Judge Edward Campbell

Attorney at Law, Private Soldier, second lieutenant, first lieutenant, captain, major, and lieutenant colonel of the 85th Penn. volunteer regiment. 3 1/2 year in the war; Presiding judge of the 14th judicial district of PA by appointment of Gov Hartranft in 1873 on death of Judge S.A. Gilmor

Fayette County Genealogy Project
CAMPBELL
Contributed by Marilyn Tolentino

Judge Edward Campbell, born at Uniontown July 24, 1838, was a law student of Judge Nathaniel Ewing, and admitted to the Fayette county bar September 5, 1859. He received his education at John Lyon's Academy and Madison College at Uniontown. When Beauregard's circling batteries opened fir upon Fort Sumter in 1861 and the country realizing the fact that a terrible war was at hand, among the first who responded to the call of the federal government for troops was Judge Campbell. He volunteered as a private in April, 1861, and served in camp only during that summer. At the expiration of this time he enlisted as a private in the 85th Pennsylvania, was promoted October 21, 1861, to second lieutenant, to captain May 15, 1862, major, September 6, 1862, became lieutenant colonel of his regiment, October 16, 1863, and was honorably discharged from the service November 22, 1864. He served three and a half years in the war and won an enviable war record that reflected no discredit on the firmness and bravery of that wonderful Scotch Irish race of which he is descended. At the close of the war, he returned to Uniontown, opened an office for the practice of law, where he has acquired a large and lucrative practice and is recognized as an able lawyer. On the death of Judge Gilmore in May, 1873, Governor Hartranft appointed him President Judge of the District for the short period of less than one year. He left the Bench carrying with him the good will and respect of all for his kindness and courtesy in discharge of his high duties as judge. His speeches made in important cases are of the characteristic force and ability and as a constitutional lawyer he stands in the front rank of leading lawyers of Pennsylvania. Courtly, suave in manner, pure in conversation, and firm in his convictions of right, he is regarded deservedly highly as a Christian gentleman and scholar.