| Notes |
- Enclyclopedia of Connecticut Biography
pp. 235-237
CAMPBELL, Andrew Storrs
Lawyer, Public Official.
It is impossible to separate from a Scottish name an atmosphere of romance. The picturesque dress of Old Scotland comes to mind wherever a distinctly Scottish name is heard, and although to the average person the story of the Scot and the meaning of his tartan are alike unfamiliar, the vision brought to his mind by the sound of an old clan name is fascinating.
The clan system was more or less broken up by tyrannical acts of the government in 1747, but the clan feeling is still strong in every native Scot. There many of his blood, whose ancestors came by America to seek that freedom which is the breath of life to every sturdy spirit, have for many generations enriched this Nation by their upright citizenship. The clan feeling survives with these, not as a memory, but as a bond of fellowship, - an obligation of loyalty to every man, no matter how far removed, who can boast a drop of the old Scottish blood.
In the old days the men of every clan were bound together, not only by their customs, but by the patriarchal bond, for while many were only tenants of their hereditary chief, all knew that they were descended from this family, and exact count was always kept of the degree of descent. The isolation of the more remote countries served to strengthen this bond, and their relation to their chief was considered the most sacred of human ties. They were freely welcomed to the castle, from the least to the greatest, and came feeling themselves as well born as their host; respecting themselves as men of honorable position. They yielded their chief the loyalty owed to a father, and when a chief lost his estate they voluntarily provided for his support, still holding him in the highest honor. In any difficulties between clans, or with the government, each clan held together as one body, counting life itself no sacrifice when the honor of the clan was at stake.
The name Campbell appears first in 1216, when Gillespie Campbell is returned from the Exchequer Rolls, as holding lands in different parts of Scotland. From him all the Campbells are descended, but the family of Argyll have always been the leading family of that name. Various members of this family supported the cause of Robert Bruce, near the close of the thirteenth century, and Neil Campbell married a sister of that great leader. Sir Duncan Campbell is mentioned as being a "man of great abilities, equally marked for his valor and wisdom." He was created Lord Campbell by James II in 1445. The family have married into the highest circles of English society as well as the Scotch nobility. The tartan of the family is a very dark plaid, almost black, in green and blue, with threads of white and yellow forming large, interlacing squares, in delicate lines against the heavy green. The war cry is "Cruachan," the name of a mountain near Loch Awe. Their clan pipe music is: Salute, "The Marquis' Salute;" March, "The Campbells are Coming;" Lament, "The Marquis' Lament." Their badge is wild myrtle, or fir club moss.
(I) The founder in America of this line of the family in which we are now interested was Andrew Campbell, born about 1710-15. He married in Mansfield, Connecticut, on May 18, 1738, Ruth Dexter, widow of Zuriel Dexter, and daughter of Mahuman and Mary Stebbins.
(II) Zuriel Campbell, second son of Andrew Campbell, born October 13, 1743, and died September 2, 1811. He married, March 5, 1767, Lydia Barrows, born February 21, 1747, and died January 3, 1830, daughter of Jabez and Sybil (Hall) Barrows.
(III) Andrew (2) Campbell, son of Zuriel Campbell, was born in Mansfield, Connecticut, about 1790, and died in 1835. He was a farmer. He married, September 28, 1814, Sarah Barrows, of Mansfield.
(IV) George William Campbell, son of Andrew (2) Campbell, was born June 15, 1830, in Mansfield, and died September 30, 1915. He was educated in htepublic schools of his native town, and in early life went to New York City. There he engaged in the silk business with his brother-in-law, Marshall Dimock. He found his surroundings congenial, and remained there several years. After a time he bought a place in Enfield, where he took up farming, spending his spare time in selling books. Not possessing a rugged constitution, he was unfitted for heavy labor, and did not branch out widely in his farming operations. He entered the line of book selling shortly after the Civil War, and although his health for a long time was very poor, he sold books until his death. He was widely known in that section of the State, and many old residents remember with pleasure his recurring visits. He married Sarah A., daughter of Charles C. Bissell, and granddaughter of Leverett Bissell.
