From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902. 

Typed by Carol Taylor Lanza.

Pages 780 thru 782

HON. ALEXANDER R. CAMPBELL, a gentleman who has for years been 
prominent in the business and political affairs of Wheeling, is stamp 
deputy internal revenue collector, with office in the Government 
Building.  He was born at Burlington, Iowa, August 29, 1848, and is a 
son of John R. and Margaret (Cassady) Campbell.

John R. Campbell was born in Wheeling in 1813, and was one of the 
pioneers of the state.  He was a merchant by occupation and as well and 
favorably known over the state.  He died in 1864, aged about fifty-one 
years.  He was reared in the faith of the United Presbyterian church. 
Although a public spirited citizen, he took little interest in 
politics.  He married Margaret Cassady, who was born in Winchester, 
Virginia, in 1826, and was of Scotch-Irish descent, as was also her 
husband.  She died in 1875, aged about fifty years. She was a member of 
the First Presbyterian Church, one of the original promoters of the 
Children's Home, and a great worker in church affairs and in all 
organizations the object of which was the betterment of mankind.  Five 
children were born of this union namely:  Mary C., widow of M. A. 
Chandler, who was well  and favorably known in Wheeling, where he was 
cashier in a bank, and who now resides in Cleveland, Ohio; Alexander 
R., the subject of this biographical record; Amelia S., wife of D. C. 
Huffman, who is cashier of the People's National Bank, of Morgantown, 
West Virginia; Thomas D., who resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is 
traveling passenger agent for the Wisconsin Central Railway Company; 
and John R., who resides in Chicago and is freight agent for one of the 
trunk lines.  

Alexander R. Campbell obtained his mental instruction in the common and 
high schools of Wheeling.  He was between fifteen and sixteen years old 
when his father died, and was called upon at that early age to support 
the family, which he did in a most creditable manner, living with his 
mother until her death.  His first work was as clerk in the wholesale 
drug house of McCabe, Kraft & Company, with which he remained until 
1871, rendering excellent service for seven years.  Upon the day on 
which he left the old firm he entered the employ of Laughlin Brothers & 
Company, and in 1873 became a member of the firm, and continued as such 
until 1883.  During his entire business career up to this time, 
extending over a period of twenty years, he did not miss a single day's 
work.  In that year he moved to Ravenswood, West Virginia, and assumed 
charge of a drug store which he owned there, but he disposed of the 
business soon after, as he did not like it.  He accepted the position 
of general agent for West Virginia, of the Northwestern Mutual Life 
Insurance Company of Milwaukee, with headquarters in Wheeling and 
Ravenswood.  While in Ravenswood he became interested in politics, and 
was elected chairman of the Republican executive committee of Jackson 
County, and at the next general election, in 1888, was made the 
candidate of the Republican party for State Senator and was elected.  
He served in the memorable campaign that took place between Governors 
Gough and Fleming.  He returned to Wheeling in 1889, and in 1892 was 
nominated for the House of Delegates and elected.  In 1896 he was one 
of the clerks of the State Senate.  In 1895 he was elected to the city 
council of Wheeling, and did his utmost to advance the general welfare 
of the community.  Since 1892 there has not been a campaign in West 
Virginia that he has not taken an active part in, speaking through West 
Virginia and Ohio under direction of the national and state committees.  
In July, 1897, he was tendered and accepted his present position, and 
was again appointed upon the reelection of President McKinley.  He has 
filled the position in a most capable manner and to the entire 
satisfaction of all concerned.  He was a stockholder in, and director 
of, the bank at Ravenswood, and was secretary of the board of directors 
while residing in that town.

Mr. Campbell was united in marriage, December 20, 1876, with Mary H. 
Rearick, a lady of culture and pleasing presence.  She is a daughter of 
John Rearick, who was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, where his business 
career was spent as a merchant.  Five children were born to bless this 
union:  Clinton R., individual bookkeeper in the Dollar Savings Bank of 
Wheeling;  Alexander R., Jr., who is a traveling salesman for the 
wholesale grocery establishment of Neill Elingham, of Wheeling; 
Chandler, who was appointed by President McKinley to a 2nd lieutenancy 
through Senator N. B. Scott, of West Virginia, and who is an apt 
scholar, and stood second best in a class of 12 in passing his 
examination for that grade;  Harold W., who is in school at Morgantown, 
West Virginia, and is preparing for the legal profession; and Juliet, 
who is a student in Wilson College at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.  In 
1900 Chandler was commissioned as second lieutenant in the Marine Corps 
of the United States.  He was one of the two officers who had charge of 
the White House while President McKinley's body lay in state.  Mr. And 
Mrs. Campbell have a great and pardonable pride in their family.  The 
four sons have now reached mature years, and until the youngest son had 
reached his majority the father and four sons had never smoked or used 
tobacco or intoxicants of any kind, a record of which they may well 
feel proud.  Mrs. Campbell is a member of the First Presbyterian 
Church.