Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 2.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 374.
 
WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL
 
     One of the most highly respected farmers of Lane county was William J.
Campbell, whose death occurred May 6, 1927. He operated a fine farm of
sixty-four acres, located five miles north of Eugene and was an experienced
agriculturist, having followed that vocation during the greater part of his life
in this country and Canada. Mr. Campbell was born in Kent county, Ontario,
Canada, on the 13th day of June, 1855, and was a son of Robert and Elizabeth
(Shaw) Campbell, the former a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and the latter, of
the north of Ireland. His paternal grandfather, Robert Campbell, was a weaver by
trade and engaged in making the shawls for which Scotland is so famous. Robert
Campbell, Jr., was brought to Ontario, Canada, when four years old, the family
locating in Kent county, where they engaged in farming, and there both parents
died. Of the nine children who blessed their union, two are living, namely:
Isaac, who is retired and lives in Eugene, Oregon: and Albert, who still lives
in Kent county, Ontario.
 
     William J. Campbell received his education in the public schools of Ontario
and followed farming pursuits at home until 1878, when he went to Manitoba,
Canada, where he remained one season. He then went to North Dakota and took up a
homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Pembina county, where he engaged in
farming. In 1890 he sold out there and came to Eugene, where he was engaged in
the hardware and livery business for several years. In 1897 he went to Manitoba,
where he worked on a ranch for two years, after which he went to Alberta and
bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he sold soon afterwards. His
next location was in Saskatchewan, where he bought several farms, which he
leased, and engaged in the dairy business, at the same time becoming an
extensive dealer in cattle. He remained there until 1914, when he sold out and
returned to Eugene.
 
     In 1884 Mr. Campbell was united in marriage to Miss Eliza J. Saunders, who
was born near London, Ontario, Canada, a daughter of Pascoe and Elizabeth
(Flood) Saunders. Her father was born in Wales in 1834 and received a good
education in a private college on the island of Jersey. He became an expert
linguist, speaking seven languages proficiently, and taught school there for a
time. In 1856 he came to Canada, where he lived until 1882, when he moved to
North Dakota and took up a homestead, on which he lived until 1891, when he sold
out and, coming to Eugene, Oregon, bought two hundred acres of land, five miles
north of the city. After living there several years, he moved to a home which he
had bought in Eugene, and there his death occurred August 1, 1912. Mrs.
Campbell's mother was born in Perth, Ontario, Canada, in 1838. and her father
was a successful manufacturer of shoes in Guelph, Ontario. She died September 2,
1922. To Mr. and Mrs. Saunders were born nine children, of whom five survive,
namely: Henry; Mrs. Fannie Bloom, who lives in South Dakota; Mrs. Eliza J.
Campbell; Harold, who lives in South Dakota; and George, of Lane county, Oregon,
who is represented in a personal sketch on other pages of this work. To Mr. and
Mrs. Campbell was born a daughter. Bessie, who is the wife of F. L. Hughes. Mr.
Hughes is a veteran of the World war, having enlisted in the artillery and was
with the One Hundred and Sixty-fifth Division, with which he served eighteen
months overseas. To him and his wife have been born four children, Pauline,
William Douglas, and Dorothy and Doris, twins. Mr. Campbell was a member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Pomona Grange of Lane county. By a life
consistent in motive and conduct, he earned the confidence and esteem of his
fellowmen and was regarded as one of the solid and dependable men of his section
of the county.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2017 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.