Henry J:
Death Certificate in Registrar of Vital Statistics, Chemung Co., Chemung Co. Health Dept., Elmira, NY shows that he was a veteran of U.S. Armed Forced. Residence: 706 W. 1st Street, Elmira, NY. Buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. Cause of Death: Malignant Erysipelas.
667 Sixth Street, Clairton, Pa.
2 January 1956
Mrs. Ruth M. Ames
167 Renwood Avenue
Buffalo, N.Y.
Dear Mrs. Ames:
It was a keen disappointment to me when I called at your home in December that I could not talk longer with you about your branch of the Campbells.
Your suggestion that you could give the information by correspondence is a good one. In order to simplify the operation for you, I have prepared a questionaire form. Will you please fill in data requested and return form to me at your convenience? The reference to Bible record is presented because of your statement there was such stored in your mementos.
I might advise in closing that the purpose of this effort is to make a written record of the family genealogy and with no thought of commerical jam.
Your reply will be greatly appreciated.
Your sincerely,
Harry Earle Campbell [Don Ames’ note: His father is Ambrose<James Ham<John<David<David]
667 Sixth Street, Clairton, Pa.
6 March 1956
Mrs. Ruth M. Ames
167 Renwood Avenue
Kenmore 17, N.Y.
Dear Mrs. Ames:
It has been a long time since I had a treat equal to that which your letter of the 2nd gave me. Since there are so few living descendents of the Joseph Campbell family known to me I had settled upon you as the last chance. I knew for obtaining information to fill in that branch of the family history. My hopes were well placed. There are enough entirely new items of information and confirmation of other unsure ones to make your report a splendid contribution to my collection of family records. Also Mrs. Ames, I will state you have that which is rare among those not experienced in lineage research, that is good comprehension of material needed for a genealogical history.
Thank you ever so much.
Your mother’s middle name from which your report is Fitch. Do you know where that came from? I will venture a guess. Henry J. had a sister Hannah Ann Campbell. She married Nathaniel Fitch so it is possible the name was taken from them.
Henry W. Campbell born in Lancaster, Pa., is same person as William Campbell concerning whom you have an undated newspaper clipping obituary.
The report you give on Joseph and Anna (Hendrickson) Campbell is high spot of your data. You do not state but I suppose data concerning them (dates of birth and death) were on a sheet of paper apart from the Bible record. I had concluded that Anna died in the 1850s because I have never formed my reference to her, until your info. that she lived until 10 August 1877. In 1850 she was living in Starkey, Yates Co., N.Y., with family of Thomas and Elizabeth Chambers. Is there any indication or hint in any of your records where she lived at anytime between 1850 and 1877? It is of prime interest to me to know where she died and where she was buried.
Figuratively I “ate up” the report. “Mary Watson, the mother of Joseph Campbell, was from a wealthy family who kept servants.” Are there no references in any of your data to the father of Joseph who would be husband of Mary Watson?
There are other items of special interest but I am fearful of wearying you you with too much writing.
I have depended mainly upon public records in my research for genealogical material. You are one of the few members of the family whom I have approached for information. A little clue or lead can guide one of times to unknown public records. Therefore I am preparing another questionaire including questions raised in the foregoing which I hope you will have the patience to fill in whenever you can find time. I have tried to make it easy and include only items which you can answer off hand.
Again thanks a million for everything.
Sincerely,
Harry Earle Campbell
667 Sixth Street, Clairton, Pa.
16 March 1956
Dear Cousin.
Your letter and enclosures gave me a real thrill. I am surely glad that you decided to send these original records so that I might study them. All are extremely interesting to me but the most wonderful single piece is the Yates County Surrogate’s notice of the meeting to probate the will of Anna Beers. This is the key to the unknown against which I have been contending
some six years. With the invaluable information here presented I can make a near complete history of the Joseph Campbell line. Thanks a million. I surely adore you for this boost.
Anna Beers is the Anna Hendrickson who was married to Joseph. Hannah Finch, Emily Thompson, Ellen Weber and Margaret Beardsley were daughters of Joseph and Anna. Anna was also married and had children before she married Joseph. Her first husband was William Smith. The individuals mentioned by family name Chambers are children of Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Anna’s first marriage. Some Smiths are listed in the notice also. All this I can give to you now because I had a great deal of information up to a certain point and from many directions but until your enclosures I never could uncover the data to solve all the puzzles. Your kindness will always be remembered.
The name Lunger which you deciphered from the pencil script as surname or maiden name of Anna’s mother I believe is correct. Around Danville in Montour County, Penna., where Joseph lived before he moved to Yates County there were families by that name. I have never been able to determine whether Joseph was married before or after he moved to New York State.
