Thomas B. Campbell

Thomas Burns Campbell (May 19, 1788 – March 3, 1885) was an American businessman, jurist, and politician. He was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1821 to 1822 and again in 1836.

Biography

Early life and career Thomas Campbell was born on May 19, 1788, in Alexandria, Grafton County, New Hampshire. He lived in Batavia and then settled in the Town of Portland, New York in 1817, which later became part of the Town of Westfield. Here, he built a grist mill and was in the milling and flouring business for 47 years and also own hundreds of acres of farmland. He also kept a tavern in a log house. In 1836, he and others formed the Chautauque County Mutual Insurance Company.

Politics Campbell was involved in both town and county politics. He was the Supervisor of the Town of Portland, New York from 1819 to 1827,

Freemasonry In 1826, when the masonic order in Chautauqua County was shuttered, Campbell along with Elial Foote and Sylvanus Henderson preserved their scattered records. Campbell, along with Abijah Clark, were leaders of the Councils of Royal and Select Masters and Commanders of the Knights Templar, as part of the Ancient York Rite of freemasons.

Personal life and death Campbell had a daughter, Harriet, who was married to D.H. Taylor. In 1860, he sold sixty several acres of land for fairgrounds.

Campbell died on March 3, 1885, in Westfield at the age of 96. His funeral was conducted by the freemasons and "an large number attending." He was buried in Westfield Cemetery.