The Bissell family is believed to be of French Huguenot extraction, and the first immigrant ancestor of that name in this country was born in England. He came to this State, and settled in Windsor before 1640. He received a grant from the Colonial Court of a monopoly of a ferry across the Connecticut river. At the time of King Philip's War his house was fortified and was used as a refuge by the neighbors. He died October 3, 1677. Samuel Bissell, his son, was born about 1620, and died May 17, 1697-98. His father gave him six hundred acres of land. He married June 11, 1658, Abigail, daughter of Thomas Holcomb. She died August 17, 1688. Their son, John Bissell, was born at Windsor, April 5, 1659, and died in 1683. He settled in Coventry, Connecticut, of which village he was the one of the pioneers, buying land there in 1715. He owned several slaves. He married Sarah Fowler, who died August 25, 1751. John Bissell died in 1683. His son, Captain John Bissell, was born in Windsor in 1683, and died March 8, 1771. He settled early at Bolton, Connecticut, was lieutenant of the train band, and afterwards captain. He was a lawyer and served as King's counsel for the colony. He married, February 22, 1710-11, Hanah, born November 14, 1690, died January 13, 1752, daughter of Samuel Denslow. Captain Ozias Bissell, their son, was born at Bolton, and baptized there May 16, 1731. He lived and died at what is now Vernon, Connecticut, and was buried at Manchester. He served nine years in the French and Indian wars, and eight years in the Revolution. He was repeatedly wounded and taken prisoner. He knew Ethan Allen well. He died March 16, 1822. He married (first) Mabel Roberts, who died October 31, 1803. Their seventh child, Leverett Bissell, was baptized February 1, 1761. Charles C. Bissell, his son, was born in Manchester, and until 1867 lived in Rockville. He was a contractor and builder, and owned stone quarries. He built one of the big mills in Rockville, in 1847. Later he went to Oswego, New York, where he bought a large farm, which he and his sons cultivated. He died in 1822, while on a visit to Enfield. He was a member of the militia in the early days. His daughter, Sarah A., was born in Manchester, Connecticut, April 15, 1831, and still lives at Enfield, Connecticut, with her son, A. Storrs Campbell. She was the wife of George William Campbell, as above noted. Her grandmother was Eunice Root, a niece of Chief Justice Jesse Root, of the Supreme Court of Connecticut.
(V) Andrew Storrs Campbell, son of George William Campbell, was born in East Windsor, February 8, 1875. After finishing the common schools, he prepared for college at the Thompsonville High School. He was graduated from Yale University in 1898, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Continuing his studies, he was graduated from Yale Law School in 1901, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. (Even in his early youth Mr. Campbell gave promise of a brilliant future). Reared in an atmosphere of refinement, he was gifted with an open mind, and the studious habits in which he had been trained had prepared him to make full use of the opportunities awaiting him at the University. He came to Hartford in 1900,and for a few months was associated with John Brocklesby; then opened an office for himself. He was admitted to the bar in June, 1900. Mr. Campbell carries on a general law practice, handling largely the work of insurance companies. He is a member of the Book and Gavel Society at Yale. He is a Republican in politics; was vice-president of the Common Council in Hartford for one term; and served on the Board of Aldermen for two years. He served one year on the charter revision committee appointed by Mayor Cheney, of which he was secretary. Mr. Campbell has done more or less speaking and campaign work since 1904.
Mr. Campbell married Mabel, daughter of Henry B. Rowe, of New Haven, and a sister of Dr. Stuart A. Rowe, Yale, 1890, principal of the Wadleigh High School, New York City. They have two children: Celia Storrs, born April 5, 1908; and Gordon Luce, born June 2, 1913. They are members of the Center Congregational Church of Hartford, of which Mr. Campbell was deacon and is member of the executive committee. [1]
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