History of the Campbell Family of Union Grove, North Carolina

Date: Aug 1925 to Aug 1925
Location: Union Grove Methodist Church, Union Grove, Iredell, North Carolina, USA
Surnames/tags: Campbell Van Hoy Somers

See Index of Persons mentioned in this history

Introduction

The following history was handed out at the Campbell Family reunion in Union Grove, Iredell County, North Carolina in August 1925.^[1] A slightly different version was reported in the Statesville Morning Register (noted in parenthesis in text). The newspaper reported the events as follows.

Headline:DESCENDANTS OF PIERCE CAMPBELL HOLDS REUNION

The reunion of the descendants of Pierce Campbell, pioneer North Iredell settler will be made an annual affair and is expected to become the big celebration days of this section. The first of these reunions was held at Union Grove Church, about twenty miles north of here, on Thursday of this week and some 2,500 people were present.

In historical interest Henry P. Van Hoy's reading of a sketch of the Campbell family from the first pioneers to the present stood out in the day's program. In entertainment Hon. Lonnis Kluttz, Catawba member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, was the high mark in his address on the subject of Iredell county, its progress and citizenship.

But in all round enjoyment the big dinner, served on a crescent shaped table, surpassed every other feature of the day and that dinner will be remembered long in the community history of North Iredell.

There was fried chicken, deviled eggs, fried country ham, boiled, baked and barbecued ham, roast beef, canned sausage, dainty cakes and pies and custards. There on the table was found peaches, apples, canteloupes, watermellons, and other fruits in piles and that there was not enough room on the table for all the good things they brought in their baskets and the men and boys complained because they couldn't eat all they would like to. They simply had to say that there had to be a limit to the capacity of the human body to consume food and try to be content.

J. T. Jennings, a grandson of Williamson Campbell was chairman of the day's proceedings.

The program was opened with a song, "America," and devotional exercises were conducted by E. W. Campbell. The Greensboro quartet consisting of Messrs....Brady, Boyles, and Jarvis sang several songs.

H. P. Van Hoy, a grandson of John R. Campbell, delivered the address of welcome and this was responded to by Rev. R. N. Garner, of Wilkes County.

A mixed quartette, made up of Miss Sloan, Miss Harris, Messrs. Sloan and Henrich, sang several selections during the program.

The address of Mr. Kluttz was of an eloquent nature and he paid high tribute to Iredell County and the progressiveness of the people here. The listeners decided that Mr. Kluttz would like to live in Iredell.

The historical sketch was read by Mr. Van Hoy and as he went along he told several old stories about various Campbell families and boys of the old days.

The afternoon was given over to songs, various refreshments, and stories of old times in North Iredell. People came for miles and miles and all promised support for a reunion to be held each year.

The committee on arrangements for the day was composed of H. P. Van Hoy, Dr. L. P. Somers, J. T. Jennings, and Mrs. W. B. Tutterow. The latter acted as corresponding secretary.

The reunion will be held the latter part of August each year. Last week in making the announcement of the coming reunion, it was stated that Pierce [ADAM] Campbell, the first, gave the land for Union Grove Church and school house. [Since then it has been learned that it was Pierce [PERCIPHULL, SR.] Campbell, II, that gave the land, or a part of it.]

Handout

The following is based on the original handout. Text in parenthesis is based on recent genealogical analysis. Links to Profiles in Wikitree are included.

1. It is not known when the Campbells of Scotch-Irish decent came to this country, but some time prior to 1795. The oldest deed on record in Iredell County shows that Pierce Campbell the first, purchased a tract of land from Elizabeth Campbell in 1795. It is believed that Pierce Campbell, took up some grants from the State prior to 1795, but if he did the records are in Rowan County. Iredell County was separated from Rowan County in 1787 and all records prior to this time are on record in Rowan.

2. The Campbell family is one of the old pioneer families that helped settle up Iredell County. It has been handed down from father to son that this family was known as “Bells in Scotland”, and being very strict to their religious views; and not believing in the state church, they held their Camp Meetings and on account of this they were called “Campbells”. The Pioneer settlers, who settled North Carolina were classed in three classes:

a. 1st. Those who were driven out on account of Religious Persecution, and it seems that the Campbells were in this class.
b. 2nd. Those who followed farming for an occupation and were looking for better farming lands.
c. 3rd. Those who like to live by themselves and gain their living by hunting wild game.

