Murray Archibald Campbell

His mother and father wrote several letters to Murray while he was at Gallaudet College in Washington D.C. In one letter she talked about the campaign to re-elect President William McKinley who ran against William Jennings Bryan. In another letter from his mother, she suggested that Murray read the book: A Sailor's Log, which is about Rear Admiral Robley D.Evans's 40 years of Navy life - from the Civil War to the Spanish American War. In his father's letter, from 36 South First Avenue, Mount Vernon, he talked about school life and suggested that Murray participate more in school debates, etc. Source: Letter from his mother Emma Campbell and his father.

In February, Murray's father wrote him a letter that talked about attending college and a recent hazing by the deaf and dumb at another college near by. In December, his father talked about writing weekly and about his return trip for his x-mas vacation. Source: Letters by Archibald M. Campbell at 36 First Ave. Mount Vernon, NY to Murray Campbell at Gallaudet College in Washington D.C.

In 1912, Murray wrote many letters to his father and close friends. In February, Murray wrote a letter from Mt. Vernon, NY, to his friend Will and talked about going out with girlfriends they both knew. In May, Murray wrote a letter from Mt. Vernon to his friend Taylor and talked about going to Cornell University in July to take a summer course in the principles of agriculture. In July, Murray wrote to his father from Ithaca, NY and said that he took a room at the YMCA for $3.00 a week. He talked about taking some classes on farming. Later in July, he wrote a six page typed letter to his friend Will talking about pursuing his farming interest and for his friend to visit or think about farming as a career. In August, he wrote his father saying he was not sure what he was planning to do for work. He was either going to work for a fruit farmer or on a poultry farm. In September, Murray wrote a letter from Rochester N. Y. to his friend Will and talked about common friends and looking for work. Then, in October, Murray wrote from Kendall N. Y. to his father and friend Will and talked about having a job working on a farm picking, sorting, and packing pears, peaches, quinces and apples. Source: Letters from Murray Campbell to his father, Archibald M. Campbell and his friends Will and Taylor.

Murray at Locust Hall Farm
Poughkeepsie, New York

1916 - Locust Hall Farm
return address
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In March, Murray wrote two letters to his father from Poughkeepsie and said that he was very busy getting the farm ready for ploughing in April. The farm already had about 77 trees. Murray talked about planting peaches, quinces, apples, pears, cherries, and plum trees. In September, Murray wrote to his father to say that he was having troubles with some of the hired hands and talked about the county fair. In November, Murray's father wrote his son a letter on 36 First Avenue, Mount Vernon, N. y. stationary, that talked about a recent visit to the farm and his observations and well wishes. Murray answered the letter and wrote that the choice of farming as an occupation was a last resort in lieu of several years of preparation in another field. He also responded to his father's question about getting married someday. Source: Letters by Murray Campbell and Archibald Campbell.

Agnes Jean Cox at Locust Hall Farm
Poughkeepsie, New York, 1917

Agnes J. Cox went with a group of other girls to Murray's farm for a New Years weekend party. They drew boots dancing and wrote "at last at last!"  beside her name. Murray proposed to her that night, on New Years Eve. After the New Years party, Murray wrote Agnes three letters in January. He thanked her for the oranges she sent, talked about pictures they had taken, and the next time they would meet. Source: Letters to Agnes J. Cox from Murray Campbell.

Campbell Home
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. - 1919

Murray wrote a letter to Jean Cox, saying how he wanted to write her mother a long letter. Murray, then wrote a letter to Mrs. Jessie M. Cox asking for consent to marry her daughter. Mrs. Cox wrote back on March 29th asking them to both take plenty of time to consider everything and to be careful. Source: Letters by Murray Campbell to Agnes J. Cox and Jessie M. Cox.

John H. C. Campbell

Murray Archibald Campbell

His father wrote Murray a letter, which was addressed to Murray Campbell at at the Hotel Lewis in Tucson, Arizona. In this letter he talked about a recent operation on his neck, a name for Murray's next child, and Murray's future career endeavors. Source: Letter from Archibald M. Campbell to Murray Campbell.

Murray and Jean Campbell

Murray's father wrote in early January to acknowledge a December letter and to ask Murray about the sale of the Carlton Street house and mortgage on the Oregon Street house. Murray wrote his father several letters from the 2424 Oregon Street address in Berkeley and said that he was having trouble with the buyer on the Carlton Street house and that the agent was unable to sell the 2nd mortgage at a 20% discount. Murray wrote his brother Archie and his father on January 28th and asked for some advice regarding the Carlton Street house. He told his father that he hired a lawyer to resolve the situation. Archie, wrote him a letter about the possibility of having to foreclose if the party that bought the Carlton Street house fails to meet the monthly payment. He also suggested getting a lawyer to look after the details. His father wrote a letter on Jan. 27th to send Murray some money and ask for a report of his expenditures and liabilities up to the end of January. In February, Murray's father wrote several letters to him asking Murray to write back and answer some questions about his house loans. Murray wrote back to his father and talked about his improved health and about the loans that were on the Oregon Street house and the pending sale of the Carlton house. He also said there has been a lot of rain for this time of the year, which has kept him indoors. In March, Murray wrote his father and said that he read in the Tribune that Archie had gone off to Florida and the Bahamas on vacation. Archie wrote in May giving his brother some family news and talked about their summer plans at Lake Placid. In June, Murray wrote Archie a letter, which talked about sending John to YMCA camp and the fact that he was "clear of debt for the first time in years." He also mentioned that Jean's mother had gotten involved with some "crooks" who took her cash and notes. They had to hire lawyers to get most of the money back. Then, in September, Archie wrote Murray a letter and talked about helping to send John to camp and about the inheritance tax on Murray's trust fund. In December, Archie wrote Murray and spoke about being laid up for four days right during the busy season. Source: Letters from Murray, Archie, and his father.

In January, Murray wrote his brother Archie a letter that talked about how busy they were for Christmas and how Jean only had time to finish making a bean-bag for their niece Jean Louise Campbell. Archie wrote Murray a letter on Genung's stationary and spoke about the health of their father. He said "Papa is not as alert as he was a couple of years ago." He also talked about his wife Helen and his daughter Jean. In April, Archie sent a Postal Telegraph to Murray, which said: "Papa has had a slight stroke, is recovering, letter follows." Archie's letter talked about how the stroke affected his right leg and his right hand but their father "is very cheerful and optimistic and philosophical. He has improved to talk again and to use his hand somewhat." In May, Archie wrote and said that "Papa is getting along nicely. He is walking around the block each clear day and is improving steadily." He also enclosed a check for John to use for summer camp. In June Archie wrote two letters to Murray, giving him an update on their father's health and telling Murray about the opening of a new building for the Mt. Vernon Trust Company. Archie describes their father's new office at the Mt. Vernon bank. His wife, Jean also wrote Murray a letter in June from the New Sargent Hotel in Portland Oregon. She was traveling with some friends and their son John to Portland, Vancouver and Seattle. They stayed in "auto camps" along the way. She also sent Murray post cards from her trip. One post card had a picture of Mt. Shasta. Source: Letters to and from Archibald Bush Campbell. Letters from Jean Campbell to her husband Murray Campbell.

Muriel Joan Campbell

At age 49, Murray died in Berkeley, California of pneumonia, although he was very debilitated by tuberculosis. Source: Conversation with Joan Campbell.