If you don’t mind I would like to retain some of your papers so I may copy them. I surely will return each one of them. I think it better not to send all in the same letter. In case of a lost letter (Heaven forbid!) not all are lost if sent in different letters.
It would be real delightful to meet you at the Pittsburgh Airport to talk over my experienced in collecting material for the family genealogy. I cannot promise for sure however that I can come on the day you pick to travel through — my time is not all my own and the Greater Pittsburgh Airport is quite a long way from my home at Clairton. If possible it would be more desireable if you could let me know in time so I can inform you if I can come or not.
Thanks very much for the invitation.
I will probably return the Surrogate’s notice with this letter and hold the rest of the notes to send later.
Again thanks for everything and with best fortune to you as ever.
Your cousin,
Harry E. C.
667 Sixth Street,
Clairton, Pa.
20 March 1956
Dear Cousin:
With this letter I return to you remainder of the clippings and notes which you so obligingly sent in your letter of 12 March. I am still rejoicing over the opportunity to examine these bits of Campbell history. A more desirable find I never hope to make.
Your offer to be on the lookout for more material revealing the family’s past is greatly appreciated. So far your performance rates Grade A. When Joseph Campbell I died 1845, his wife Anna and a Mr. Seymour administered the state. There was no will. In the report of the appraisers on list set aside for the widow was a Bible among other items. It is possible
that is in existance somewhere today. No doubt one of Anna’s daughters acquired possession upon death of Anna in 1877. Joseph could write so no doubt he made entries in the Bible. What a prize that would be for the family genealogist!
It would seem like you were doing the right thing for preservation of same to patch and reinforce the old pieces of records with Scotch tape which I take that to be on the items sent to me. In fact Scotch tape is bad medicine for application to anything one desires to keep because it has the undesirable fault of deteriorating from age. The entire strip turns sticky – first at the ends where the adhesive is exposed – whereupon it clings to everything it touches. However there is slight chance you can now remove it without serious injury to the old paper. I learned this from sad experience.
It is a matter of importance to me that you receive all the records which I am returning. Will you please acknowledge on postal card enclosed?
Thanks again for your valued cooperation.
As ever sincerely, your cousin
Harry Earle C.
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1870 U.S. Census – Chemung County, New York, Town of Horseheads, Pg. 31, 27
July 1870:
Dwelling No. 253; Family No. 258;
Name: Campbell, Henry Age 36, Male, Carpenter, Value 350,
Place of Birth: New York
Mary Age 34, Female, Keeping house,
Place of Birth: New York
Alice Age 11, Female, Place of Birth: New York
Charles Age 6, Male, Place of Birth: New York
Dewitt Age 4, Male, Place of Birth: New York
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http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=CAMP&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=36&GScntry=4&GSsr=3961&GRid=99726990&
Birth: unknown
Death: Apr. 3, 1895
Inscription: Age 60
Note: DIED Elmira
Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira, Chemung County, New York, USA
Created by: RobMinteer57, Record added: Oct 28, 2012, Find A Grave Memorial# 99726990
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Mary R:
Born at the Griffeth family home in Wayne (town), Steuben Co., New York. At 4 weeks of age her parents took her to Michigan with an ox team and covered wagon, Catherine’s father Franklin Fletcher went with them to help care for
the baby. They return to Wayne in 1853.
I don’t know where Henry J. Campbell was born, but he died in Elmira on Washington Ave. I think Alice was also born in the Griffeth family home (where we used to live) in the town of Wayne.
I hope this helps a little.
I will tell you what other information of the family I have; On the trip to Michigan, the Indians stole grandfather’s cow; they were taking along for milk for the baby (Mary) but they found it in the Maume swamp. Grandfather Fletcher family came from a city in Conn, I think Hartford but am not sure, they settled at Grove Springs on Lake Keuka. Great Grandfather was a jeweler. That is where the silver spoons came from. Grandmother (Catherine) remembered
witchcraft and seeing people publically whipped in whipping posts, in her way home from school. I have a record of dates, the different members of Griffeth & Fletchers, it is at Sara’s (Mrs. Frank Glover) 8 Pine St., Bath, telephone
no 443M. It is copied & in the DeWitt family Album. In my chiffimer, you call her if you need any dates, (she works from 6 to 12 p.m.) but I don’t think it gives any places. If you have aunt Mary’s marriage certificate, it would tell where Uncle Henry was from at that time. I think he came from Pennsylvania.