3. The following record is given by the oldest living decendents of the Campbell family. This record is not complete but is the best that can be had at this time. If this reunion is made an annual affair, which is probable, we hope to add to this record until a full history of this family can be had.

4. Pierce Campbell, the first (Adam Pierce Campbell)^[4], originally from Scotland married Miss Betty Morgan, originally from Ireland. These young people settled, the exact date not known, but prior to 1795, at what is now known as the John P. Campbell home place. To this union were born the following: Polly (Mary Polly Campbell Coleman), Sally (Sarah "Sally" Campbell Ball), Kizzie (Keziah "Kizzie" Campbell Hayes), and Pierce the second (Persiphull "Pierce" Campbell, Sr.). (Note: Additional children have been found whose descendants move out of Iredell County after the Revolutionary War: William R. Campbell, John Campbell who fought in the Revolutionary War and married Cora Mullis, and Malinda M. Campbell Wood)

5. Pierce Campbell, the second (Pericful Campbell, Sr.), son of Pierce the first married Miss Sally Cook and settled at what is known as the J. P. Bolin place on Hunting Creek, adjoining the land of his father. To this union were born the following children: Billie, Pierce the third (Percival Campbell, Jr.), Theophelus the first, Fannie (Francis "Fannie" Campbell Dobbins), Sallie (Sarah "Sallie" (Campbell) Morgan), Polly (Mary Polly Campbell Parks), John R. and William R.

6. Billie Campbell son of Pierce Campbell the second, married Miss Jensie Morgan. Two children were born to this couple: Alfred and Teresa. This family moved to Arkansas and no further record of them can be had at this time.

7. Pierce Campbell the third, son of Pierce the second, married Tobitha Morgan and settled at what is known as the Hiram Speaks place on Hunting Creek about ½ mile above Campbell Mill. (The newspaper report also includes the following: Five children were born in this home: Williamson, Mildon, Sally (Sarah "Sally" Eve Campbell Douthit), Reuben, who died at age 12, and Leolin V.)

8. Theophelus Campbell the first, son of Pierce the second married Miss Rena Allen and settled at what is now known as the Edmond Mitchell home place, on Hunting Creek. To this union the following children were born: Polly (Mary E. "Polly" Campbell Romanger), Sallie (Sarah Ann Lodema "Sallie" Campbell Mize), Fannie ( Frances Elizabeth "Fanny" Campbell Redman), Carolina (Tabitha Carolina Campbell Williams), William C. (William Crawford) and John (John Price). (additional children William Marion Campbell and Isabel Campbell who moved to Izard County, Arkansas with her mother)

9. Theophelus Campbell the first, represented this section in the Legislature about 1830. Conveyance at that time was very poor and it has been handed down that he would pull off his shoes and walk to Raleigh barefooted. I have also heard that he would pull off his shoes and set them under the seat and make a fireing speech in the Legislative Hall bare footed. He sad he left Winston-Salem at sun rise and walked to were J.T. Jennings now lives and got there just as the sun was setting, a distance of 50 odd miles.

10. John R. Campbell, son of Pierce the second married Miss Lucy Williams and settled at his fathers home place the J. P. Bolin farm. The following children were born to this union: Tobitha (Tobitha C. Campbell Somers), Theophelus the second, Polly (Mary "Polly" Campbell Bolin), Paulina (Paulina Campbell Huie) James W., Sarah ( Sarah Campbell Van Hoy), John P. (John Pierce), and William Milas.

11. William R. Campbell, son of Pierce Campbell the second married Polly Howard and the following children were born in this home: Alfred, Washington, Sarah Ann (Sarah Ann Campbell Jennings), Henry, Augustus, Preston, Pettis, Mary (Mary Elizabeth Campbell Puckett) and Alice (Alice Campbell Felts Storey).^[5] This family moved to Arkansas, and we cannot give complete record of them. A letter from Mrs. Alice Story daughter of William R. Campbell said that when Dr. Henry Campbell, son of William R. Campbell died^[6] the family was all together and owing to conditions they would not be able to attend this reunion.

