Not far from the "Hermitage," where the most illustrious son of Tennessee spent the happiest days of his life, was the seminary where the subject of our sketch received the greater part of his education. He was familiar with the written and unwritten history of General Jackson; and Clover Bottom, where the General used to sometimes join in the sporting pastimes of the day, was a well known spot to him.

His parents on both sides were related to the early historical families of Tennessee, the Donaldsons, the Campbells and others. He was born July 19, 1821, at Nashville, and in 1838 made his first start in life by coming to Illinois to superintend the fencing and cultivation of lands that his father had entered between the Sangamon and Illinois rivers in what was then Sangamon county. So we find him at the age of seventeen a stranger in a wild country dependent on his own talents and sagacity to make a beginning in life when white people were not nearly as numerous as wolves and the wide prairies were untrodden but by the timid deer. For two years he carried out the plans designed and was followed by his father in 1840. His father was elected when the county organized to a county office, and his son George H., as soon as he was twenty-one years of age, was elected assessor and treasurer of Mason county. After a course of legal study he was, at the age of twenty-three, admitted to practice and soon became prominent by his active participation in political affairs.

In August, 1846, he was married to Miss Eliza Jane, daughter of Major B. H. Gatton, on her mother's side a descendant of the Bergen family of New Jersey, a noble woman, a true and devoted wife and mother. For more than a quarter of a century she shared his joys and griefs, but on the first of July, 1873, she departed this life. Their surviving children are Washington Hilleary, who was educated at Lincoln University, Illinois, and graduated from the law school of Michigan University; Nellie and Pat, educated at Lincoln University and the Young Ladies' Atheneum, Jacksonville; and Clay, Mary and Bennie, still under the paternal care.

Washington Hilleary, the eldest, is of the firm of Dearborn & Campbell, Havana, Illinois. He has a reputation for ability and acumen in the courts of the county and state that is seldom attained by any lawyer at his age, and enjoys a large and lucrative practice.

Judge Campbell, as he is now best known, was originally an old line Whig, but in 1856 he refused to enter the coalition from which the Republican party originated, and has henceforth been identified with the Democratic party. In 1856 he was tendered the nomination for the legislature by the Democracy, but declined it on the ground that he would not lay himself liable to the charge of joining the Democratic party for the purpose of political preferment. In 1857 he formed a law partnership with C. J. Dilworth, of Havana, Illinois, and the same year was elected county judge. In 1858, when the memorable campaign opened for the United States Senatorship, and the strongest men of each party were nominated by the respective friends of Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln, Judge Campbell was put forward as a candidate of the Douglas Democracy to represent Mason and Logan counties. This was considered a doubtful district, and Mr. Douglas and Mr. Lincoln each spoke twice in this district. William Walker, Esq., was considered the best man in the Republican party to put into the contest, and together he and Judge Campbell discussed the issues of the day in every precinct. Judge Campbell was elected, and having resigned his judgeship, moved to Lincoln, Logan county, which was then in the same district. Upon the assembling of the legislature he found himself associated with some of the most talented men of the state. In his own party were Anderson, Bane, Epler, Kacker and Morrison; in the Republican ranks, Bryant, Haines, Higgins, Peck, Plato, church, Sweet, and Hurlbut. In the senate were Buckmaster, Goudy, Fuller, Higbee, Knapp, Underwood, Blodgett, Henderson, Judd, Cook and others who have since become distinguished in political and professional life.

A glance at the journals of the house for this session, which was the most exciting and important ever held in Illinois up to that time, will show that "Campbell of Logan" (as he was designated in distinction from Alex. Campbell, of LaSalle county), "came to the front" with all those veterans when interest or policy demanded. He was chairman of the committee on swamp lands and an active member of the judiciary committee.

He was the author of the bill for "An Act for the draining and reclamation of certain lands in Mason county." Also introduced a bill repealing the Mason county hog law upon petition of 792 votes. Also the act to restore records of Logan county. Also an act to amend section 4 of the statute concerning wills. The change in the mode of Probate Court business was effected by an amendment introduced and ably argued by him against some of the best debaters of the house.

Very early in the session a scheme was started to induce the payment of forty thousand dollars by the state on account of certain claims of David Leavitt against the canal commissioners. The Judge was the first to guard the treasury by offering a resolution against their allowance, and although they were kept out of public notice for a month, he was none the less vigorously opposed to the injustice of the demand, and succeeded in laying the matter at rest after a severe contest on the floor of the house.

Having attained a high position in the party, we find his name at the head of a committee who presented a protest at the close of the session against the action of the Republican members upon a question involving the legality of the veto of the Governor to the apportionment act. This lengthy and able document was signed by G. H. Campbell, James W. Barrett, John E. Detrich, Joseph H. Sloss, James M. Davis and Wm. H. Green.

This brief epitome of the legislative career of "Campbell of Logan" has been taken from the official journals of the legislature furnished by Judge Phelps, and from another source we have obtained newspapers of current date that express the appreciation in which his constituents and the public held him.

