Campbell Family

This lengthy blog is the beginning of a two part blog the rest of the information I will post tomorrow night.
From the first time that I picked up the book "The Town that coal Built" I found it very interesting that almost all the information about coal miners came from a student interview by Steven Campbell Jr.
Nevertheless I developed a burning desire to find out more about who he was and just why did he have so much information about the coal mines. While searching for information I recieved the following information from Vicki Barge who happens to be related to the Campbells.
Thank You ,Vicki
Consequently, I now understand why Steven Campbell was an expert on coal minning as his family was one of the few families that kept living in this area after the coal mines disappeared.

There are five articles including obituaries and anniversery articles on tonights blog.

The Rich Hill Mining Review
Thursday February 24, 1949

TO CELEBRATE 54th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, FEBRUARY 20

Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Campbell, Sr., and Mrs. and Mrs. Willard L. Mudd were married in a double wedding (ring ceremony) at the home of Mrs. Campbell’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. Medley, 3 ½ miles south of Rich Hill, Mo., February 20, 1895. Mrs. Campbell was Nettie Medley at that time and Mrs. Mudd, Kate Campbell, was the youngest sister of Mr. Campbell.

Mr. Campbell came to Rich Hill in the early days of coal mining in the Rich Hill field, and Miss Campbell came also to attend school and lived among her four sisters, who were residents of this city.

At school she met Willard Mudd, a schoolmate and who lived here at that time with his parents, and brothers and sisters. Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Mudd are the parents of two daughters; five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Mrs. and Mrs. Mudd are at their home in Warrensburg, Mo on Gay Street.

Mrs. Campbell came with her parents from near Moline, Kas. with a caravan of covered wagons in 1880. Among the caravan were the late Phillip Hammond and family, who lived here with his family many years, as did Jim Ashby and family, parents of Mrs. Ted Engels, another family all long since passed on were the Dawsons and others. Dr. W.H. Allen was a young physician at that time and lived with his father Mayor Allen north of Rich Hill.

Mr. Medley became acquainted with the late Elias Falor, who operated a flour mill east of the new Missouri Pacific Railroad here on Maple street. Mr. Medley sold his little home among the first houses built in this town located on Maple Street, and moved to the Falor farm and fed Texas cattle for Mr. Falor and his son, the late Charles Falor. The public school house, known as Mound Valley, where Nettie Medley attended year after year having as teachers the late Miss Etta Stewart, John P. Thurman, then a very young man, at that time, also Miss Rachel Crabb. Another beloved teacher was that of our dear friend Mrs. Edith Falor, who decided to give up the profession, leave us and become the bride of the ever thoughtful friend of Mr. Medley and his family who lived on Falor’s farm at that time.
One night after the No.8 colony of coal miners and their families had established a new small town or “camp” at Panama, known as No. 8, the citizens met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Louie Brown. Mr. Brown by the way was a brother of Mrs. Henry Christman Sr., of this city. However, at this meeting for the purpose of erecting some kind of place for church worship.

Mr. Campbell and Miss Medley met and the following year, 1895, married at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. Medley.
Mr. and Mrs. S.R. Campbell have three daughters and one son; three grandchildren. They will quietly spend Sunday Feb 20 at their home, 1420 East Maple and hope to have Mr. and Mrs. Steve Campbell Jr., and daughter, Carolyn, also Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Moore of Butler as guests for the day to celebrate the 54th anniversary.


