Studio portrait of Donald Campbell, by Gagen & Frase, Toronto

Donald Campbell Esq.. Dead.

It has been our duty to chronicle the demise of a large number of persons during the past few years, but we have never before performed it for one who carried us so far back in our recollections as Mr. Donald Campbell who passed over to the great majority on Tuesday afternoon last. As long ago as 1843 we remember him as the foremost business man in Colborne, and the late Mr. Donald Robertson as his head clerk and book keeper. We also remember him as an enterprising farmer after he had retired from business in the mercantile way, on the farm now occupied by Mr. John McKenzie. The building of the stone mill (Christie Mill) was an epoch in his history being considered a great under-taking for that day. For several years he continued to live on the farm, but finally removed to the premises, beautiful for situation, between Colborne and Lakeport where he continued to reside until his departure. Several years ago, he was united in marriage to Mrs. McTavish, a widow living near Grafton, a relative of Governor Simpson of the Hudson Bay’s Co., who proceeded him to the tomb by only a few months. Mr. Campbell was remarkably active man in his younger days and remained to a large degree his elastic step until a very few months previous to his death. In politics Mr. Campbell was a staunch Conservative and never failed to name his man or make his cross whenever opportunity presented itself. He was an exceedingly kind hearted man, the worst feature of his disposition being on the surface. More than one poor man struggling with the worlds difficulties will remember Mr. Campbell as a friend in need. Mr. Campbell’s death has removed from our midst a man who, though at times apparently harsh and unfeeling was really kind and sympathetic, one whose ample means led many to seek and at his hand and worthy sophents whether for personal wants or church purposes or charitable institutions were seldom turned empty away . At the time of his death, Mr. Campbell had turned his 86th year.