BIOGRAPHY: Gen. Jacob Miller CAMPBELL, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 11-15
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GEN. JACOB MILLER CAMPBELL, soldier and statesman, is a son of John and Mary 
(Weyand) Campbell, and was born November 20, 1821, in Allegheny township, 
Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and died in Johnstown, this county, September 27, 
1888.
     His father was a native of Scotland, whence he emigrated to the United 
States in 1817, and his mother was a native of Somerset county. In 1826 his 
parents removed to Allegheny city, where he attended the common schools. In 
1835, at the age of sixteen years, he returned to the town of Somerset, and 
entered the printing house of the Somerset Whig, where he mastered as much of 
the "art preservative of all arts" as could be obtained in a country printing 
office. In 1840 he took a position as a printer in the composing rooms of the 
"Literary Examiner," a monthly magazine published in Pittsburg. In the autumn of 
1840 he went to New Orleans and worked in the newspaper offices of that city 
until the spring of 1841, when he engaged in steamboating on the lower 
Mississippi river and its tributaries, and for several subsequent years filled 
the position successively of mate, clerk, and part-owner of a vessel. In April, 
1847, he married, and in the fall of that year abandoned steamboating, and 
removed to Brady's Bend, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the iron business at 
the Great Western Iron Works. In 1851 he went to California, but returned within 
a year, and resumed work at the Brady's bend Iron Works. In 1853 he removed to 
Johnstown, this county, and assisted in the construction of the mammoth iron 
works of the Cambria Iron company at that place, and remained connected with 
these works, holding all the time an important and responsible position until 
the breaking out of the Civil War, in 1861. Upon the first call of President 
Lincoln for troops for the three months' service to defend the National 
Government, he was enrolled as lieutenant in the first company from Cambria 
county, tendering their services to the Governor, and with it arrived in 
Harrisburg early on the morning of the 18th of April, 1861, being the first 
company to enter Camp Curtin. Upon an organization of regiments, which was 
effected during the next few days, his company was assigned to the Third 
regiment and designated as company G, and Lieutenant Campbell was appointed 
quarter-master of the regiment April 20, 1861, and with it served in the Second 
brigade, Second division, under General Patterson in his abortive campaign on 
the upper Potomac, in the vicinity of the mouth of the Shenandoah Valley, and 
returned to Harrisburg, and with the troops of that command was mustered out of 
service July 28, 1861. Immediately upon being mustered out he was commissioned a 
colonel by Governor Curtin, and authorized to recruit a regiment of volunteers 
for three years' service. In due time the regiment was recruited mainly through 
Colonel Campbell's exertions, and it was designated as the Fifty-Fourth regiment 
of Pennsylvania volunteers. As soon as organized the regiment was ordered to 
Washington, D. C., in which vicinity it remained until the 29th of March, 1862, 
when Colonel Campbell was ordered to report to General Miles, commanding at 
Harper's Ferry, Virginia, and in accordance, with instructions from that 
officer, proceeded to occupy the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from 
North Mountain Station, Virginia, fifty-six miles westward to the south branch 
of the Potomac, the regiment occupying the most important points along the line. 
In September, 1862, the forces under General Miles were all, except the Fifty-
Fourth Pennsylvania volunteers, driven into Harper's Ferry and captured by the 
Confederate forces under General Jackson. Colonel Campbell retained his position 
on the line of the road and succeeded in saving it from destruction, although 
his regiment was the only one left south of the Potomac between Cumberland and 
the defences at Washington. After the battle of Antietam Colonel Campbell's 
regiment was temporarily attached to Gen. Franklin's corps (Sixth). On March 6, 
1863, he was ordered to Romney with his regiment, and was there assigned to the 
command of the Fourth brigade, First division, Eighth army corps. With this 
force he proceeded to occupy the different mountain passes in that section, 
making his headquarters at Mechanicsburg Gap. Whilst occupying this position 
they were in almost daily conflict with detachments of the Confederate army and 
the guerrilla forces, which infested that section. On the 14th of June, 1863, 
Colonel Campbell, with his brigade, was ordered to New Creek to assist in the 
defence of that post, which was threatened by the enemy. On the 5th of July his 
command formed part of a column under General Kelly, which marched to Fairview, 
Maryland to prevent the forces under General Lee from gaining possession of the 
forts at Cherry Run and points further west on the Potomac. On July 16th he 
crossed the Potomac at Cherry Run and marched to Hedgeville driving the enemy's 
forces from that place. On August 2d, 1863, Colonel Campbell, with his brigade, 
was ordered to return to his former stations among the Hampshire mountains, 
where he remained doing active duty until the 6th of November, when he was 
ordered to Springfield, West Virginia, with his command, and all the troops 
