Thomas Lopton Campbell Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Lopton Campbell Jr.
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| Born | December 27, 1809 Oneida County, New York (US) |
| Died | September 22, 1893 (aged 83) Guthrie, Oklahoma |
| Allegiance | United States of America Republic of Texas |
| Service/ |
Texas Rangers, Republic of Texas Militia |
| Years of service | 1839-1861 |
| Unit | volunteer army |
| Battles/wars | Black Hawk War Mexican-American War East Texas Indian War |
Thomas Lopton Campbell Jr. (born December 27, 1809 – died September 22, 1893) was an American pioneer and Texas Ranger. He explored and settled new lands across many states. These included New York, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Thomas Campbell fought in the Black Hawk War. He was a Texas Ranger from 1839 until Texas left the United States.
Before the American Civil War, Campbell was a strong supporter of Texas staying in the Union. He spoke out with Governor Sam Houston. On the day Texas voted to leave the Union, a crowd of people who wanted to leave the Union made him celebrate with them. They forced him to "fire" anvils in the streets of Austin. The very next day, Campbell and his family left Texas. They went North to help the Union army and settle new lands in Missouri and Kansas. Later, when he was 79, Campbell claimed land in the famous Land Run of 1889 in Oklahoma.
Contents
Early Life and Family Adventures
Thomas Lopton Campbell Jr. was born on December 27, 1809. This happened in Oneida County, New York. His father fought in the War of 1812. His grandfather was a soldier in the American Revolution.
When Thomas was a boy, his family moved west. They traveled on flatboats down the Ohio River. In 1823, they settled in southern Ohio.
In 1831, Thomas married Clarissa Witter. Her family had come to America in 1639. Thomas and Clarissa loved exploring new places. They often traveled west in covered wagons. They had 12 children, including three sets of twins!
Becoming a Texas Pioneer and Ranger
After they married, Thomas and Clarissa kept moving west. First, they went to Illinois. There, Thomas fought in the Black Hawk War. Then, they moved to the Republic of Texas.
The Campbell family arrived in Upshur County, Texas, in early 1839. They had traveled along the Mississippi River. Then they went up the Red River. They settled near Glade Creek.
In his first year in Texas, Campbell became a Texas Ranger. He served during the East Texas Indian War. He also served as a Ranger during the Mexican-American War. He would serve for a few months at a time when needed.
In 1847, the Campbells moved to Missouri. They did not like some things about East Texas. They traveled in wagons across the Indian Territory. They stayed in Missouri for a short time. Then they returned to Texas. This time, they moved west to the Austin area. On December 7, 1849, they had twins there. Their names were Lafayette and California Campbell.
Thomas Campbell was a farmer and cattleman. He had one of the first cattle brands registered in Travis County. It was the number 5. The family lived near Austin. Thomas was a well-known cattleman and Texas Ranger from 1849 until 1861. During these years, he often traveled between Texas and Missouri. On one of these trips, Clarissa died. She was buried by a pine tree. The family returned to Missouri in 1855. They stayed for four years. Then they moved back south of Austin in 1859.
Standing Up for the Union in Texas
When the Campbells came back to Austin in 1859, the country was divided. People were arguing about the upcoming Civil War. Some wanted Texas to stay with the United States (the Union). Thomas Campbell was one of the loudest voices for this group. Others wanted Texas to join the Southern Confederacy. Still others wanted Texas to become its own country again.
Governor Sam Houston and Thomas L. Campbell strongly supported staying with the Union. But on February 23, 1861, Texas voted to join the Confederacy.
On that day, Thomas and his eleven-year-old son Lafayette were in Austin. A group of people celebrating spotted them. They grabbed Thomas and held him. They made him "fire the anvils" all day. This was their way of celebrating Texas joining the Confederacy.
Firing the anvil was a loud event. Two large anvils were used. Gunpowder was put into a hole on one anvil. The second anvil was placed on top. A hot iron was touched to a trail of powder. This made a loud boom! The top anvil would fly into the air. The crowd cheered with each boom.
Smoke filled the town all day. The loud booms, the shouting crowd, and the frightened horses were all seen by young Lafayette. At the end of the day, Thomas drove Lafayette home. He told his family to pack everything. They loaded their wagons and headed North. Thomas's oldest son, David Witter Campbell, drove their cattle South to Mexico. He wanted to keep them from the Confederacy. Thomas L. Campbell was 51 years old. His oldest son Witter was 29. The youngest, Texanna, was 8. The family would not know what happened to Witter for over four years.
Life in Missouri During the Civil War
The Campbell family never went back to Texas. On their way North, one son, Henry, went to find some lost horses. He disappeared. Two daughters stayed in Austin with their husbands. They joined the Confederacy.
After a long trip, the family settled near Sedalia, Missouri. Here, the Civil War was even more intense. Union and Confederate soldiers often clashed. Also, Missouri had many groups of outlaws. They raided and stole from the countryside.
Thomas and Lafayette drove supply wagons for the Union army. The family stayed strong in Sedalia during the war. Thomas's son, George Washington Campbell, joined the Union forces when he turned 18. He served until 1865. While in the army, George found his brother David Witter Campbell. David had successfully driven the cattle to Mexico. But the Mexican police took them. He then traveled by ship and riverboat to St. Louis. There, he joined the Union army.
In 1866 and 1867, a sickness spread through Missouri. In 1867, Lafayette's twin sister, California, became sick. She died at age 18.
Pioneering in Kansas and the Ingalls Family
In 1870, the Campbells left Missouri. They moved to Cherokee County in Kansas. Thomas did not like how soldiers were taking land for railroads there. So, in 1871, he moved his family again. This time, they went to the area around Sedan, Kansas.
During this time, the Campbell family lived near the Ingalls family. The Ingalls family later became famous in the Little House books. Thomas L. Campbell was now in his 60s. He had explored and settled lands from New York to Ohio, Missouri, Texas, and now Kansas. But he still had more pioneering to do!
In 1883, Lafayette, who was 32, married Ida Alice Crews (Allie). Allie was 18 and a school teacher from Kansas. Allie taught school. Lafayette gave talks at local meetings. Many family members taught school at different times.
The Oklahoma Land Run and Cowboy Flat
News spread about the rich land in the "Unassigned Lands" just south of Kansas. This area was in the Indian Territory. On April 22, 1889, Lafayette Campbell rode in the Land Run. He claimed land in an area now called "Cowboy Flat." This was about 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Thomas L. Campbell, now 80 years old, also claimed land. He drove a wagon and settled just south of his son's claim. People said the grass in Cowboy Flat was so tall you could tie the tops together over a horse's back. Lafayette plowed 5 acres (20,000 m2) for his father in April 1889. Then he plowed his own field. Lafayette spent the summer building a log cabin for his family. He also built a half-dugout home for his father, Thomas.
In 1892, they heard news about Henry. He was the son who had disappeared in 1861 while looking for horses. Henry Clay Campbell was alive! He was living in Greer County, which is now in Oklahoma. Henry had served in the Confederate army during the Civil War. This was wonderful news for the family. Lafayette and George Washington rode 300 miles (480 km) south. They had a reunion with their brother, who they thought had been lost for 30 years.
Thomas L. Campbell died on September 22, 1893, at the age of 83. He is buried in the Summit View Cemetery in Guthrie, Oklahoma. His headstone reads: "Texas Ranger 1839, Thomas L. Campbell, Born Dec. 27, 1809, Died Sept. 22, 1893, My Trust Is In God."
Images for kids
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Thomas Campbell's gravestone
