Levi Roark Campbell

On this day, 18 November 1925, Levi Roark Campbell passed away. He was my 3rd great-grandfather.

Levi Roark Campbell was born on 16 April 1844, in Russellville, Cole County, Missouri. He was the third known child of Abraham Campbell and Sena Roark, joining sister Clemency Jane Campbell (born in 1841) and brother James Gray Campbell (born 1842).

Four years after Levi was born, sister Sophia Downing Campbell arrived on 29 February 1848.

On 22 August 1850, the Campbell family was enumerated on their farm in Cole County, Missouri. Living in the household were father Abraham (age 32), mother Sena (age 28), and children Clemency (age 10), James (age 8), Levi (age 6), and Sophia (age 2). Also residing with the family was Sena’s brother, Levi Roark (age 25). The farm was valued at $500.

A month later, brother Moses Hickman Campbell was born on 21 September 1850.

Three years passed. Then, on 30 June 1853, sister Sarah Isabelle Campbell was welcomed to the family.

Circa 1856, a sister named Sena Elizabeth Campbell was born.

About two years later, on 2 July 1858, brother Benjamin J. Campbell was born in Cole County, Missouri. Sadly, little Benjamin never made it to his second birthday, dying on 12 February 1860, in Cole County, Missouri.

A few months later, on 16 June 1860, the Campbell family was enumerated in Moreau Township, Cole County, Missouri. Residing in the home were Abraham (age 42), Sena (age 38), Clemency (named misspelled and labeled as male instead of female in census, age 19), James (age 17), Levi (age 16), Sophia (age 13), Moses (age 10), Sarah (age 7), and little Sena (age 3). Father Abraham still worked as a farmer. Their farm was worth $3,000, and their personal property was valued at $1,000.

On 12 April 1861, South Carolina seceded from the North, and the Civil War commenced. Missouri was a hotly contested border state—a slave state that did not secede from the Union. As Missouri was populated by both Union and Confederate sympathizers, armies and supplies were sent to both sides, the state was represented with a star on both flags, and dual governments were established. Discord abounded; family members were pitted against family members, and neighbors fought against neighbors.

About 42 percent of the early hostilities of the Civil War occurred in Missouri. In 1861, of the 157 engagements and battles listed in the Army Register, 66 happened in Missouri. In fact, Missouri saw more action than Virginia and West Virginia combined that year.

The Civil War negatively affected the citizens of Cole County, Missouri. On 14 June 1861, the Capture of Jefferson City, involving Missouri’s 1st and 2nd Infantries alongside U.S. Battery F, 2nd Artillery and U.S. 2nd Infantry, Company B, occurred.

On 17 June 1861, in nearby Cooper County, the First Battle of Boonville was fought. This Union victory established what would become an unbroken Federal control of the Missouri River and helped to thwart efforts to bring Missouri into the Confederacy. Three more minor battles would be fought in and around Boonville throughout the war.

On 25 April 1862, there was a skirmish on the Osage River involving Iowa’s 1st Cavalry, Companies D and K.

A few months later, on 5 July 1862, sister Catherine J. Campbell was born in Cole County, Missouri.

On 23 July 1862, eighteen days after his sister’s birth, Levi Roark Campbell, age 18, married Harriet Francis, age 20, in Cole County, Missouri. Harriet Francis was the daughter of Lunsford Francis and Harriet Lucretia Connell.

Then, on 21 August 1862, a mere month after his wedding, Levi Campbell enlisted as a private in the Cole County Militia, Company H in Jefferson City, Cole County, Missouri. Soon thereafter, he was transferred to the 42nd Regiment, Company B (under command of Captain James Enloe). The 42nd Regiment immediately participated in a skirmish near Iberia, Missouri, on 29 August 1862. The regiment also went on expeditions in the area of Waynesville, Missouri from 29 August 29 through 2 September 1862.

When he was not serving with the militia, Levi was at home with his new wife. On 18 August 1863, a little more than a year after their wedding, Levi and Harriet welcomed their first child, Elizabeth “Betty” Jane Campbell (my 2nd great-grandmother) in Moniteau County, Missouri.