12. Williamson Campbell, son of Pierce Campbell the third married Miss Mimie Mayberry and settled 1 ½ miles south of Union Grove at what is known as the Jacob Crater Place, now owned by N. G. Crater (Newton Gwyn Crater). To this union were born the following children: Sarah (Sarah A. "Sallie" Campbell Jennings), Emily (Martha Emily Campbell Crater), James P. who died in the Civil War, Nancy and Arminda (Arminda Jennings Cooper).^[7]

13. Mildeon Campbell (Mildeon G.), son of Pierce Campbell the third married Clementine Huie (Rachel Clementine Huie), and settled at what is now known as the Davison Campbell Home Place. To this union were born the boys, Davidson (Leolin Davidson) and Preston (Preston Clifford).

14. Leolin V. Campbell, son of Pierce Campbell the third, was married twice. First to Ann Clementine Dent. The following children by the first marriage: Emma, Turner, and Alice. Second to Miss Emma Buxton (Margaret Emma) and two children by this union: William B. (William Buxton) and Della Pearl. L.V. Campbell settled at Campbells Mill.

15. William Campbell (William Crawford), son of Theophelus Campbell the first married Miss Lucy Ross, first. Seven children were born to this union. Second Miss Jany Croxdale and three children to this union. The family moved out west and we are unable to give further history on them. (William may have moved to Jackson County, Alabama.)

16. John C. Campbell (John Price), son of Theo. the first married Icy Ann Elkins and located in the west, no record from them since. (moved to Izard County, Arkansas where John Price died. Icy Ann remarried and moved to Oklahoma.)

17. Theophelus Campbell the second, son of John R. Campbell was twice married, first to Miss Louisa Somers, and there were no children. Second to Miss Rebecca Minish and the following children were born to this union: Louisa, Celia, Johnny, Ezra, Paulina and Tobitha. He settled east of Union Grove about 2 miles where Ezra Campbell now lives.

18. James W. Campbell, son of John R. Campbell, married Arminda Privette and settled north of Union Grove, about 1 mile. The following children were born in this home: Daisy (Valley Daisy), Charles W., William(s) R. and Mack.

19. John P. Campbell (John Pierce), son of John R. Campbell married Elizabeth Mitchell and settled at the home place of the old original Pierce Campbell. To this union were born the following: Maggie, Smith, Dessie, and Isom.

20. William Milas Campbell, son of John R. Campbell, was twice married. First to Miss Sara Mitchell. Three girls were born to this union: Ella, Sallie and Fannie. He settled at the home place of his father and lived here for awhile. Finally he sold out and moved west, again later moving back here. Several years after his first wife died he married Miss Julia Oakie Moose. No children by this marriage. Uncle Milas, as everybody calls him now lives on the Capt Minish farm, near Howard’s Foard. Uncle Milas, following the tradition of his fore fathers has been a great trapper and hunter, and has killed more hawks and caught more minks than any man in Iredell County. Though crippled, he has been classed the best “One Horse Farmer in Iredell County.”.

21. Davidson Campbell, son of Mildeon Campbell, married Miss Mary Femister (Mary Elizabeth Feimster), to this family were born the following: Cora, [Campbell-27450|Tom]], Esther, Nan and Eliza.

22. Preston Campbell, son of Mildeon Campbell, married a Miss Spann (Martha Genieva Carrigan) and to this union were born the following children: Oscar (Milden Ocscar), Geneva (Virginia Geneva), Lula (Lela Mae), Clark (Clark Clifton), Clifton (Clifford Preston) and Annie (Anna Clementine).

23. Polly Campbell daughter of Pierce the first married Chas. Coleman (Charles Coleman). Two children: Jackie and Nancy. In his home: Emma, Jane and Gus.

24. Sallie Campbell (Sarah Ann Lodema "Sally" Campbell Mize), daughter of Theo. the first married a Gilreath.^[8] No record.

