His father, Cyrus, died when he was about eleven years of age, his mother, Hannah, and young sister Cinderella Campbell (later Mrs. Stilley) lived with his brother, Monroe Campbell. He attended school at Bainbridge, taught by Isaac Stockton, until he mastered the three “R’s,” readin’, ‘ritin’ and ‘rithmetic.
At the same time he would work in the store and do anything his brother had for him to do. In fact, he was put in the store before he was tall enough to reach the goods on the shelves. At this early age he began the struggle for an independent, useful life.
By his energy and industry, he developed business ability so rapidly that his brother trusted him with the whole management of the business and store and would call him in consultation over business.
When Curt was about fifteen years old his brother sent him to Missouri to look after some business affairs in that state. While there he began his career of stock trading by buying a lot of young cattle, which proved to be a profitable investment, but he often said the first money he ever made was by swapping off a bald-faced Bay pony and getting five dollars boot.
In the March term of Williamson County Circuit Court 1856, prosecuting attorney John A. Logan, wrote out indictments against twelve men for unlawfully and willingly disturbing the peace. These were, unfortunately, all men of prominence and station in the community. Among them were Henry Brown, Robert Hundley, Marion C. Campbell, William Wiley, Robert L. Pulley, Henry Hopper, James D. Pulley, Robert Ingersoll, John Hudgens, John Morris, Samuel Huff and Hezekiah F. Ferrell.
It seems they were pulling a “charivari” on the newly married couple of George W. Binkley and Hannah (Lowe) Binkley. A charivari is based on an old European tradition of alerting the neighborhood when “hanky panky” such as adultery is being committed. Neighbors would surround the house and bang on pots and pans to humiliate the occupants and bring social pressure down on them. This tradition was carried on in later times, such as this one, to include “just poking fun” at a newly married couple and let’s face it, humiliating them. No prosecutions were ever made.
The business of Goodall and Campbell was established by John Goodall and M. C. Campbell in 1858 as a dry goods and livestock business, and continued under the firm name of Goodall & Campbell. These two men were always true friends, like brothers almost. Everyone in the area of Marion would have been familiar with the business partnership of Goodall and Campbell prior to the turn of the century.
While business partners, Goodall and Campbell operated a business location in the C.H. Denison building on the north side of the public square where the Bank of Marion is now located. Offices on the second floor were often rented by Williamson County over the years to house law offices and conduct county business between existing court houses. The second floor was also used to house several fraternal organizations in the late 1890’s.
The firm owned a fine stock farm of 700 acres adjoining Marion on the north and also built and operated a tobacco barn in 1881 next to the railroad tracks on N. Van Buren Street which later became an Armour Poultry house.
The business continued until 1874, when Samuel W. Dunaway became a partner. In 1876 Z. Hudgens bought the business and conducted it until June, 1885, when the firm of Goodall & Tippy, dealers in general merchandise in Marion which consisted of Joab Goodall and Oliver S. Tippy and was a large and successful business.
The Williamson County Agricultural Society was incorporated in 1856, Prominent among the members of the Association were: Marion C. Campbell, George W. Binkley and John M. Cunningham, who all united in the purchase of ten acres of land from Thomas A. Aikman, to be used as a fair ground just outside the west side of Marion. Annual fairs were held on this place until after the beginning of the Civil War, when it was sold to Robert M. Hundley. Marion served as president of the Association a number of years.
He was married to Hannah P. Cunningham, daughter of John M. Cunningham, on May 19, 1859, by whom they had three children, two sons and one daughter.
In the 1860 census, the Campbell’s were living in Township 9, Range 3 which at the time constituted Marion Township or the whole area surrounding Marion. Marion was 26 and Hannah 18. They had one child named Cyrus, aged 2 months and were housing his mother Hannah who is widowed and 70 years old. Campbell is listed as a merchant with a worth of $15,000 in real estate and a personal estate of $17,000. They were doing very well financially for the times.
Their first son, Cyrus Campbell died on October 20, 1861 and their second son, Hubert, died on March 11, 1862. The boy’s sandstone tombstones are located near the southwest corner of Goddard Chapel at Rose Hill Cemetery.
Prior to the civil war, Campbell had a partnership in a dry goods business with James D. McCown called Campbell and McCown. When the war broke out, McCown sold out his share to Campbell and entered the Union army only to die of disease a few months later in Mounds, Illinois without ever having seen action.
His wife, Hannah, died on April 30, 1864 at the age of 22 years and 18 days, not long after giving birth to their third child, a daughter named Anna C. Campbell. I believe it’s reasonable to assume that her death was a result of complications resulting from child birth which was unfortunately far too common in those days.
On March 19, 1866, he married his second wife, Cyrene H. Cunningham, also a daughter of John M. Cunningham and a sister to his first wife Hannah.
In the 1870 census, Marion and Cyrene have one child born the previous year of 1869. His name is John Campbell, aged 1. Marion is a merchant with real estate valued at $2,500 and a personal estate of $200, far less than his earlier worth. They have a 32 year old female servant in the home named Effie Boan.
By the 1880 census, Marion is 46 and Cyrene is 36. The children at home are John aged 11, Hannah aged 8 and Francis M. aged 1. Campbell lists himself as a livestock dealer. They have two people lodging in the home, O.S. Tippy, a 28 year old livestock dealer and S. Blankenship, a 40 year old day laborer. Tippy is one and the same person who ends up buying out his business and forming the partnership of Goodall and Tippy with Joab Goodall, Marion’s nephew, in 1885.