For two years, Levi Campbell served with Company B. Then, on 30 September 1864, he was transferred to Company E of the 42nd Regiment (under command of Captain Charles Thompson).

In October 1864, for four days straight, warfare was widespread in Cole County, Missouri. On 6 October, the Skirmish of Cole County was fought. On 7 October, a skirmish was fought near Jefferson City, Missouri. On 8 October, another skirmish was fought at Jefferson City. Then, on 9 October, a skirmish at Russellville occurred. Finally, on 26 November 1864, a skirmish was fought at Osage. It was the last armed altercation of the Civil War to occur in or around Cole County, Missouri.

Several months later, on 9 April 1865, Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at the Battle of Appomattox Court House, Virginia. Unfortunately, Lee’s surrender did not signal the cessation of the War Between the States; it took nearly a year and a half before the war would officially end on 20 August 1866. With the war ended, Levi Campbell was able to finally return home for good.

About four years after the war, circa 1870, Levi and Harriet welcomed another child to the family, a daughter named Sarah “Seny” Ann Campbell.

Their third daughter, Luella Campbell, was born circa 1874.

Five years later, circa 1879, a fourth and final daughter, Leora Dee Campbell, arrived in the household, bringing joy with her.

Life seemed to be going well for the Campbells. However, later that year, on 29 November 1879, Levi lost his beloved mother Sena (Roark) Campbell. She was only 57 years old.

On 6 February 1879, Levi’s eldest daughter Elizabeth J. Campbell married John Stark, son of Charles Stark and Elizabeth Manes. She was only 15 years old, while John was 22 years of age.

On 15 June 1880, the Campbell family was enumerated on their farm in Harrison Township, Moniteau County, Missouri. Residing in the household was Levi (age 32), Harriet (age 34), Elizabeth (age 17, who must have been back for a visit), Sarah A. (age 10), Luella (age 6), and Leora D. (age 1).

In 1885, daughter Sarah Campbell, age 15/16, wed George R. Dawson, age 24, son of Elisha Dawson and Elizabeth Scrivner.

Five years later, on 29 August 1890, when Levi R. Campbell was just 46 years old, he filed for a veteran’s pension. His application was approved.

In 1891, daughter Luella Campbell married Oliver V. Farris. At the time of their marriage, Luella was about 18 years old, whereas Oliver was around 31 years old.

Three years after that, heartbreak came to the Campbell family again when Levi’s father Abraham Campbell died on 16 May 1893, in Cole County, Missouri. Abraham was buried next to his beloved wife Sena.

Meanwhile, sometime between 1893 and 1900, daughter Leora Campbell married Gilbert Massey Walker, son of Hiram Gilbert Walker and Nancy Amos.

We know that this wedding took place by 1900 because when the census taker visited Levi and Harriet Campbell on 27 June 1900, in their Saline Township, Miller County, Missouri home, it was just them. Levi was 56 years old, and Harriet was 57 years of age.

Seven years later, on 7 March 1907, Levi R. Campbell claimed his second Civil War pension payment.

Three years passed. Then on 15 April 1910, 66-year-old Levi and 68-year-old Harriet Campbell were enumerated on their rented farm in Moreau Township, Morgan County, Missouri. According to the census, Harriet had born six children in her lifetime; four were still living (the four previously named daughters.) The names of the other two children, if they ever were named, remains a mystery.

Fifteen years after this census was recorded, Levi Roark Campbell died on 18 November 1925, in Russellville, Cole County, Missouri. He was 81 years old. The cause of death was angina pectoris, chest pain or discomfort due to coronary heart disease that occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is restricted, and chronic interstitial nephritis, a condition where the spaces between the kidney’s tubules become inflamed, resulting in an inability for the kidneys to filter waste and excess fluid.

Levi Roark Campbell was buried near his father and mother in Campbell Cemetery in Cole County, Missouri.