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| More on the Campbell's |
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| JOHN CAMPBELL, Deputy Surveyor, General Land Office |
| John Campbell, (1800-1858) imigrated to Louisiana from Ireland with stops in Canada, Pittsburg Pennsylania prior to arriving in Vermilionville in 1836 with son William and daughter Catherine, his wife died sometime before his arrival. Campbell came to Louisiana as surveyor under contract with the General Land Office as a Deputy Surveyor under the direction of the Surveyor General for Louisiana. (The General Land Office fell under the authority of the Department of the Interior in 1812 after it's inception by Congressional Act of 1795.) During Campbell's professional career he opened the firm Walsh and Campbell and was Surveyor for the Parish of Lafayette and the town of Vermilionville in addition to important and historic work as Deputy Surveyor. Campbell is mentioned throughout the Police Jury Minutes of Lafayette Parish in the accounts to be paid and in the Jury's instructions for surveys. He continuted to have close ties with the Parish of Lafayette until his death in 1858. In accounts of his life, he is said to have been the most knowlegeable man with regard to the geography of the area. This was no accident. As Deputy Surveyor, John Campbell walked much of Lafayette Parish with his survey crews, section by section, inch by inch. In the areas of south Lafayette Parish he surveyed each and every township we discuss for the southwest boundary determined by Legislative Act in March of 1844, as well as most of the townships located in the southeast boundary. These arethe boundaries between Lafayette and Vermilion Parish, Lafayette and Acadia Parish. He is credited in the Police Jury Minutes for surveying the boundary between Lafayette and St. Landry Parish and laid out early Vermilionville. His General Land Office Survey Notes are available as well as the Survey Maps of the Townships he surveyed. In addition to his professional career in early Vermilionville, he was an early civic leader. It is noted in the Police Jury minutes that he served an Election Com misioner. Campbell was a teacher and served the Parish as an early Education Administrator for the Lafayette Parish. His son William, who accompanied him as "chain bearers" on occasion during his surveys, became a successful businessman in Lafayette and operated a General Merchantile on Main Street. William's son William Onezieme Campbell served two terms as Mayor of Vermilionville and his son, William, Jr., became one of Lafayette's most respected Judges and served as a Senator after the Civil War. All the Campbell's are buried at the cemetary of St. John's Cathedral. Some of the townships in the area of the southwest boundary were resurveyed by John Campbell in 1843, and it would not be unreasonable to think that this was done in part, in preparation of the Legislative Act of 1844 which was to divide Lafayette Parish and carve out the Parish of Vermilion. |
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| (Above) This portrait of John Campbell hangs in the home of his Great - Great-Granddaughter Ellen (Mouton) Cousson. Mrs. Coussan is the daughter of the late Dr. MarcMouton,physician, Senator and Leuitenant Governor of the State of Louisiana. She is a direct descendant of Alexander Mouton, former Governor of Louisiana. |
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| (Above) Mrs. Ellen (Mouton) Coussan is seated above with he portrait of John Campbell, Deputy Surveyor of the General Land Office, over her shoulder. John Campbell was also Surveyor for Lafayette Parish and the town of Vermilionville. |
| (Above Left) William Campbell son of of John Campbell, Deputy Surveyor of the General LandOffice,served as a chain bearer for his father while surveying Lafayette and Vermilion Parish. William grew to be a successfull Lafayette Businessman with a General Merchantile on Main Street. He served as a Senator after the Civil War. (Above Right) William Onezieme Campbell, Grandson of John Campbell, served as Sheriff of Lafayette Parish and two terms as Mayor of Vermilionville. He also served as a special prosecutor in the famous murder trial of Ernest and Alexis Blanc who killed Martin Begnaud at his merchantile store at Scott Station in 1896. |
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| (Left) Survey of Township 11 South Range 4 East showing the North West corner of irregular Section 49, noting Coulee Isle des Cannes, also known as Coulee des Noix. John Campbell, Deputy Surveyor of the General Land walked every linear foot of these Townships. |
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| (Above) This General Land Office Survey Map, of Township 11 South, Range 3 East, surveyed by John Campbell in 1843 just prior to the Act which created Vermilion Parish. The coulee, Coulee Noix, (aka Isle des Cannes) is now claimed as Granger's Coulee by Vermilion Parish. The name change and creep of the name Granger began after the lands were settled, after the 1862 Homestead Act and later. Lafayette Parish's true southern boundary! |
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