450 S 14th  

John Richard Campbell was born in January 1860 in Guelph, Canada to parents Colin Pearson and Susan [Ferguson] Campbell. John’s father died when John was 8 years old. The Kingston News dated 2 Dec 1868 reported that: 

Mr. Colin Campbell, proprietor of the woolen factory of this village, was found dead in his bed on Sunday morning. From the evidence adduced at the Coroner’s inquest yesterday, it appears he had gone to bed the evening before in a state of intoxication, and was smothered during the night. The jury returned the following verdict, that the deceased came to his death by suffocation in bed, while in a state of helplessness, from excessive drinking.  

John’s mother Susan was pregnant with her fourth child at the time of her husband’s death, she did not remarry. By the 1881 Canada census, Susannah has moved her family to Hespeler where she worked as a tailor and her boys worked in the woolen industry. John Richard is her oldest child and 22 years old. On 2 July 1883 John married Milia Connawarf in Preston. They were married by Reverend Immanuel Wurster of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. At the time of their marriage John worked in one of the woolen mills in Waterloo. The couple had four sons, all born in Canada: Charles Wilbert, Arnold Pearson, John Richard Jr., and Roy Ferguson.  

In 1900 they immigrated to the USA to work in a woolen mill in Dallas, OR. John brought his mother Susan with them. John worked as a finisher and son Charles Wilbert, a spinner. By 1905, the family moved to Salem, OR for work in the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. Only the two youngest boys were left at home. Charles Wilbert and Arnold had moved to Breitenbush in the Santiam Canyon and worked as loggers for a lumbermill.  

In April 1906 John appeared before the Marion County clerk and declared his intention to become a citizen of the U.S. The 1910 census recorded a different occupation and employer for John, fireman, in a gas works. He had been married 25 years at that point and was 51 years old. Sons John Jr. and Roy lived at home. John Jr. worked for TKWM.  

By 1920, John had returned to the woolen mill as a fireman. His wife Milia and son John Jr. also worked at the mill. Milia was a burler, John Jr. a weaver. The family lived at 1160 S. 12th St. near their workplace. 1930 found parents John and Milia alone in the household. They moved to 450 S. 14th St. Milia continued to work at the woolen mill, but John worked as a watchman for a packing plant. In 1937, tragedy struck the family when son Charles died of a heart attack while walking to his parent’s home. His body was found just off Mill Creek near 13th St.  

In 1940, John was 81 years old. He no longer worked. Milia was still a burler at TKWM. John died at the age of 82, in Salem Hospital on 20 Dec 1941. His wife Milia died at the age of 89. Both are buried in Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem.  

1907 Campbell John R, laborer, res ss Turner rd nr 23d 

1908 Campbell John R, weaver, T K W M Co. 

1909 Campbell John R, fireman T K W M Co. 

1913 Campbell John R, finisher, T K W M Co, res 1160 S 12th 

1913 Campbell Mrs John R, finisher, T K W M Co, res 1160 S 12th 

1915 Campbell John R (Mila), finisher, T K W M Co, res 1160 S 12th  

1917 Campbell John R (Mila), finisher T K W M Co, res 1160 S 12th 

1924 Campbell John R, fireman, OR State Hospital, h 450 S 14th  

1928 Campbell John R (Milia), watchman, h 450 S 14th  

1930 Campbell John R (Milia), watchman, h 450 S 14th  

1930 Campbell Milia Mrs, burler, T K Woolen Mill Co, h 450 S 14th  

1932 Campbell John R (Milia), watchman, h 450 S 14th  

1932 Campbell Milia Mrs, burler, T K Woolen Mill Co h 450 S 14th  

1934 Campbell John R (Milia) laborer, h 450 S 14th  

1934 Campbell Milia Mrs, burler, TKWM Co h 450 S 14th  

1935 Campbell John R (Milia), h 450 S 14th  

1935 Campbell Milia Mrs, finisher, TKWMCo h 450 S 14th  

1941 Campbell Milia (John R), textile worker, TKWM 430 S 14th 

1942 Campbell Milia (wid of John R), 450 S 14th  

1947 Campbell Milia Mrs. 430 S 14th 

1949 Campbell Milia Mrs. (wid John R), 430 S 14th  

1910  John R. Campbell Age: 51. Birth Date: 1859 in Canada. Home in 1910: Salem Ward 4, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Immigration Year: 1900. Occupation: Fireman in Gas Works. Years Married: 25. Additional household members: Milia Campbell, age 47 (wife), John R. Campbell Jr., age 19 (son), Roy Campbell, age 16 (son).  

1920  John R. Campbell Age: 61. Birth Year: abt 1859 in Canada. Home in 1920: South 12th St. Salem Ward 4, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Immigration Year: 1900. Occupation: Fireman in Woolen Mill. Naturalization Status: Papers submitted. Home: Owned. Additional household members: Milia Campbell, age 58 (wife), John R. Campbell, age 29 (son), Roy F. Campbell, age 26 (son).  

1930  John R. Campbell Age: 60. Birth Year: abt 1870 in Canada [incorrect]. Home in 1930: 450 S Fourteenth St. Salem, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Immigration Year: 1900. Occupation: Night Watchman in Packing Plant. Naturalization Status: Alien. Additional household members: Milia Campbell, age 58 (wife).  

1940  John R. Campbell Age: 81. Birth Year: abt 1859 in Canada. Home in 1940: 450 S 14th St. Salem, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Immigration Year: 1900. Occupation: None. Citizenship: Alien. Additional household member: Milia Campbell, age 78 (wife). 

Milia C. Campbell Birth: 1861. Death: 1950 (aged 88-89). Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem, Marion, OR. Plot: Block 10, Section 82, Lot 1. Memorial ID: 170422667 

Oregon Statesman 17 Mar 1903, p. 3 – Purchase of 5 acres 

Oregon Statesman 4 Apr 1906, p. 5 – Declaration of Intention, John 

Capital Journal 31 Jan 1914, p. 3 – 55th Birthday Celebration, John 

Oregon Statesman 20 Jun 1923, p. 10 – Purchase of Lots in University addition 

Capital Journal 13 Mar 1937, p. 7 – Sudden Seath of Son Charles W.  

Capital Journal 20 Dec 1941, p. 12 – Death Notice, John 

Capital Journal 13 Nov 1950, p. 19 – Death Notice, Milia 

Oregon Statesman 13 Nov 1950, p. 5 – Obituary, Milia