George C. Campbell born, reared and educated in Williamson County, never had any interests, personal, business or political, outside of his county, and may be considered a typical Williamson County man.
He was born in Marion on August 12, 1868, to George C. Campbell and Susan Pulley. His parents both died early in his life.
His father was invested in property, one parcel of which was one he had purchased east of Marion early on and sold to the Williamson County Agricultural Society in 1866 to establish the Williamson County Fair Ground on E. Main Street.
When his father died in 1872, it left him an orphan at the age of six years. Fortunately, his father left a good legal inheritance to back him up.
His schooling was of the sort obtainable at our common schools, supplemented with a course at the Southern Illinois Normal at Carbondale, Illinois.
George was married on November 23, 1897, to Miss Ada Barham, the daughter of Joseph Barham, of Marion.
Like most ambitious and capable men he has had a hand in politics, and although a Democrat in a Republican County, he served as Marion City Clerk from 1897 to 1923 with the exception of 1911-1914 when the position was held by Eura Griggs.
In August 1899, the Campbell’s had their first child, a daughter named Virginia Campbell.
In the 1900 census, the couple, with their first child, who is now 10 months old, are renting somewhere in the city limits of Marion, likely in East Marion. Interestingly, George lists his occupation as bartender but he was also definitely City Clerk at this time. The person listed under him on the census was listed as Deputy City Clerk, so I suspect a mistake on the part of the census taker, or perhaps George was moonlighting.
When the Marion Elks club was chartered in August 1902 George was a charter member and served as Secretary for at least a couple of years.
Their second child, Anna Mae Campbell was born May 12, 1905.
George was elected Secretary of the Williamson County Agricultural Society in 1904 for the 1905 term. The ag society arranged and financed the County Fair which was a very big deal for the entire area for over 150 years and a huge financial advantage for Marion business owners.
By the 1910 census, George and Ada had purchased a family home, free of mortgage, at 303 E. Main Street. George was now 41, Ada 37, Virginia 11 and Anna Mae was aged 5. George lists himself as City Clerk. They have a single, 19 year old female lodger in their home by the name of Pearl Wiley.
In 1923, George ended his career as City Clerk and became a resident agent for the Rudolph Stecher Brewing Association and director of the Marion Building and Loan Association. The Rudolph Stecher Brewery was located just off Oak Street in Murphysboro, Illinois at the time.
When the 1930 census was taken, the couple are living in their E. Main home with Ada’s 94 year old, widowed mother Harriet Barham. George is 61 and is listed as Secretary of the Marion Building and Loan Association. They own their home and value it at $4,000.
George Campbell passed away on August 8, 1932 and was interred in Rose Hill Cemetery. In addition to being a lifelong Marion Elks member, he was also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias.
George’s wife Ada (Barham) Campbell died on November 14, 1963 and was buried next to George at Rose Hill.
Sam’s Notes:
Anna Mae (Campbell) Schlinger, born May 12, 1905. Married Howard C. Schlinger about 1925. They had one child named Emily Schlinger, born about September 1927. In the year their child was born, Anna and Howard were listed as living at 103 E. Union Street. Howard was a barber at the Julian Barber Shop. In 1930 they were renting a house at 711 Circle Drive for $30 a month and Howard indicates he is a self-employed barber. By the 1940 census they had purchased a home at 510 S. Calumet Street. They were in their thirties, and Emily was 13. He is still a barber and they value the home at $2,000. Anna Mae died on June 8, 1993 and Howard C. Schlinger died on March 14, 1991. I personally remember the Schlingers as living on S. Calumet when I delivered papers to them for the Southern Illinoisan in the early 1960’s. Both are at Rose Hill Cemetery.
Virginia Campell, born about August 1899. No further records discovered yet. If anyone has information, please advise.
(Photo and some data from 1905 Souvenir History, WCHS; Federal Census Records; Marion City Cemetery Records; Marion City Directories; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 06/07/2013)