T.F. Campbell grew up on the plantations of the Deep
South, in both Mississippi
and Louisiana. Born in Rankin
County, Mississippi in 1822,
he began teaching at local
schools in the area until
he left home to fight in the
Mexican War at the age of
25. After returning from the
Mexican War, he moved to West
Virginia and enrolled at Bethany
College. T.F. focused on classical
studies until he graduated
in 1852, when he graduated
and married a fellow student,
Jane Eliza Campbell. In 1863,
the young Campbell family
moved to Montana where T.F.
was appointed the Territorial
Superintendent of Schools
by the Governor of Montana.
In Montana, he remained busy
with his new position and
involvement in the church.
Another move came for the
Campbell family in 1869 to
Monmouth, Oregon, where T.F.
Campbell was offered the position
of president of Christian
College. While in Monmouth
T.F. worked hard to raise
money to put into the small
college. He was so successful
in his fundraising he was
able to build what is known
today as Campbell Hall. T.F.
Campbell was known as a powerful
and persuasive speaker when
it came to finding money for
the college. In 1870, he created
the (Pacific) Christian Messenger,
which was a newsletter linking
the Christian community to
the college. Beyond being
a newsletter for the Christian
community, it provided an
opportunity for many of the
students of the college to
learn about the printing press
and the daily operations of
running a paper.
His resignation from Christian
College came upon the death
of his wife in 1881. After
resigning, T.F. left Monmouth,
Oregon for three years and
traveled the U.S. as a preacher.
He returned to Monmouth in
1884 and by 1885 he married
Mary Stump. The two of them
traveled throughout the U.S.
and Oregon preaching and teaching
until T.F. Campbell’s death
in 1893. His tombstone sits
at the Fircrest Cemetery near
Monmouth.
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