Ebook History of Buchanan County, Iowa and Its People

Richard Campbell, deceased, was the founder and first president of the First National Bank at Independence and was a citizen who throughout his entire life commanded and received the high regard, confidence and good-will of all with whom he came in contact. His death, therefore, was deeply regretted when, on the 26th of March, 1901, he passed away. He was then in the seventy-fourth year of his age, his birth having occurred at Fort Brewerton, New York, on the 3d of August, 1827. His parents, John and Sarah (wilson) Campbell, were probably natives of the same state and were of Scotch descent. Richard Campbell was one of a family of ten children, but all have now passed 'away.. He attended school in New York and when a youth of about fifteen years began working for others in the Empire state, residing in Chit tenango. In the year 1856 he came with his brother, John Campbell, to Iowa. They made their way westward by rail to Duque and thence by wagon to Independence. They hauled the lumber from Dubuque to build their home and became actively identified with the material development and progress of this part of the state. Following his arrival Richard Campbell began loaning money and later conducted the First National. Bank, of which he became the first president, so continuing to the time of his death. He established it upon a safe conservative basis and made it one of the strong financial institutions of Iowa. Mr. Campbell was also connected with the street railway and at one time owned the Gedney Hotel. He was likewise associated with other business enterprises and at all times was actuated by a spirit of progress and improvement that benefited the city and county as well as advanced his individual interests. As he prospered in his undertakings he made judicious investments in real estate and became the owner of a number of valuable farms in Buchanan county and also considerable business and residence property in Independence, from which he derived a substantial annual income.