In April, 1850, James R. Campbell built a cabin on section 3, in what is now Washington township, and on the 11th of May, of the same year, he removed into it with his family. He afterwards removed to section 33, where he still resides, the oldest living resident of the county. The points at which Mr. Campbell traded until the year 1856, when several stores were established at nearer points, were Savannah, the county seat of Andrew county, Missouri, one hundred and twenty miles away, or St. Joseph, still father' away. He had his grinding done at Cox's mills, on river One Hundred and Two, so called, it is said, because it is the one hundred and second stream crossed in traveling from the Mississippi river west. This mill was seventy-five miles from Mr. Campbell's house, and the journey there was often long and dreary.
James R. Campbell resides on section 33, Washington township, where he owns five hundred and sixty acres of land, and carries on farming and stock-raising. He was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, on the 28th of March 1822, and is the son of James and Polly (Lock) Campbell, natives of Kentucky. He remained in Kentucky until seventeen years of age, when he moved to Lawrence county, Indiana, and remaining there one year he moved to Putnam county, and there remained until 1841, when he settled in Page county, Iowa. In the spring of 1850 he came to Washington township, Adair county, where he has since resided.
He first settled on section 3, where he lived until 1853, when he went to Page county tp spend the winter, and in the spring of 1854 he came to his present farm. Mr. Campbell was married on the 14th of March, 1850, to Miss Susanna Johnson, of Lawrence county, Indiana. By their union four children have been blessed - Emily, Horant, James H. and Robert. Mr. Campbell has been very successful in all his undertakings, and has secured the respect and confidence of the community.
History of Guthrie and Adair Counties, Iowa, ... 1884. Page 771
Prominent among the early settlers of Washington township was James R. Campbell, who entered land on section 3, in the spring of 1850. A sketch of this gentleman is found in a chapter of Adair county on early settlement.
History of Guthrie and Adair Counties, Iowa, ... 1884. Page 1014