Rich Hill Mining Review
Thurday, December 22, 1949

Stephen R. Campbell
Stephen R. Campbell, son of Priscilla Grace and James A. Campbell was born in Howard County, Missouri, August 22, 1864 and was 85 years, 4 months, 23 days of age at the time of death. He came to Rich Hill when he was 20 years of age and engaged in coal mining and was mine foreman and superintendent until 1940, when he retired. He was a member of a family of fourteen children, and all preceded him in death, but two, Mrs. Willard Mudd of Warrensburg, Mo and Casey Campbell of Clinton, Mo.
In 1895 he was married to Nettie Medley. To this union six children were born, four survive; Stephen R. Campbell, Jr., Rich Hill, Mrs. Emily Brasseur, Henryetta, Oklahoma, Mrs. Georgia Moore, Butler, Mo., Mrs. B.F. Jackson, Georgetown, Texas, also three grandchildren, Carolyn Campbell, Steve and Richard Jackson.
Mr. and Mrs. Campbell celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary in 1944 and have spent most of their married life in Rich Hill, MO. Mr. Campbell was a devoted husband and father.
Mr. Campbell’s parents baptized him in the Methodist church in infancy. He was a great friend to the church, and his home was always open to ministers. He leaves a great host of friends to mourn his passing.



Rich Hill Mining Review - Friday Dec 23, 1949

Steve R. Campbell, one of the older citizens of Rich Hill, passed away at his home on East Maple Street, Wednesday afternoon, December 14, 1949. He had reached the advanced age of 85 years and six months. Mr. Campbell was a coal miner in his earlier years. He lived here in the boom days of the town when the coal mines were running full blast. He always stood very high with the miners and also the townspeople. He was a good citizen. Any time the town wanted to do anything worth while you could count on Mr. Campbell doing his part. After the mines played out he has been doing some farming.

He lived a short time in Henrietta, OK, but was never satisfied until he got back to his old home town of Rich Hill. In 1895 he was married to Nettie Medley. To this union six children were born, four survive: Stephen R. Campbell, Jr., Rich Hill, Mrs. Emily Brasseur, Henryetta, OK, Mrs. Georgia Moore, Butler, Mrs. B.F. Jackson, Georgetown, Texas; also three grandchildren, Carolyn Campbell, Steve and Richard Jackson. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary in 1944 and have spent most of their married life in Rich Hill. Mr. Campbell was a devoted husband and father. Funeral services were held in the Methodist Church, Friday afternoon, conducted by Rev. T. H. Norris.



Rich Hill Mining Review - Thursday Aug 10, 1961

Mrs. Annetta (Nettie) Campbell, a resident of Rich Hill many years, died last Thursday in the Tate Nursing Home in Nevada, after an illness of three months. Mrs. Campbell, a daughter of George and Catherine Medley was born in Moline, KS, July 18, 1872. She passed away August 10, 1961 at the age of 89 years and 25 days. She had been a resident of Rich Hill more than 70 years. In 1895 she was united in marriage to Steve Campbell, who preceded her in death. She was a member of the Methodist church and Royal Neighbor lodge. Surviving are one son Steve Campbell, Rich Hill; three daughters, Mrs. Emily Brasseur, Henryetta, OK; and Mrs. Elsie Jackson, Nashville, TN; one sister, Mrs. Charles Smith, Branson, MO and two brothers, Charles Medley and Edward Medley; also three grandchildren. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon, August 13, at 2 o'clock in the Methodist church conducted by Rev. Paul Rundall. Burial was made in Green Lawn Cemetery. Pallbearers were James Clarkston, Russell Blakely, Henry Stevener, Jeff O'Neal, Marion Ellis and Wm. Ashley.



Rich Hill Mining Review June 1976

Stephen R. Campbell, 78 passed away at the Nevada City Hospital Monday evening, June 28, 1976. He was the son of Stephen R. Campbell, Sr. and Annetta Medley. While born in Arkansas, Mr. Campbell was raised in Rich Hill and attended Rich Hill Schools. He was preceded in death by his wife, Edna, in January of 1972. He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Carolyn Clark, St. Joseph, MO and two granddaughters, Allyson and Alicia Clark, St. Joseph, MO and three sisters, Mrs. Georgia Moore, Butler, Mrs. Emily Brassur, Henryetta, OK and Mrs. Elsie Jackson, Georgetown, Texas. Funeral services will be Thursday at 2 pm at the Methodist Church with burial at Green Lawn Cemetery.