Campbell Family papers, 1836-1899

"Major" James B. Campbell was born on October 15, 1799, in Tennessee. He moved to Illinois in 1825 and worked as a clerk prior to launching a business career in the new settlement of Chicago. Campbell invested in real estate and became wealthy, although some financial setbacks eventually influenced him to move to Missouri in 1852. In 1863 he traveled to Bannack, Montana Territory, and afterwards claimed land near the three forks of the Missouri River at Gallatin City. He engaged in ranching and operated a mercantile business there until his death on January 3, 1873. Campbell married Sarah A. Kain in 1831 and the couple had seven children, including a son, Gurdon, and daughters Fannie and Anna. The two girls, the youngest of the Campbell children, arrived in Montana after their parents via a Missouri River steamboat in 1865. Fannie eventually took over the operation of her father's ranch and Gurdon was concerned with operating the mercantile business at Gallatin City.

While the family's relationship with the Nimiipu (Nez Perce) is unknown, the Campbell home in Gallatin County, Montana, was near the events in the summer of 1877 when the tribe, fleeing forced relocation, left their homeland in Oregon and Idaho and were pursued by the U. S. Army. After many, including women and children, were killed near Big Hole, Montana, survivors fled through Yellowstone National Park and then north through central Montana before being stopped by the Army in the Bear Paw Mountains, 40 miles south of the Canadian border. It is believed that this is point at which Chief Joseph declared, "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever." Allalimya Takanin (Looking Glass), was a leader of the Alpowai band of the Nimiipuu, and appears to have been a friend of the Campbell Family.