CAMPBELL, John, Beeville Bee, 14 Apr 1911, front page:

NOTED PIONEER DEAD
John Campbell, "Father of Atascosa County," Passes Away While on Important Mission

San Antonio Light 9th.  Colonel John Campbell, 77 years old, founder of the town of Campbellton 
and familiarly known as the "Father of Atascosa county", and a wealthy merchant, stockman and 
farmer, died yesterday afternoon at the Bexar hotel of acute indigestion, after an illness of only 
four days. Colonel Campbell had been a resident of Texas for sixty years, was widely known 
throughout the state and was a highly respected citizen of Texas. The remains will be taken to 
Campbellton today, where interment will take place in the family burial plot.

On last Monday Colonel Campbell left his home at the head of a delegation of Campbellton citizens 
to present to the promoters of the San Antonio-Brownsville railroad, the claims of Campbellton to 
the consideration of the locating committee of that enterprise. It is regarded as probable that the 
exertions put forth in that mission superinduced the attack of acute indigestion, which resulted in 
his death.

Children at Bedside
At his bedside when he passed away were his wife and six children, Jourdan, William, Edward, 
Misses Annie and Sallie Campbell of Campbellton, and Mrs. E. L. Burke of Beeville; E. M. Tom and 
wife, C. T. Tom and wife of Campbellton, Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Houston, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Houston 
and J. E. DeWees of Floresville and Malone McCowan of Campbellton.

Colonel Campbell is survived by his widow and six children, nine grandchildren, the one child of 
Mrs. Burke and the eight children of Jourdan Campbell; three brothers, Ed. Campbell of San Saba, 
Peter Campbell of Seguin and Francis M. Campbell of Brady City; and five sisters, Mrs. Anna Hurt 
of Seguin, Mrs. R. Kerr of Sanderson, Mrs. S. H. Tom of Floresville, Mrs. Maggie Proctor of Brady 
City and Mrs. Mary Tom of Stanton. A sister, Mrs. Ellen Tom, died in Atascosa county at an advanced 
age. The Campbell family is widely connected throughout Texas.

Colonel Campbell was born in the county of Donegal, Ireland, October 15, 1834. He came to Texas 
with his parents in 1848 and settled near Seguin in Guadalupe county. In the year 1867 he was married 
to Miss Mary Irvin, daughter of Mrs. Sarah Irvin of Seguin, and soon thereafter removed with his wife 
to Atascosa county, where he made his home up to the time of his death.

When the Indian uprisings broke out in 1855, he volunteered his services to assist in the suppression 
of the Indians and remained in the service throughout the two years of bloody strife which followed. 
At the time of his death he was one of the seven survivors of that famous company of Indian fighters.

Veteran of Civil War
When the civil war broke out in 1861, Colonel Campbell entered the Confederate army as a volunteer 
and remained in the army until the close of the war, participating in many of the important engagements 
in Louisiana and Mississippi. He retired from service with the rank of lieutenant.

He returned to Atascosa county when peace was restored and in 1867 engaged in the mercantile business 
at a cross-road point, which afterwards became the town of Campbellton. After thirty years in mercantile 
pursuits he retired from business to engage in farming and stock raising, leaving his mercantile interests 
to his sons, Jourdan, William and Edward, under the firm name of John Campbell & Sons.
 
Helped Those in Need
Though a staunch Catholic himself, the last rites of which church were administered at his request by 
Rev. F. D. Hudson of St. Mary's church, a short while before he death, he contributed liberally to the 
upbuilding of the churches of every other denomination. He was also noted throughout his section for 
his broad stand in religious matters and his charitable attitude toward everyone in need of assistance.

The remains, accompanied by relatives and friends, will be taken to Campbellton at 9 o'clock this morning. 
Interment will be in the Campbell cemetery plot and will be attended by scores of citizens of Atascosa county 
and from this city. The funeral will be held Monday at 10 o'clock.