[Possibly Alice’s brother, Dewitt S.]
Note: Handwriting found in old scrap paper, hard to read. Old English writing style.
Books of Old Testament in Ryme.
The Great Jehovah speaks to us.
In Gensis and Exodus.
Leviticus and Numbers see.
Followed by Deuteronomy.
Joshua and Judges sway the land.
Ruth glean the sheaf with trembling hand.
While Samuel, Kings and Chronicles appear.
Ezra Nehemiah now.
Esther the beautious mourner show.
Job speaks in sighs.
David in Psalms.
The Proverbs teach to scatter alms.
Ecclesiastes then comes on.
With the sweet Songs of Solomon.
Isiah Jeremiah then.
With Lamentations hold his pen.
Ezekiel Daniel Hosea’s lyre.
Swells Joel Amos Obadiah.
Next Jonah Micah Nahum come.
While lofty Habakkuk finds room.
And Zephaniah and Haggai call.
Rapt Zachariah builds his walls.
And Malachi with garments sent.
Includes the Ancient testament.
Mary Rispah Campbell
354 Euclid Ave.
Elmira, N.Y.
218 Princeton Ave., Corning, N.Y.
14 Nov 1965
Dear Ruth,
It was so nice hearing from you.
Yes I have many questions that I hope you can answer. The DeWitts – Julia’s family records were destroyed. I have been corresponding with a Lt. Col. G. G. Griffeth on the west coast. His family came from Michigan. He has done all of the early research – but we still have a few answers to search out. He is 83 years old. (My mother’s age.)
I would like very much to know what you have. These questions might help.
Where did we get the name Rispah?
What do you know about the Fletcher Family? Dates are important. I have nothing here.
I have many pictures – your mother when she was a little girl, etc. Some Some of them I know. Some I do not. I have one of Olive Rispah Fletcher – Was she Catherine Fletcher Griffeth’s (wife of Horace Griffeth) mother?
I see you have the name Rispah in your family.
Whenever you have time we will be most happy to hear from you.
Thanks so much for your records you have a nice family. I think I told you of mine also.
I shall send you a “Tree” – as soon as I get a few more answers. I do hope Mr. G. on the coast publishes the genealogy. If he doesn’t, I shall endeavor to do so.
With Love,
Evalena M. Stickler
Aug 27, 1970
Dear Ruth and Harold,
I have made out a chart – Genealogical – for your family starting with
your two sons names – so that you could fill in the Ames Family etc – thought as long as there was room there. It might be nice for you to have the information all together. Someone in the family always is interested enough to keep these things. This way it does not take up much space. It represents a lot of work though and of course I think most interesting. Your will like the stories – at least mine do.
I have written down your cottage number – and I hope your address is Penn Yan. Didn’t write that down. The summer is going so fast. I have been
making dill pickles – My family wont eat a store-bought one anymore.
Sincerely,
Evalena
2 Sept 1970
Dear Ruth,
Someday when we have time – you must see my books. What I sent you is just a direct-line descent picture or Genealogical tree. with notes. I have proofs of each generation and some papers that you would probably like to have copies made.
The only copier that I can get to is in the Library – Elmira – or upon the hill at Corning Comm. College. but I could make you up a note book of those lines – Griffeth – Gardiner – Doane etc – and you see there are some mother lines where we do not know the last name of the wife as yet – always work to do in Gen. Should not have tried to write a letter on such a small piece of paper – but wanted to show off my stationary.
Yesterday I just finished a doll (china, blond -) 20″ tall – dressed 1890ish for my daughter. I have many yet to do but never get to do more than 2 or 3 a year. That is my fun too. Genealogy comes first – that is the most fun – although it takes time – travel & money that I don’t have.
Now here is really why I wrote to you this morning – Thanks so much for telling us about Ken. E. – He called himself last Sunday – ask him to take over a duty for him – in the Sons of Am. Rev. Soc. – said he wouldn’t be available for the Oct meeting – That he was going back in hospital. We were shocked to hear of the seriousness of his illness. – He is most important to our Historical Soc. etc and Corning. Everyone likes Ken. We feel sad that such things have to happen. Why?
Do write once in a while – not many left of our tribe either. It is always good to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Evalena
Arthur – itize is bothering my hand this morning – Hope you can read this.
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https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Campbell&GSiman=1&GSsr=161&GScid=66781&GRid=99727054&Birth: Mar. 16, 1836
Death: Jan. 25, 1929
Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira, Chemung County, New York, USA
Created by: RobMinteer57, Record added: Oct 28, 2012, Find A Grave Memorial# 99726990
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