BY JAMES F. MINTUN
BIOGRAPHY OF DUNCAN CAMPBELL
Duncan Campbell was born in the settlement of Breadalbane, County of Glengarry, in the easternmost corner of the Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, November 29, 1845. His grandparents on both sides came from Perthshire, Scotland; on the father�s side in 1815, and on the mother�s side, in 1817. When the Breadalbane Baptist Church was organized in 1816 his grandfather, Duncan Campbell, was one of the deacons chosen, and at a later date his maternal grandfather, James Lothian, was also made a deacon of the same church. His father, Donald Campbell, and his mother, Elizabeth Lothian, were members of that church likewise. The subject of this sketch himself had a wonderful spiritual experience on his seventeenth birthday and within a month afterwards became a member of the church. He received what little education he was blessed with in the common school of his native settlement, in the high school of Bay City, Michigan, in the Collegiate Institute of Vankleek Hill, Ontario, and at the College of Wood- stock, Ontario, at that time known as the Canadian Literary Institute.
When but a lad in his teens and later he was urged with much persistence to enter the ministry and, in April, 1871, became the pastor of the church in Moore, Ontario. For some years previous to this it was borne in upon him that the denomination with which he was identified was not in all things in strict accord with the principles and practices set forth in the New Testament. Soon after entering upon the pastorate referred to he began to realize that he was more destitute of spiritual light and knowledge than a minister of the gospel
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not intended to be confined to the days of the establishment of the church under Christ and the apostles, but that it was designed for all men in all ages and all places who would obey the gospel. As he thought he had obeyed the gospel and there fore that this divine blessing was his by right, he began to pray with all earnestness that the Lord might bestow it upon him; for he felt himself greatly in need of its assistance in the prosecution of his ministerial labors.
Soon afterward there appeared to him in vision a bright body of light, but between him and it there intervened a great, high wall. Greatly wondering at this he continued his investigations and in a short time circumstances occurred which led him into the greater light. At that time some stir was being made by the preaching of the Saints in Moore and a great deal of prejudice was being made manifest by his leading church members in regard to the doctrines that were taught because some of the church members were attending the meetings of the Saints and becoming interested. Upon inquiry as to what doctrines were set forth in the preaching he was much surprised to learn that they were the very teachings of the New Testament and among them the identical things to which he was at that time giving his most serious consideration. Wish ing to know at first hand what the doctrines of the Saints were he proceeded to the house of the priest of the local branch and made known his errand.
The man took down his New Testament and began to show the principles of the gospel in. their order and when he came to the laying on of hands the Holy Spirit came upon the inquirer with mighty power and filled his entire being with the unmistakable conviction that what had just been declared unto him was the real. truth he was seeking for. Receiving some further instructions concerning the fullness of the gospel he returned to his place of abode rejoicing with exceeding great
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joy and began forthwith to bear his testimony to the truth of the restored gospel. He was baptized August 13, 1871, and ordained to the office of elder about two weeks later. During the following winter he was associated with Elder Robert Davis in preaching in the vicinity of the village of Saint Clair, Michigan, their labors resulting in the organization of the Saint Clair Bran�h that same year.
In the, early part of the following summer he accompanied Elder Joseph S. Snively on a mission to a point in the province of Quebec to which they had been designated by the Canadian conference. Elder James W. Mather had made an opening at this point the previous year and baptized two. They continued in the region some time preaching and baptizing and before their return from the mission had organized a branch f some seventeen or eighteen members.
In the fall of 1872 he attended a conference of the Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana District held in the neighbor hood of the city of Coldwater, Michigan, where among many others he made the acquaintance of Elders Edmund C. Briggs and William H. Kelley. After the conference, in association with these brethren, he labored for some weeks in various places in Northeastern Indiana. Later on, the Clear Lake Branch was organized in that region of country. In the inter vals between these different missions he labored with his hands to provide himself with clothing and books, as well -as to secure means with which to travel. In some instances, however, the Lord provided for his needs in a remarkable way. Wishing to attend a conference he found he lacked five dollars of the cost of the round trip. From a brother with whom he lodged the night previous to setting out on his journey, he was about to ask the loan of the required sum when the Spirit said to him not to ask the brother for the money because he was to be provided for in another way. The promise came with such
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assurance that he rested perfectly content and was about to proceed on his journey early next morning when there entered a brother who lived a mile or two away. After the usual salutations the brother inquired, �Brother Campbell, how are you off for means to travel this time?� The reply was, �I am going to travel partly by faith this time.� The brother answered, �Perhaps I can help you some,� and handed him a five-dollar bill, just the amount needed, and the promise made by the Spirit the night before was fulfilled before he left the house.
Another instance occurred on this same trip. A brother had a number of copies of Baldwin�s Ancient America for sale, and he offered Brother Campbell one, saying that he could pay for it when he found it convenient. The book was declined until such time as he would have the ready money to pay for it, but next morning he met a man on the road who was a comparative stranger, having met him but once before, and more over he was not a member of the church, and after the usual greeting and a word of pleasantry, each passed on his way. After going a few rods the stranger called back, �Mr. Campbell, I feel that I ought to give you some money,� and with that he came back and handed Brother Campbell a two-dollar bill, the exact price of the book desired. The Lord and the new friend were both thanked and Brother Campbell was immediately the possessor of the useful work which he needed.
In the spring of 1873 he attended his first General Conference which was held at Piano, Illinois. He served as assistant secretary during the session and by revelation was named for the office of seventy and to succeed. Elder George Rarick as president. To these offices he was ordained in the course of the conference, twenty months after he had united with the church. He was appointed to labor in the mission comprising, Michigan, Indiana, and Canada, then in charge of
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Elders Edmund C. Briggs and William H. Kelley. After the conference he entered this mission field in company with the latter and labored in various places as direction was given, teaching school at intervals to replenish his exhausted exchequer.
In October, 1876, he married Lida Hulse, of the Lawrence, Michigan, Branch, and the following spring they moved to E Decatur County, Iowa. A year later they purchased a home in the vicinity of Pleasanton, Iowa, where the family resided for the following thirty-two years, and there the wife was buried July 4, 1900. In the meantime he had served. the church as missionary in the Northeastern Missouri District and the Decatur District, of Iowa, much of the time being in charge of the work in those districts.
At General Conference of 1891 held at Kirtland, Ohio, he was chosen and ordained to the offices of senior president of Seventy and president of the First Quorum. He continued to serve in these offices until the spring of 1901, when on the organization of the Lamoni Stake he was chosen and ordained a member of its high council. He assisted in the editorial work of the Sunday school and Religio Quarterlies, and was for years a member of the revising board of the former. In later years he served as president of the Pleasanton, Iowa, Branch, superintendent of the Sunday school and president of the Religio in that place.
For several years he has served as local historian of Lamoni Stake where he has performed efficient work. He is the present incumbent of this office, and his write-up of Lamoni Stake and Decatur District is now running through this JOURNAL.
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