Market streets, known as the " Adelphi School," and at that time the only public school north of Vine street. He remained at this estab- lishment exactly three days, early in the year 1824, but from that time, when he was under seven years of age, until now, when he is over seventy-one, he has been an exceedingly apt pupil, and an unceasing student in the great school in which experience and observation are the teachers. Compclled through necessity, not only to earn his own livelihood, but to give what little he could to a dependent mother and foster-brother, he sought and found employ- ment, chiefly on farms in the vicinity of Philadel- phia, and thus earned a living, though a precarious one. Samuel Jones, the father of Jacob P. Jones, a prominent member of the Society of Friends, was one of his employers, and the memory of his kind- ness has been one of Mr. Harrah's most cherished recollections through all his long, busy life. The
years between 1824 and 1832 were passed in the employment alluded to, but early in the latter year the boy made a radical change in occupation by coming into the city and apprenticing himself to Jacob Teesc, a ship-builder, in whose service he remained until December 19, 1836, by which time he had thoroughly learned the trade. He followed it industriously in Philadelphia, New York and Erie, Penn., until 1843, when his health, which had never been very good, broke completely down, and he found that he must seek a less vigorous climate if he was to live and care for himself. Under these circumstances he sailed from Philadelphia for Rio Grande de Sul, in the southern part of Brazil, on the 10th of April, 1843. He went out with a certainty of employment, for some months at least, for he had contracted to build, at the port for which he sailed, a steamer for Charles Deal, of that place, and after this work was completed he established a ship-yard. He remained in Rio Grande de Sul and the neighboring city of Porto Allekre with varying fortune until 1852, when, with his growing reputa- tion inciting still further ambition, he sought a more extensive field of operations in Rio de Janeiro, the capital of the country, where he established a ship- yard for the building and repairing of vessels, and in this occupation he remained engaged until 1857. About that time Brazilian statesmen began to awaken to the necessity of developing the resources of the country by the building of railroads and opening other means of communication; and quickly and keenly alive to the opportunity thus presented to men of enterprise and determination, Mr. Harrah returned to the United States via Marsailles for the purpose of gathering information applicable to the construction and operation of steam roads. After having formed a copartnership with W. Milnor Roberts, of Philadelphia, Jacob Humbird, of Cum- berland, Md., and Robert Harvey, of Richmond, Va., under the firm name of Roberts, Harvey & Co., he returned to Rio de Janeiro in March, 1858, and on behalf of the firm contracted to build the second great Brazilian trunk line, the Dom Pedro II. Railroad. This was the greatest enterprise which up to that time had ever been undertaken on the South American Continent. Six years of unre- mitting toil resulted in the successful completion of what was regarded in those days as an almost im- possible feat-and in the total financial ruin of Mr. Harrah. Here ended what may be called a distinc- tive period of Mr. Harrah's career, and immediately he entered upon another, which was to culminate very differently. Undaunted by the failure, which would have borne down a less courageous man, and with unyielding perseverence and firm faith in his
Of March
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CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
ability to retrieve his fortune, he at once set himself at work and in an entirely new line of enterprise. He formed a partnership with F. M. Brandon, of London, and they engaged in mercantile pursuits, establishing stores, both in the World's metropolis and Rio de Janeiro. The firm prospered, and dur- ing the period of its existence, about eight years (ending in 1871), confidence in the integrity of its members was such that Mr. Harrah was commis- sioned by the Imperial Government to visit the United States and purchase from the American Government (the Rebellion having then just been quelled), gun boats and armaments, of which Bra-
zil stood in need in its struggle with Paraguay. To
achieve the purpose of his mission Mr. Harrah
brought with him letters of credit amounting to $2,000,000, but owing to the decision of Seere- tary of State Seward, the Government declined to sanction the sale of the iron-clads, and the mission was fruitless. Soon after his return to Rio de
Janeiro he was sent as a special commissioner by the Brazilian Cabinet to the River Plate, and the field of operations of the Brazilian armies against
Paraguay; and his visit to the seat of war resulted
in the prompt correction of numberless abuses,
until then, prevailing in the Commissariat Depart-
ment of the army. In 1868 Mr. Harrah, with a few
other Americans, organized the Botanical Garden
Railroad Company, which constructed and operated
the first street railroad in Brazil, or in South America,
and a few months later his restless spirit of enterprise led to the inception of the first Telegraph Company
in the Empire, of which he became the President, and which was afterwards absorbed by the Govern- built the Leapoldina Railroad of Nimas Geraes, ment. In 1872 he organized the company which
Brazil, one of the most prosperous railroads in the country. He had been active in organizing the Bra-
zilian Navigation Company, and the directors rec-
ognizing his force and tact, requested him to go to
terminated in an amicable compromise, and re-pay- agers, Garrison & Allen, of New York, which suits entered by the company against the former man- the United States and assume charge of the suits
ment by the defendants of some $700,000 to the
wronged shareholders of the company. In 1870, a public school in Rio de Janeiro, the first of the with some other merchants, Mr. Harrah established
kind in the Empire, and he performed other services
gratuitously in the interests of education and other-
evinced lie was Knighted by the Emperor, Dom among. For the public spirit thus so practically wise for the benefit of the people he so long lived
Pedro II., and for other patriotic services his rank was subsequently advanced to a Commandership in
the Order of the Rose. In 1873 Mr. Harrah returned to the United States and to his native city, where he has since permanently resided in the enjoyment of a large fortune, the greater part of which was made in Brazil, but which has been increased by his activity in Philadelphia, and by judicious invest- ments, which have benefitted the people as well as himself. It will be seen from the above outline which we have drawn, that during the last decade of his thirty-two years' residence in Brazil, Mr. Harrah was identified with very important public enterprises, which helped materially to advance the interests of the country. He was, besides, connected with various institutions of high financial and polit- ical standing. His ability, activity, integrity and public spirit won for him the unqualified admira- tion, confidence and esteem of the people and of the Government, and the man who when a poor, friend- less boy worked upon the farms around Philadel- phia, and as an appentice in a ship-yard, became a great power in the chief nation of South America- entirely by his own efforts, by his acumen and close application, and, notwithstanding many obstacles and one complete failure after years of hard work, he achieved a fortune and rose to what was, for a foreigner, a very eminent position. Since his return to Philadelphia Mr. Harrah's spirit of activity has had almost as constant and powerful exercise as during his stay in Brazil. He has been prominently identified both with business enterprises and with movements and institutions designed for the better- ment of the people's condition in various ways. He invested largely in the People's Passenger Railway, of Philadelphia, of which he was President for a number of years, and became interested in and was one of the incorporators of the Independence Na- tional Bank, the American Surety Company, the Winifrede Coal Company, in the management of all of which he took an active part, and in the Midvale Steel Company, to the Presidency of which he was
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