Robert Stewart Campbell
Born 6 Nov. 1854 in Salt Lake City.[1] Son of Robert Lang Campbell and Mary Stewart.[2] Baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by his father, 4 June 1863.[3] Studied engineering at the University of Deseret, 1870–1871.[4] Telegraph operator and surveyor for Utah Northern Railway, 1873, in Logan, Cache Co., Utah Territory.[5] Married Rachel Elizabeth Ballif, 16 Oct. 1876, in Salt Lake City.[6] Mayor of Logan, 1882–1885.[7] Organized the Campbell and Morrell General Merchandise Company; company taken over by J. C. Penney Company, 1926.[8] Served a mission to Great Britain, 1885–1887.[9] After his mission, appointed by the First Presidency to systematize church records and accounts; later was appointed to manage Utah Light and Power, a subsidiary of the church, and was instrumental in negotiating the sale of the company to E. H. Harriman, 1906.[10] Met with EBW in meetings of the Republican Central Committee, 1897.[11] Served a mission to the southern U.S., 1915–1916.[12] After his mission, worked as a staff member in the Church Historian’s Office, 1916–1931.[13] Died 5 Sept. 1931 in Salt Lake City.[14]
[1] “Robert Stewart Campbell,” Go Ye into All the World (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary/, accessed 14 July 2020). “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 7 Aug. 2020), Robert Stewart Campbell (KWC5-6P4).
[2] “Endowment of the Living, 1851–1884,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. G, 1868–1872, p. 279, line 7948, Robert Stewart Campbell, microfilm 1239501, DGS 7751472 (restricted access), FHL.
[3] “Endowment of the Living, 1851–1884,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. G, 1868–1872, p. 279, line 7948, Robert Stewart Campbell, microfilm 1239501, DGS 7751472 (restricted access), FHL. “Robert Stewart Campbell,” Go Ye into All the World (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary/, accessed 14 July 2020).
[4] Holiness to the Lord! Third Annual Catalogue of the Officers and Students in the University of Deseret for the Academic Year 1870–1871 (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Office, 1871). “Widely Known Utahn Expires: Former Mayor of Logan Dies at Salt Lake Residence,” Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Sept. 1931, 10B.
[5] “Widely Known Utahn Expires: Former Mayor of Logan Dies at Salt Lake Residence,” Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Sept. 1931, 10B.
[6] “Sealings of Couples, Living and by Proxy, 1851–1889,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. K, 1875–1878, p. 350, line 4996, Robert Stewart Campbell and Rachel Elizabeth Ballif, 16 Oct. 1876, microfilm 183401, DGS 5270324 (restricted access), FHL.
[7] “Campbell, Robert S.,” Political Graveyard (http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/campbell7.html#840.18.88, accessed 19 Jan. 2021). “R. S. Campbell Services Held in S.L. Tuesday,” Salt Lake Telegram, 8 Sept. 1931, 21.
[8] “Widely Known Utahn Expires: Former Mayor of Logan Dies at Salt Lake Residence,” Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Sept. 1931, 10B. Kevin Opsahl, “JCPenney Ends 94-Year Run in Logan,” Herald Journal (Logan, UT), 5 June 2020.
[9] “Robert Stewart Campbell,” Go Ye into All the World (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary/, accessed 14 July 2020).
[10] H. S. Eldredge, To the Presidents and Members of the Quorum of Seventies ([Salt Lake City]: [First Council of the Seventy], 1886). “Widely Known Utahn Expires: Former Mayor of Logan Dies at Salt Lake Residence,” Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Sept. 1931, 10B.
[11] EBW, Diary, 27 Nov. 1895; 22–23 Oct. 1897; 26 Nov. 1897.
[12] “Robert Stewart Campbell,” Go Ye into All the World (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary/, accessed 14 July 2020). Southern States Mission, Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1832–1978, vol. 1 index, p. 67, LR 8557 2, CHL.
[13] “Funeral Rites Held for R. S. Campbell: Church Officials Laud Work of Historian’s Aide,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 8 Sept. 1931, 1. “R. S. Campbell Services Held in S.L. Tuesday,” Salt Lake Telegram, 8 Sept. 1931, 21.
[14] Salt Lake Co., UT, Death Records, 1849–1949,” record no. 1431 (1931), Robert Stewart Campbell, microfilm 4139724, DGS 4139724, image 369, FHL. “Robert Stewart Campbell,” Salt Lake City Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT, Find a Grave, posted 27 May 2007, memorial no. 19555244 (http://findagrave.com, accessed 14 July 2020).