According to the Goodspeed History of the county, Marion Lodge, No. 1944, Knights of Honor, was chartered January 5, 1880, with W. H. Eubanks, J. H. Duncan, M. C. Campbell, M.R. Hopper, Z. Hudgens, M. Cantor and others as charter members.
The Knights of Honor (K. of H.), was a fraternal organization that was founded in 1873. Its principles differ little from those of other beneficent societies, the objects being to care for the sick and pay certain sums to the heirs of deceased members. Some lodges paid sick benefits from the local treasury, but all death benefits are paid by the Supreme Lodge, which was headquartered in St. Louis.
An extension of this organization, the Egyptian Lodge, No. 325, Knights & Ladies of Honor, was chartered June 1, 1880, with J. M. Burkhart, M. C. Campbell and his wife Cyrene, Thomas Dunaway and wife, Elijah Spiller and wife, and others as charter members.
On December 20, 1877, the large tobacco barn of the Goodall & Campbell, situated on the north-east corner of Van Buren and Union streets was destroyed by fire. This lot would later become the site of the Marion Fire Department for decades.
“Curt Campbell, as he was known to every man, woman and child, was a friend to everybody, especially to those in distress and trouble. He has gone on more bonds and security than any man in the County (loaned money and given credit). He fed and clothed many of the poor. He was generous to a fault. He was invested in and identified with all public improvements, and was a friend to religion and education.
By and through his influence and keen foresight, Marion has many improvements and advantages. He was a man of progress and push.
After many years of a successful business career, fortune played him fickle, and the reverses came thick and fast. But nothing daunted that courageous, noble spirit. He worked even harder than ever in his younger days, and had, after many hard years of strength about accomplished his heart’s desire—freed himself from debt and accumulated some property.”—1905 Souvenir History
The Campbell family appears to have left the county in the 1890’s and moved to Greeneville, Mississippi. This is where they are located in the 1900 census. At the time of the census, M.C. was now 66 and Cyrene 54. They have three boarders living in their home. He is still dealing in livestock and they owned their home in Mississippi but it was mortgaged.
Marion C. Campbell passed away July 12, 1902 in Greeneville, Mississippi , at the age of 68 years and 6 months.
“His cherished wish was to get money enough to get back to Marion, go into business and live again in Marion among relatives and friends. But alas, “Man proposes but God disposes.” He was as popular and as well known in Greenville as in his old home, and the expression from all when he passed away was, “A noble, good and upright man has been taken from us. He acted his part well on the stage of life, leaving behind him a good name for deeds well done.” —1905 Souvenir History
His body was returned to Marion after his death and is located in the family plot near Goddard Chapel at Old Rose Hill Cemetery near his many children and his first young wife who all died too young.
Sam’s Notes:
I found a reference to Marion C. Campbell in Milo Erwin’s history indicating that in 1861, James D. Pulley and M. C. Campbell went to Paducah the day before the soldiers left here to join the Confederacy and it was charged that they were on the “Old Kentucky” when she crossed the Ohio.—- Page 267, Milo Erwin. I have serious doubts about this. He was born here in this county, there are no confederate records to support it and he was present in the county in 1863 when he registered for the civil war draft. He also had a son die in October of 1861 and March 1862 and McCown sold his interest to him so that McCown could go to war. It doesn’t add up to me.
Anna C. Campbell, daughter of his first wife Hannah, was born in early 1864. Married John D. R. Turner on August 7, 1884. The couple resided in Springfield, Missouri in 1904. They had three children; Lillian E. Turner, 1805-19XX; Curtis Turner, 1887-XXXX; and John D. R. Turner 1890-XXXX.
Cyrene H. Campbell, Marion’s second wife was born July 14, 1846, in Marion, Illinois. She was educated at St. Vincent’s Academy, Ky., where she received medals for good conduct and industry.
She joined the Baptist church August 22, 1865, and remained a consistent, working member of that church until she left it to unite with the Christian church, of which she was an active, wide awake member.
It is said that she was largely instrumental in building the Christian Church at Marion, and since her residence in Greenville has aided in building the church and encouraging the cause of Christ. She is a member of the King’s Daughters. She, with other good ladies, did wonderful work in charity.
“She was married to M. C. Campbell March 19, 1866. They lived in Marion thirty years, and then went South, where she still is residing. She has many, many kind, loving friends, which she and her husband have made. All that ever have known them in their adopted Southern home, love them. “—1905 Souvenir
She was still in Greenville at the time of Marion’s death in 1902. No death record or date found on Cyrene.
John A. Campbell, son of Cyrene, in 1869, death unknown, no further records found.
Minnie and Frank Campbell, twins born to Cyrene in January 1889, both infants died around January 27, 1889 and interred at Rose Hill.
Mary Campbell, daughter of Cyrene, died in late October 1877. Sandstone monument almost unreadable but think her age was 8, not positive but she was definitely young based on tombstone at Rose Hill.
Francis Marion Campbell, son of Cyrene, born in 1878 and died December 8, 1881 at age 3. Burial at Rose Hill.
Hannah Campbell, daughter of Cyrene, born 1872 and died July 25, 1880 at age 8. Burial at Rose Hill.
(Photos and some date from the 1905 Souvenir History, WCHS; I.R.A.D.; Wikipedia; Goodspeed History, 1895; History of Williamson County, Milo Erwin, 1875; Federal Census Records; Marion City Cemetery Records; Ancestry.com; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 06/09/2013)