along the line of the railroad from Cherry Run to New Creek, a distance of 
ninety miles, were assigned to his command in addition to his brigade. On the 
4th of January, 1864, he removed, with his brigade, to Cumberland, which place 
was threatened by the forces of Rosser and Fitzhugh Lee. Here he remained until 
General Siegel took command of the department of West Virginia. In April, 1864, 
in the reorganization of the troops that took place preparatory to the 
contemplated movement up the valley of the Shenandoah, Colonel Campbell, at his 
own request, was relieved from the command of his brigade and returned to his 
old regiment. At the battle of New Market, May 15, 1864, he occupied the extreme 
left of the line with his regiment, and it suffered heavily, two hundred and 
eighty-four of its number being killed or wounded. After the battle General 
Siegel fell back to Adar Creek, where he was relieved of his command by General 
Hunter, who again renewed the march up the valley, meeting the enemy at 
Piedmont, on the 5th day of June, 1864.  In this battle, Colonel Campbell, with 
his regiment, again occupied the left of the line flanking the enemy's right and 
attacking them in the rear, capturing twice as many of the enemy as he had men 
in his command.  For gallant conduct and superior skill exhibited at this battle 
Colonel Campbell was breveted to a brigadier-general, a position doubly earned 
by long and efficient service as a brigade commander.  Three days after this 
battle, when the forces under Crook joined those of Hunter at Staunton, 
Virginia, General Campbell was assigned to the command of the Third Brigade, 
Second division, and as a special favor the Forty-Fourth regiment was 
transferred to the same brigade, that it might be under its old commander.  In 
all the engagements under General Hunter, while on the celebrated "Lynchburg 
Raid" General Campbell took a prominent part, and on the return from that place 
covered the retreat.  On July 24, 1864, he took part in the battle of Winchester 
under Crook, and upon the fall of General Mulligan, in the battle, assumed 
command of the division, and participated in all the subsequent battles of Crook 
while the latter was in command, and after Sheridan came to the head of the 
department he took part in all the engagements of the Shenandoah Valley under 
that renowned chieftain,  General Campbell was absent from his command but three 
weeks, when, in February, 1864, he was detailed by the Secretary of War to act 
as a member of a court of inquiry at Wheeling, West Virginia.  With but one 
single exception he was with his command in every fight in which his brigade or 
regiment took part, from the time of its organization until he was mustered out 
of service, September 3, 1864.  After the close of the war, on the 17th of 
August, 1865, General Campbell was nominated by the Republican State convention 
of Pennsylvania as a candidate for the office of Surveyor General (now Secretary 
of Internal Affairs) and was elected for a term of three years.  In 1868 he was 
re-elected to the same office, and served with great satisfaction to the people 
and with credit to himself.  At the end of his second term in this office, he 
declined a re-election, and devoted his time and attention to mechanical and 
other industrial pursuits until the fall of 1876, when, recognizing his ability, 
the Republicans of the Seventeenth Congressional district of Pennsylvania, 
composed of the counties of Bedford, Blair, Cambria and Somerset, nominated and 
elected him to represent them in the House of Representatives by a majority of 
520 votes over the Hon. John Riley, democrat, who carried the district two years 
before by a majority of 1147 votes.  In 1878 he was a candidate for re-election, 
but, owing to the organization of the Greenback party in the district, he was 
defeated by a majority of 305 votes.  In 1880 he was again a candidate, and was 
elected by a majority of 1436 over his former competitor, Hon. A. H. Coffroth, 
and in 1882 he again defeated Coffroth.  In 1884, he was elected to the Forty-
Ninth congress by a majority of 3564 votes over Dr. Americas Enfield.  When in 
Congress he served as a member of the Committees on Education, Labor, Railways, 
Canals, and others of a special character.  In the Forty-Seventh congress he 
served as chairman on the Committee on Manufactures.  He was an earnest advocate 
of the resumption of specie payment, and was opposed to the free and unlimited 
coinage of silver for the reason that 412 1/2 grains of silver were not worth a 
dollar in the market of the world. He advocated the repeal of the Bankrupt Law, 
believing its repeal essential to the restoration of financial and commercial 
confidence and prosperity. He voted for the restriction of Chinese emigration to 
this country. He was always an earnest advocate of the principles of protection 
to all branches of American industry. He favored all measures looking to the 
enlargement of our foreign commerce, the establishment of proper harbor and 
coast defences, the building of an efficient navy and the reform in the civil 
service and kindred measures. In 1856 he was a delegate to the first Republican 
National convention, assisted in the organization of the party, and ever 
afterward was an earnest advocate of its principles and supporter of its 
candidates. He was chairman of the Republican State convention in 1887. This was 
his last public appearance, and though visibly failing in health, he proved, as 
on all former similar occasions, his remarkable ability as a presiding officer. 