The first extract is from the Mason Herald of February 25, 1859.

HON. G. H. CAMPBELL

"The Democracy of this district have good cause to be gratified with the course pursued by their able representative in the Illinois legislature, Hon. G. H. Campbell. During the present session, no man in the general assembly has been more prompt and persevering in the discharge of the duties of his station, than has Mr. Campbell. Notwithstanding his duties as a representative have frequently been laborious and fatiguing, he has constantly been at his post and exhibited a commendable interest in regard to the affairs of the state. Mr. Campbell has taken a very prominent part in the transactions of the present session of the legislature, and has won for himself the reputation of being a talented and efficient member. It was mainly owing to his instrumentality that the Leavitt claim was immediately investigated, he being the person who offered the resolution to investigate - and by which investigation it was ascertained that a fraud was being attempted whereby upwards of $10,000 would be filched from the state government, in return for which it had received comparatively no consideration whatever. During the session, Mr. Campbell has been appointed to serve on several committees, and he has invariably discharged the duties devolving upon him in a manner creditable to himself and satisfactory to his constituents. We have heard very man persons recently speak in terms of the highest commendation of his course; and we think all must admit that it would have been next to impossible for the people of this district to have selected a man who would have discharged the duties of the station in a manner more satisfactory than he has done."

The second we find in the Springfield correspondence to the St. Louis Republican:

"Among the most talented men of the house, I am constrained to mention G. H. Camp- bell of Logan. This gentleman has proven himself a most able defender of the right in several sharp encounters with other honorable gentlemen. As a politician, Mr. Campbell is not surpassed in the house. His principles being based upon constitutional truth and justice, he is always more than a match for anything the Republicans dare pit against him."

And the last from a county paper of Logan county:

"OUR REPRESENTATIVE" "Both houses of the legislature adjourned sine die on yesterday at 10 o'clock, and the members have all departed for their homes.

"Our able representative, Hon. G. H. Campbell, has returned to his home, and has been cordially welcomed by his many admiring friends. No man in the house of representatives has acquitted himself with more credit than has Judge Campbell, and on several occasions he has delivered speeches which have commanded the admiration of all who heard them. His manly bearing, gentlemanly deportment, and his acknowledged ability, at once gave him a rank among the leading men of the state.

"As an evidence of his popularity we have only to refer to the frequent enconiums that he has received at the hands of the press. The State Register at various times has taken occasion to refer to him in a most complimentary manner. Not unfrequently has his name appeared in the summary of the legislative proceedings as being connected with highly important measures of state policy. And in the columns of the phonographic reports, published in the Register and Journal, will be found many interesting and truly eloquent speeches from our worthy representative. The correspondents of the Missouri Republican and the Chicago Times have frequently referred to him in a manner creditable alike to himself and to his constituents who have honored him with the position which he has so ably filled.

"As a debater Judge Campbell has no superior in the house. On all measures of importance he has taken an active part, and his influence has been felt wherever his energies have been directed. He has won for himself a reputation, during his short stay at Springfield, unequaled by that of any member of the general assembly. His talents and ability have been appreciated by his colleagues, and his name is not unfrequently used in connection with the highest position the people of the great state of Illinois can bestow. Logan county may well be proud of her faithful, talented, and efficient representative, Hon. G. H. Campbell."

His reputation acquired in this legislature made him prominent in his party, and gave him in 1860 the nomination for secretary of state, when, as he expresses it, his party and himself "got to Bull Run before McDowell."

After the breaking out of the rebellion, Judge Campbell assisted in raising the 106th Regiment from Logan county, and was made lieutenant-colonel. This regiment performed a great deal of hard service, but was in no general engagement of importance while he was with it.

Acting upon the advice of his regimental brigade, and division surgeons, he resigned, on account of failing health, after about one year's service, and returned to Lincoln, Ills. Here he took a part in founding Lincoln University, and his prominence in the enterprise is attested by his election as first president of the board of trustees, which office he retained for two years, and until he found his private business to be suffering from his attention to that object, and he consequently removed to Mason City, in 1868, and engaged in a general mercantile and banking business in company with R. W. Porter.

In 1870 he took the necessary steps to organize the "First National Bank of Mason City, Ills," and in August 1871, was elected president of the board of directors, with Mr. O. S. King cashier. This place he still fills, and to the credit of all concerned it can be said that this bank has thus far safely and successfully passed through all the financial difficulties that have so far beset our moneyed institutions.

In 1872, many who were dissatisfied with the regular nominee urged the Judge to be a candidate for the legislature. With the certain knowledge of defeat, and after many times refusing, he yielded to the solicitations of friends and allowed his name to go before the people. The result was as he expected, and also as he desire, for his private business and financial position were of more concern to him than the office. He declares that the successful conduct of the business interests now intrusted to him are predominant over all the attractions of political life.



Maintained by Mason County Coordinator Donna Mayer