Canine- Wm - CW - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Wm. Campbell, an old soldier residing at Mace, succeeded in quitting this vale of tears after a very determined effort to do so. William lived in Mace with his second wife, her several children and her mother. Her mother is said not to have been the personification of admirability, and to trouble between her and Campbell the people ascribe the latter’s rash act. It is pretty well established that William intended to depart and wasn’t simply working a little bluff for effect. He got up with the lark last Thursday and while the lark was hustling for the indiscreet worm, William was hustling for Paris green. He purchased a quarter of a pound of it at Armstrong’s store, and going home he mixed the entire package of the deadly drug with water and drank the noxious potion with as great nonchalance as though it had been gooseberry wine. Then, as though fearful that he hadn’t done enough to insure first class passage over the Styx, he went back to the store and asked for a box of Rough on Rats. Mr. Armstrong inquired as to what he wished it for and Campbell stated that a rat infested the wood house and was eating up all the wood. Mr. Armstrong had prepared some of the poison on bread to kill mice in his store room, so he gave Campbell a slice of it. The determined man walked out and deliberately ate this also. Very soon he was quite sick and the venerable “Doc” Shotts was called in to give medical attention. “Doc” battled against grim death for many hours, but Friday morning at five o’clock Mr. Campbell died. He was conscious most of the time and deliberately stated what he had done, expressing as his only regret the fact that the poison had not killed him at once. He stated that he was determined to die and that a whole regiment like “Doc” Shotts couldn’t save him. He gave directions as to his funeral and treated the matter very calmly.

Campbell served during the war in the 10th Indiana Battery and was a good soldier. He was wounded by a shot in the hip and the wound troubled him greatly to the time of his death. The funeral occurred Saturday afternoon at one o’clock. Interment was at Oak Hill.  -- thanks so much to s for tying this and so many obits for this site