San
Joaquin County
Biographies
HOWARD A. CAMPION
As director of part-time and
continuation schools of Stockton, Howard A. Campion is doing an outstanding
work; he is the representative of the University of California in vocation
teacher-training in San Joaquin County and at the present time is also training
a group of expert mechanics for machine shop and automobile teaching. He was born in Rice County, Minnesota, July
31, 1894, a son of John A. and Nellie Marie (Carney) Campion, both natives of
Wisconsin. John A. Campion followed
farming and later was in business in Faribault, Minnesota. In 1920 he located in Stockton and opened a
grocery business on North El Dorado Street, where he and his son Neil conduct a
profitable business.
Howard A. Campion attended grammar
school at Faribault, then entered the high school at the same place; then he
taught school for one year, after which he entered the Stout Institute at
Menomonie, Wisconsin, where he took a two years normal course; then for a time
he worked at practical drafting in Stanley, Wisconsin. He came west to Boise, Idaho, where he taught
school for two years. In 1916 he removed
to Stockton and became a mechanical drawing teacher and the following year
became the supervisor of drafting in the Stockton high school; then in 1918 he
became the assistant director of vocational education in the Stockton
schools. In 1919 he was elected director
of the part-time and continuation school in Stockton which has an enrollment of
over 400 students who work part of the day and attend school the balance of the
time. The entire top floor of the Harris
Building at 517 East Market Street is devoted to this school. Mr. Campion also has charge of certain
classes at the high school and the prevocational building in Stockton.
On November 22, 1918, Mr. Campion
was united in marriage with Miss Gertrude Hildebrand, born in Indianapolis,
Indiana, daughter of Mac and Jane (McClenathan)
Hildebrand. Mac Hildebrand brought his
family to California, then came to Stockton where he
was in business until his death January 7, 1923. There are eight children in the Hildebrand
family: Lee, Ada, Lon, Mrs. Gertrude
Campion, Eva, Don, Austin and Kathleen.
Mrs. Campion received her education in the grammar schools of Indianapolis
and Riverside and finished at the Stockton high school. In politics Mr. Campion is a Democrat and
fraternally is a member of Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. Elks, as well as Stockton
Council, No. 1311, Knights of Columbus, having passed through the chairs of the
latter organization; he is president of the Stockton Kiwanis Club; he is also a
member of the Stockton Chamber of Commerce and the American Legion. On October 21, 1917, he entered the World War
and was sent to Camp Lewis and placed in the 363rd Infantry
Headquarters Company and was commissioned a corporal. While training at Camp Lewis he had the
misfortune to severely injure his foot and in March, 1918, he received his
honorable discharge from the service.
Mr. and Mrs. Campion are the parents of one daughter, Jane Marie, and
the family resides at 935 North Madison Street, Stockton.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Tinkham, George H., History of San
Joaquin County, California , Pages
1585-1586. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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