Shelby County, Ohio is in western Ohio and was formed in 1819 from Miami County.
In the 1830s settlers began arriving in Iowa from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, Kentucky, and Virginia. Iowa became a state in 1846.
Mary Elizabeth Taylor Campbell was born on November 2, 1853 in Shelby County, Ohio. She was the daughter of Jacob Taylor and Sarah Branstiter. At the time of the 1870 census, Mary was 16 years old and living in Sheridan, Logan County, Ohio. She was a domestic servant in the Morris home.
She married David Jackson Campbell on March 6, 1873 in McLean County, Illinois. David was born on May 30, 1850 in Kentucky. His parents were David Campbell and Emily Jane Rhodus.
Mary and David had ten children, eight of whom survived. All of their children except the youngest were born in Illinois. They were:
William David Campbell (December 14, 1874),
Henry T. Campbell (May 28, 1876),
Vauna M. Campbell Knudson (June, 1878),
Clara E. Campbell (April, 1881),
Harvey Leslie Campbell (April 27, 1882),
Orville Love Campbell (December 12, 1886),
Clarence R. Campbell (July, 1884),
Ira Lee Campbell (April 1892), and
Orville Leonard Campbell (November, 1893).
At the time of the 1880 census they were living in Drummer Township, Ford County, Illinois. The household consisted of David J. age 29, Mary age 26, William age five, Henry age four, Vanna M. age one, and Clara E. one month.
The family (D. J. Campbell) appeared in the 1900 census in Grant Township. Boone County Iowa. David was a farmer who owned his own land.
David died on June 10, 1917. At the time of the 1920 census, Mary Elizabeth was living with her son William in Pilot Mound. He was 45 and a farmer. She was a 66 year old widow.
Mary Elizabeth died at age 88 on May 6, 1942. Mary and her husband David are buried in Pilot Mount Cemetery in Pilot Mound, Boone County, Iowa.
Kentucky was originally a Virginia county and included the lands west of the Appalachians. In 1780, it was divided into Fayette, Jefferson, and Lincoln counties. Kentucky officially became a state on June 1, 1792.
Illinois became a state in 1818. A large influx of American settlers came in the 1810s by the Ohio River.
Pilot Mound Woman Dies
Mrs. Mary E. Campbell of Pilot Mound succumbed about (2 o'clock Wednesday forenoon at her home, at the age of 88 years. A well known resident of that vicinity, she is survived by two sons and two daughters. Her husband preceded her in death.
Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2:20 o'clock from the home and at 2:30 from the Methoist (sic) church in Pilot Mound, with Rev. Lawrence Hawes in charge. Interment will be from Pilot Mound.
Sincere sympathy is extended the bereaved.
Will of David Campbell in McLean County, Illinois
1902
Record 13, p. 2 & 3
In the name of God Amen I David Campbell of McLean County Illinois of the age of 78 years and of sound mind and memory do make publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner following that is to say:
First - I direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid with convenient speed and that a suitable monument be erected at my grave.
Second - I give and bequeath to my Grand Children - the Surviving Children of my deceased daughters viz: Hanna F. Burnett and Nancy J. Burnett the sum of one dollar; To Thomas A. Campbell of McLean Co. Illinois the sum of one dollar;
To David J. Campbell of Boone Co. Iowa, the sum of one dollar;
To Sarah M. Williams of Ford Co. Illinois, the sum of one dollar;
To Mary E. Todd of Boone Co. Iowa, the sum of one dollar;
To Isabelle Sharpes of McLean Co. Illinois, the sum of one dollar;
To Elizabeth R. Canedy of Ford Co. Illinois the sum of one dollar.
Third - I give and devise to my beloved wife Emily Jane Campbell, all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate both real and personal and of every kind and ? to have and to hold the same as her absolute estate forever. It being my desire that my said wife should have all my property (the legacies aforesaid excepted) when I am gone.
Lastly - I nominate and appoint my son Thomas A. Campbell, to be the executor of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Eleventh day of January A.D. Nineteen Hundred and two (1902).
Signed: David Campbell
Witnesses. S.L. Chapin; Z.W. Mohr; L.F. Collins; C. Orendorff; Geo. M. Nelson
Seals were used to authenticate documents and men were expected to have a personal die. Records in deed books are copies and signatures are usually in the clerk’s handwriting. The clerk drew a circle around the word “seal” to indicate that the original document was sealed.