25. Fanny Campbell (Frances Elizabeth Campbell Redman) daughter of Theo the first, married John Redmond (John Redman). Children: Dab, John (John Beauregard Redman), Pres, Clint, Hosea, Robert, Lillie and Woodie (Raum Z. Redman).

26. Carolina Campbell (Tabitha Carolina) daughter of Theo the first, married Wash Williams and went west. No record. (moved to Ouachita County, Arkansas)

27. Sarah Campbell (Sarah A. Campbell Jennings) daughter of Williamson Campbell, married Thomas L. Jennings and the following children were born: Margret, Alice, Minnie, Martha, and James Turner.

28. Emily Campbell (Nancy Emily), daughter of Williamson Campbell, married Jacob Crater (Jacob Jeremiah Crater, brother of Sylvanius who married Martha Emily Campbell). Children (These were the children of Nancy E. Campbell and Jacob Jeremiah Crater): Jim (James P. Crater), John W (John Williamson), Newton G. (Newton Gwyn), W.J. (Williamson Jacob), and Augusta (Augusta Crater Parks).

(Missing is her sister, Martha Emily (Campbell) Crater, who married Sylvanius Timothius Crater and had the following children: John Williamson, Delina Ann, Tobitha Jane, Augustus, Ida Henrietta, Benjamin Weisner, Susan Arminda, Sarah Emily, and May Ellen.)

29. Arminda Campbell (Arminda Jennings Campbell Cooper), daughter of Williamson Campbell, married W. M. Cooper (William Marius Cooper). Children are Della (Della V.), Augusta (Augusta E.), Will (William W.), Rufus A. (Rufus Augustus), Cordia (Ella Cordie), Josephen (Josephine E. Cooper Devane), Roena (Rowena Bell Cooper Orr), Etta (Etta Campbell Cooper Setzer) and May (Mae).

30. Tobitha Campbell, oldest daughter of John R. Campbell married W. Ham Somers (Hamilton Calvin Somers). And to this union the following children: L. P., Gaston, Johny, Sissie, and Emma.

31. Sallie Campbell, daughter of Pierce the first, married Billy Ball. Four children: Sampson, Imlah, Sally and Polly.

32. Kizzzie (Kizzie Campbell Hayes), daughter of Pierce the first, married a Hayes (Henry Horn Hayes). No record at this time. (Henry died in Wilkes County and Kizzie moved to Indiana)

33. Fannie Campbell, daughter of Pierce the second married Milas Dobbins. Four boys were born to this union: Thee (Theophilus E.) married a Miss Forcom and died without any children. Alfred married a Miss Carlton (Jane Ann Carlton), and had three children, Fanny, John (John Milus) and George (George Wood). David died in the Civil War, and Gus (Augustus) married Sally Clegg, daughter of Major C. W. Clegg. No children were born to them.

34. Sally Campbell (Sarah Sally Campbell Morgan), daughter of Pierce Campbell the second married Bartlet Morgan. The following named children were born: Polly, William, Holeman, Gabriel (Gabriel Barry), Reuben, Pierce, John (John B.) and Mildeon (Joseph Mildeon).

35. Polly Campbell daughter of Pierce Campbell the second, married Gabriel Parks: Four children Pettis, Dabney, Richard and Theophelus.

36. Sally Campbell (Sarah Eve "Sally" (Campbell) Douthit) daughter of Pierce the third married Uriah Douthit and had five children: Mary (Mary E. M. (Douthit) Slack), Fanny (Frances L.T. (Douthit) Johnson), Sarah (Sarah Adeline Douthit Carter), Gus (Uriah Augustus Douthitt) and Columbus (Columbus C. Douthit).

37. Polly Campbell (Mary E. "Polly" Campbell Romanger) daughter of Theo the first married Andy Romanger (Andy Rominger). Three children (Gus, Emma, and Jane).

38. Polly Campbell (Mary Polly Campbell), daughter of John R. Campbell, was twice married, first to R. A. Morris. Jackson G. Morris was the only child born to this union, second to J. W. Bolin and to this union the following: Johnny, Will, Joe, Roxann, Mollie, Emma, Fanny, Lillie (Lillie Jewell).