So excellent an impression did he make by his dignified conduct that, coupled 
with his previous unsullied record, and coming as he did from a section of the 
State whose claims had long been unrecognized, he was by many spoken of as a 
suitable candidate to succeed Governor James A. Beaver, and had his physical 
vigor remained adequate, it is extremely probable that he would have received 
the gubernatorial nomination.
     In business circles the general was no less esteemed than in public life. 
Because of his high character, his name was a tower of strength in any 
enterprise. Prominent among the corporations with which he was connected as a 
director were the First National Bank, The Savings Bank and the Gas and Water 
Companies and the Johnstown Electric Light Company. He was a charter member of 
Alma Lodge and of Wm. F. Packer Encampment, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
and for thirty years took a lively interest in those organizations, in which he 
rose to the principal offices. He was likewise a charter member of Johnstown 
Lodge, No. 538, Free and Accepted Masons. By his former comrades in arms, among 
whom he was affectionately known as "Uncle Jake," he was loved and honored for 
his sterling qualities, both as a man and as a soldier, and some of his happiest 
hours were those passed at the camp-fires of Emory Fisher Post, No. 30, G. A. 
R., of which he was a prominent and enthusiastic member to the day of his death. 
In 1887, upon the reorganization of the Fifty-Fourth regiment as a civil body, 
he was enthusiastically chosen president by the survivors. Upon retiring from 
public life General Campbell sought the quiet and seclusion of his home, and 
devoted himself to looking after his private interests, and to taking a well-
earned rest after his active and useful life. But he was not destined to enjoy 
it long. Up to the year 1883 he had been wholly exempt from physical ailments, 
but in that year he sustained a severe attack of pneumonia, which seriously 
undermined his health. Twice subsequently the same disease prostrated him, the 
last time being in May, 1888; but owing to his strong constitution he recovered, 
although with each attack his strength visibly diminished. When apparently 
recovering from the last attack of pneumonia he was stricken with paralysis, and 
although his life was despaired of then, he routed the disease and recovered 
sufficient strength to leave his bed and go about almost as usual. About two 
months before his death his final illness began with symptoms of heart failure. 
His death was directly due to acute inflammation of the brain. Under a plain and 
unassuming exterior, General Campbell concealed high ability and a rare degree 
of manly virtue. Unselfishness and a sincere regard for the welfare of others 
were conspicuous among his striking characteristics. "As a soldier," said one 
who was familiar with his career in all its phases, "he was brave and noble, and 
his heroism was never questioned. As a State official he was above suspicion, 
and although he instituted many great reforms which met with opposition, no one, 
even amid the greatest political excitement, impeached his integrity. As a 
congressman he was untiring in his work and a faithful agent of his 
constituents, never failing to attend to a duty exacted of him and never 
neglecting to answer a letter asking for information. * * * His private life, 
his home, were beautiful. The youngest of his children was treated by him with 
the same manly consideration as the best of his fellows, and the strength of his 
affection for her who so nobly shared his trials and sacrifices, and 
participated in the honors and triumphs of his later years was one of the 
loveliest traits of his character." "A life's work well done, a name historical 
in the annals of the State, a record of duty conscientiously discharged in every 
walk of life."
     In April, 1847, he married Mary R., daughter of James and Mary Campbell, 
and to their happy union were born the following children: Mrs Mary W. Kinney, 
of Braddock, Pennsylvania; Curtis G., a druggist of Johnstown, who married Mary 
M. Robb, of Johnstown; Louis D., who married Mrs. Emma Elliott, and is a lawyer 
located in Tacoma, Washington; Ida Blanch, deceased, James A., of Braddock, 
Pennsylvania; Eva A., the wife of Dr. C. L. Rutter, of Chicago, Illinois; Frank 
M., who married Annie Madden, is a business man of Eureka Springs, Arkansas 
William B., of Los Angeles, California; Ralph R., physician, located in Chicago, 
who married Miss Ida Belle MacArthur of that city; John B., at home, and Bruce 
H., an attorney-at-law, located in Chicago, Illinois.