JAMES D. CAMPSEY. Of the sturdy Scotch-Irish it has been truthfully said that they are the living exponents of righteous government; the unterrified defenders of civil liberty; the strong embodiment of virtuous manhood, and the uncompromising advocates of the Christian faith. These attributes, coupled with a high sense of duty, hatred of tyranny, and the love of God, are true characteristics of the race from which the subject of this biographical sketch is descended. James Campsey, his paternal grandfather, a farmer by occupation, was born June 22, 1772, in Mountertany, Parish of Raphoe, County Donegal, Ireland, and in 1794 emigrated to America in the ship "Liberty." In 1792 he had married Elizabeth Johnson, of the same county, born February 1, 1770, and when he emigrated to the United States he was accompanied by his faithful wife and two children: William, born July 1, 1793, and John, born May 4, 1796. For a few years, or until 1801, they lived east of the mountains, and then proceeded westward to Washington county, Penn., making a settlement about two miles south of Claysville. this section being at that time an unbroken and sparsely settled wilderness. When they arrived the neighbors formed a "bee" and built them a log cabin, the foundation of which was four stumps, one for each corner, but one day being occupied in its erection. Here our little pioneer family made their home, gradually surrounding themselves with the necessaries and comforts of life, and here four more children came to enlarge the domestic circle: Margaret, born February 20, 1798; Joseph, born February 20, 1800; James, born February 20, 1803, and Rebecca, born June 2, 1805. The head of this pioneer family was a vigorous, energetic man, incessantly and assiduously toiling to make a home for his little ones, and to convert the forest wild into a fertile farm. On November 23, 1843, the loving partner of his bosom was called from earth, and Mr. Campsey, having then made an equitable division of his property, which was considerable, retired from active labor, and passed the remaining portion of his days on earth with his son James. He died September 1, 1851, full of years and honor, and was laid to rest by the side of his wife in Claysville cemetery. All their children lived to adult ages, excepting Margaret, who died in her girlhood. James Campsey, the youngest on of this revered couple, was born, as above recorded, on the old farm two miles south of Claysville, where he was early inducted into farm life, and made to work hard, at the expense of his school lessons, which were necessarily very limited. He was a natural mechanic, and could turn his hand to almost any kind of work in that line, being very ingenious and skillful. He constructed a distillery, including all the plant, which he operated for some time, until he became aware of the harm liquor was doing among those who could not discriminate between its use and abuse. He then gave up the business and disposed of the plant. Mr. Campsey was twice married, the first occasion on November 7, 1827, to Isabella Daugherty, a native of Washington county, born April 21, 1811, by which union there were five children: Mary Ann, born May 29, 1830; Harriet, born November 18, 1832; Margaret E., born May 18, 1835; James D., our subject, and a son, unnamed, born November 2, 1838, dying four days afterward. The mother of this family departed this life April 29, 1841, and March 10, 1842, Mr. Campsey wedded Mrs. Susanna Ralston (also a native of County Down, Ireland), widow of James Ralston, and daughter of David McMillan, of the same township, and two children (twins) were born to this union: David M. and Rebecea, born October 13, 1843, the former of whom is a leading merchant in Claysville, the latter dying February 19, 1876. Soon after his first marriage James Campsey purchased of Samuel Stokely a valuable farm property, comprising 352 acres of prime land, lying one and one half miles north of Claysville, to which he moved and where he followed farming till December, 1869, when he removed to Claysville, and there lived a retired life, having amassed a comfortable sufficiency by hard toil and earnestness of purpose. On April 4,1883, he was called from earth, his wife having preceded him to the long home September 24, 1874. Mr. Campsey was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Claysville, Mrs. Campsey being a member of the U. P. Church of South Buffalo. In politics Mr. Campsey was originally a Whig. in later years a Republican. James D. Campsey, only surviving son of James and Isabella (Daugherty) Campsey, was born May 24, 1838, in Donegal township, Washington Co., Penn., and received his education at the common schools of the district, a goodly portion of his boyhood days being passed in hard work on his father's farm. On June 21, 1870, he was married to Margaret M. Moore, who was born in 1849, in Washington county, Penn., a daughter of John Moore, and the results of this union were five children, as follows: Harry 0., born April 14. 1871; Metta B., born January 14, 1873, died October 19, 1889; Anna E., born January 14, 1876, died June 10, 1880; Thomas A., born January 2, 1878, died June 9, 1880; and Myrtle M. born January 23, 1880, all now deceased except Harry 0. and Myrtle M., who are now living at home. Our subject is a lifelong farmer, and has always lived on his portion of the old homestead with the exception of the two years he was engaged in mercantile business in Claysville, as a member of the firm of Sheller & Campsey. In politics he was formerly a Republican, but of late years he has given his moral support to the Prohibitionists, not binding himself, however, to any party, as on many occasions he votes for the best man, regardless of politics. He and Mrs. Campsey are members of the Presbyterian Church, and are held in the highest esteem and respect in the community in which they live.

Text taken from page 362 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed June 1997 by George A. and Mary Ann Plance of Gainesville, FL as part of the Beers Project. Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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