39. Paulina Campbell, daughter of John R. Campbell married John R. Huie (John Robey Huie). Children, Sara, Manda, Fannie, Myra, Lovie, Ina, Puss (probably Dovie), Angie, Lela, Samuel, Flake and George (George Washington). (missing Lucy Huie, who died at 19 in 1899)

40. Sarah Campbell, daughter of John R. Campbell, married William A. Van Hoy. TO this union the following: Milas L., Edward C., John Webb, Alice C., Henry P., Polly, James Pierce, Ruby.

---

End of transcription

Footnotes

1. ↑ #StatesvilleMorningReg
2. ↑ #VanHoy
3. ↑ #Notes
4. ↑ #Generations
5. ↑ The 1850 Census indicates that there was also a Martin H Campbell, born in 1855 in Iredell County and probably died as a child before the family moved to Arkansas
6. ↑ Dr. Henry Campbell died on July 6, 1925.
7. ↑ Further research has shown another child, Augustus F. Campbell.
8. ↑ #Gilreath

• Source: History of the Campbell Family compiled by H. P. Van Hoy in 1925. Zerox copy of the original history from the H. P. Van Hoy family. This is the history of the Campbell Family compiled in 1925 by H. P. Van Hoy, a descendant of Sarah Campbell, daughter of John R. Campbell, who married William A. Van Hoy. It was given out at the first annual Campbell family reunion in Union Grove, Iredell, North Carolina. It was written based on recollections of the oldest living descendants in 1925 that lived in Union Grove, North Carolina and correspondence with descendants in Izard County Arkansas, as well as research of property deeds. The attached PDF file is a copy of the original.
• Notes: The original text is transcribed exactly as written by H. P. Van Hoy in 1925. Information from recent research is inserted in Parenthesis from other profiles.
• Source: Statesville Morning Register , August 22, 1925, found on the Internet, courtesy of Roger Harvel, http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/ARIZARD/2003-11/1069793182, accessed Sep 7, 2016. Minor differences from the handout. Paragraphs 18, 19, and 20 read differently: James W. Campbell, son of John R. Campbell, married Elizabeth Mitchell and settled at the home place of the old Pierce [ADAM]Campbell. To this union were born the following named children: Maggie, Smith, Dessie, and Isom. William Milas Campbell, son of John R. Campbell, was twice married. First to Miss Sarah Mitchell. Three girls were born to this home: Ella, Sallie, and Fannie. He settled at the home place of his father and lived here for a while. Finally he sold out and moved wets, again later moved back here. Several years after his first wife died he married Miss Julia O. Moose. No children by this last marriage. Uncle Milas, as everybody calls him now lives on the Capt. Minish farm, near Howard's Foard.(sic) Uncle Milas, following the tradition of his fore fathers has been a great trapper and hunter, and has killed more hawks and caught more minks than any man in Iredell Co. Though crippled, he has been classed the best "One horse farmer in Iredell County." It is believed that the handout is correct. In addition, there is an additional sentence describing Pierce Campbell, III's children in paragraph 7: Five children were born in this home: Williamson, Mildon, Sally [SARAH], Reuben. who died at age 12, and Leolin V. This may have been an omission fixed for the newspaper article.
• Source: Copy of the handout obtained from Wayne Dilano Campbell in about 1979, see attached.
• Generations: Pierce Campbell, the first equates to Pierce Adam Campbell from Scotland. The name Adam was not used in the 1925 sketch. The name Adam was found in the 1820 Census and supposedly on land records in Rowan County. Pierce Campbell, the second equates to Perciphull Campbell, Sr. Pierce Campbell, the third equates to Pierce Campbell, Jr. Tombstones for both Perciphull Campbell, Sr. and Perciphull Campbell, Jr. are in the Campbell Family Cemetery. Pierce Adam Campbell is also believed to be buried in the Campbell Family Cemetery but his tombstone has not been found.
• Note: Sally's Tombstone in the Mize-Painter Cemetery in Fulton County, Arkansas and 1860 and 1870 Census records in Izard County indicate that Sally or Sarah Ann Lodema Campbell married Jonathon Leviticus Mize.

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