Butte County
Biographies
ROBERT W. CAMPBELL
ROBERT W. CAMPBELL.—A comparatively young man who has already become prominent as a man of affairs, and a rancher who has displayed ability in other fields, is Robert W. Campbell, the fortunate inheritor, as the son and nephew of noted pioneers, of a keen interest in Butte County history and an enthusiasm for the preservation of its interesting and important annals. His father was William Campbell, a native of Ireland, where he was born at Aboghill, in the County Antrim, of Scotch descent. When still young, he was seized with the gold fever, which hurried him across the ocean to California, where he arrived, at San Francisco, in 1852. From there he made his way to the Feather River mines in Butte County, and for some time tried his luck in Oregon Gulch, Butte Creek. Then, with his brother Robert and William Adams, he engaged in sheep-raising on Table Mountain, but after a while he returned to his old home, to marry Margaret Phillips, a native of that section. When he came back to San Francisco, by way of Panama, he settled near Oroville on what was to become known as the old William Campbell place, buying then the land that was the nucleus of the present Campbell Ranch. He improved his property, built a residence, and with the income derived from the raising of sheep and cattle made of the area a splendid estate. By aggressive enterprise, he came to acquire seven thousand acres in a body, and this he devoted largely to stock-raising, although he also raised grain. Full of years and well-won honors, he died in 1898, respected and admired by all who knew him. Mrs. Campbell, who died sixteen years later, also beloved by many, was the mother of seven children, six of whom grew up, namely: Annie J., Mrs. T. C. Dodge, who lives in Washington; John P., who lives in Oroville; Katherine, who is Mrs. Tucker, of Sacramento; Marie, who married Captain E. E. Vicary, recently of Camp Kearny, United States Army; Helen, who is Mrs. C. G. Perkins, of Oakland; and Robert W., the subject of our sketch.
Born on the Campbell Ranch, five miles northwest of Oroville, on January 15, 1879, and brought up there, Robert W. was educated at the grammar and high schools of his district, and at the same time, under the direction of his father, learned the care of cattle and sheep. He was only eighteen years of age when his father died, and so he continued with his mother in the management of the estate. Later he was given a partnership interest, and with his mother and himself were associated his brother and his Uncle Robert. The four partners continued together until the death of Mrs. Campbell. Robert W. Campbell thereupon bought her interest, and in 1916 he bought out his brother, as well. The next year the uncle died, leaving Robert his interest in the ranch. The uncle was an old settler who had come from Ireland to California about 1855, and had early gone into partnership with William Campbell. He grew to be very successful and had a large estate.
The Campbell Ranch is locally famous as one of the oldest that has remained in one family. The home ranch alone comprises four thousand two hundred acres, all fenced in and improved, with a full complement of buildings, barns, etc., and nowhere could finer land be found. A generous policy has provided liberally for the wants of the ranchman, and all the equipment is thoroughly modern and the methods pursued are up to date. With members of his family, Mr. Campbell is also interested in half a section of land in the valley, which is devoted to rice, and he owns a ranch in Pine Creek Valley, Lassen County, thirty miles northwest of Susanville, which he uses as a summer range. He raises Shorthorn and Hereford cattle of high grade, and his success as a stockman has given additional value to his brand, the letter P on the right hip.
In the city of San Francisco, Mr. Campbell was married to Miss Augusta Eleanor Wells, a native of Yankee Hill, Butte County, and the daughter of Michael Wells, one of the oldest pioneers of California, who died prominent and widely known as a mining man, having followed mining in Butte County for many years. He was also a merchant, and kept the hotel at Yankee Hill. He was a large, fine-looking man, and his attractive personality contributed to his hospitality. He was a good provider for his family, and Mrs. Campbell received every educational advantage, finally graduating from the Chico State Normal School. Three children were born to our subject and his gifted wife: Helen M., William Robert, and Eleanor E.
Mr. Campbell is a member of the California Cattlemen’s Association and has represented his district as a delegate to the 1918 convention. His past record and present attainments augur well for still greater achievements as a progressive ranchman.
Transcribed
by Sharon Walford Yost.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1166-1167, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2009 Sharon
Walford Yost.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies