Campbell - John Paxton - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

The sad and startling intelligence was received this morning of a probably fatal accident to J. P. Campbell, of the dry goods firm of Campbell and Harter. A dispatch from the surgeon in charge of the hospital at Buffalo to Col. Carrington states that Mr. Campbell is lying there with both arms and legs cut off by a railroad accident. The sad news is confirmed by a dispatch from Thomas H. Sharpe, of Indianapolis, also directed to Col. Carrington. This latter dispatch says Mr. Campbell is fatally injured.  The sad news casts a gloom over the whole city. Only last Thursday evening Mr. Campbell left his home full of life, health, ambition and hope, to visit New York to make the fall purchases for the dry goods store in which he has long been the leading spirit.  He was one of the shrewdest and most successful of our merchants, and one of the most enterprising of our citizens. His loss will be deeply felt by the community. No particulars of the accident had been received at the hour of going to press, though it probably occurred about 7 o’clock Friday evening, as the train was due at Buffalo at that time, and the first dispatch was forwarded at 8 o’clock. -- LATER—Since writing the above, dispatch has been received announcing Mr. Campbell’s death. -s

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Saturday, 26 September 1874

The second edition of the Journal of last week contained a brief notice of the sad and sudden death of J. P. (John Paxton) Campbell, but was unable to give any of the particulars of the accident. Even now there is nothing definite known concerning the horrible occurrence except its fatality. From the best information obtainable it appears that Mr. Campbell was standing on the rear platform of the rear coach on the Lake Shore Road as the train was entering the depot at East Buffalo at 7:45 on Friday evening, the 18th. The train was due at 7:30 on Friday evening, being fifteen minutes late. Just as this train was entering the depot a train from Buffalo, on the New York Central Road, came up. But a misplacement of switches the engine of this last train, which was running rapidly, ran into the car on the platform of which Mr. Campbell was standing. The unfortunate man was thrown under the wheels, losing his right arm and leg and receiving other serious injuries. A man named Gorman, from Cleveland, who was standing on the forward platform of the same car, was killed instantly. Mr. Campbell was taken into the depot and thence to a hospital near by. Mr. T. H. Sharpe, of Indianapolis, who was on his way to some eastern city in charge of some young ladies, had rode in the same car with Mr. Campbell from Cleveland, but did not know of his being injured until the body was carried into the depot. Mr. Campbell lived several hours after the accident.

President Tuttle, of Wabash College, who was returning from the east the next morning, learned of the accident from the Buffalo papers, which gave the injured man/s name as Wm Campbell and his residence Crawfordsville. The doctor, thinking he might be of some service, stopped at Buffalo, and finding the wounded man had been moved to the hospital followed him. When he arrived there he found his worst fears realized. The man was dead, and he found the body to be that of his friend J. P. Campbell.

He at once took charge of the remains, and telegraphing to the family, was met at Cleveland by Henry Campbell, son of the deceased. Together they accompanied the remains home, arriving here on the train from Lafayette at 9 o’clock Monday morning.

They were met at the depot by the faculty and students of Wabash College in a body, and a large concourse of citizens who accompanied the remains to the family residence, on Pike Street, the four military companies of the college in front. Arriving at the residence the companies opened ranks and stood with uncovered heads as the procession passed in.

The remains were interred at the Presbyterian Church cemetery in the afternoon, being followed to their last resting place by an immense gathering of people. The business houses were mostly closed, the whole city sharing in the sadness and stillness of the occasion. The funeral services were conducted from the family residence by Rev. John Safford, pastor of the Center Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Campbell had long been a leading and faithful member. Mr. Safford was assisted by the venerable Father Johnston and Dr. Tuttle. After the singing of the hymn, “How Firm a Foundation,” and prayer by Father Johnston, Mr. Safford read a few appropriate passages of scripture and delivered the following address:

John Paxton Campbell, whose sudden death has shocked us all, was born at Louisa Court House, Va., on the 5th of May, 1821. He removed to Indiana in the spring of 1830, and to Crawfordsville in 1836, where he has since resided. He went into business for himself in 1843, which he followed with such ability, enterprise, and integrity as made him one of the most honored and successful business men of the county or state.

From the above dates it will be seen that Mr. Campbell was 53 years of age last May and that for 38 years of his life was a citizen of this place. For most of this time he was in active business, and hence he became very widely and intimately known to the people of the town and county. Probably no one in the city had a larger circle of friends and acquaintances than he, and I need not say that no one was more favorable known, more respected and more beloved.

Mr. Campbell united with the Presbyterian Church in this city in March, 1838, when seventeen years of age, and has been a member since that time, a period of thirty six years. Thus in the morning of his life his mind was called to the great subject of his personal relations to God and on through all the years of growth and manhood, amid the crowding, cumbering, cares of business, he gave it attention, so that after the dreadful catastrophe of last Friday night he could calmly say that he was prepared for the summons that came to him so suddenly and so awfully.  Henry Campbell left by the 9:30 train this morning for the scene of the disaster. -s