Edwin Eliza Campbell

b. 8 July 1805, d. 30 November 1856
  • Edwin Eliza Campbell was born on 8 July 1805 probably in North Carolina.
  • From Baldwin Fluker's probate records: Feb 1828. At the first quarter session 1929, in Bibb County, Georgia: To wife, Sarah Q. Fluker and to children Robert O. T. Fluker, Badlwin M. M. Fluker, Rebecca M. Fluker, and Anne E. Fluker all my real and personal estate, each inheriting 1/5 of my whole estate. Executors: wife, Sarah Q. Fluker, Thomas Pace, son Robert O. T. Fluker, James Willis, and Isaac B. Rootland [sic]. Wit: Nicholas Childers, Walter L. Campbell, Edwin E. Campbell.
  • Edwin Eliza Campbell wrote to Evelina Alexander Barnes:
         February 10th 1850
    My Dearest Friend,
         This is the first time that I have been able to write since the Tuesday after you left, & indeed I am still very feeble and unwell. Your very kind and affectionate letter was not received in ten days as soon as it should have been, or I would have tried to have got some one to write for me. I thought a week ago that I would have tried to have collected all that was agreeable to cheer Lizzie and yourself in your loneliness. But nothing has reached us but sorrow and distress, since you left. Last Sunday we had a letter from Archibald with the mellancholly tidings of Brother Johns death, which happened about a week after Susan Mary reached home. We had heard no intimation of his ill health, until after SM got there, she wrote to Mr F that she found them all looking very well but her Father and that she felt uneasy about him. It seems that the day he died he had ate more heartily than usual, walked into the field, returned about sunset, was taken with violent vomiting, which they could not check, he got to bed, and after a while he sunk into a stupor. They supposed he was sleeping until they noticed some thing peculiar in his respiration, he died immediately, by 10 Oclock it was all over. It all seems so strange that I cannot feel reconciled to it. We have heard nothing from the family, but I should not be surprised if they were all to come back with Susan Mary. They have truly lost their guide, and director, and my heart bleeds for all, but most for the poor little children, the older ones ought to be able to help themselves, but they know nothing but to spend. Susan Mary is the only one that feels the least self denial. I am thankful she went, I know it was a comfort to her Father as well as to herself.
         I have not seen Sallie but once since you left, that was the Friday afterwards, she and Harriss called at the door, they were both looking very well, she told me she was going into the country. I have inquired very often after her, and found she was still in with Mrs Brown, which I felt glad of and was thankful she had the prudence to go out before Mrs Picketts large party, had she have remained there is no telling what the consequences would have been. Mrs P's children had the houping cough - one of them took pneumonia and died the week afterwards and another one extremely ill. I have seen none of your relations or friends, I have not been out of the house scarcely. Sister Sarah took Isaac home with her, he took a violent cold after he had been there a fortnight and is down now with violent rheumatism. Sister Flora left last Thursday for Macon, I cannot tell how long she will be absent, she will return as soon as she can bring Isaac, poor child he ought not to have been trusted to any one but those that know him only as we know him at home, and I could not help thinking it was madness to send him back to Macon.
         Anne Tracy is with us, which is a great comfort, and most heartily do I wish that we had you and Lizzie back with us, I do not believe I should ever feel reconciled to you going away or leaving here since you have left. You cannot tell what a feeling of lonliness and a Constant longing I have for you. The enjoyment of your friendship, and I believe your love has been the only green spot in my life for some years. While in your society, I for a short time could cease to think of the sorrows of a large family which exists in every branch of it. And we are only permited to enjoy, blessings but for a short time.
         I hope Duncan has settled now enough to Mr Wood to profit by his methodical and steady manner of doing business, and that he will profit by it. I promised to let you hear about the result of his business, I have enquired dilligently but no one would tell me, I only know that Dr Bolling bought Abby and all the children accept Tait, Col Carter bought him. Harry sold for only $150 that I felt very sorry for, and I know Duncan will be greatly disappointed. Mr Norton bought him. While I am upon Duncan's affairs I cannot help alluding to his other affair, (as little as I feel like it). Betty Powell called upon Mr Farly for his picture, and he told her I had it. Sally came for it the next day she told us that her Mother and Father never said one word to her about discarding Duncan, so far from it they wished it to take place, and that what she done was before she knew the property was involved. And that she found her Sister loved him better than she did. (This accounts for her sisters unhappiness all last summer.) As for herself her feelings for him had never changed - she loved him and should never engage herself to any one else. She said she could not understand how her Sister could engage herself to every one that that courted her. She trembled like an aspin leaf while she was talking and I could not help feeling very sorry for her. Sally's conversation is confidential, I told her I had written to Duncan, I was not willing for him to marry Betty because she was engaged to so many. She said she sometimes thought Duncan loved her best. You can judge that he is in a dilema, and I see nothing for Sally evidently has sacrificed her feelings to her Sister Powell. Mike is here. I have not seen him.
         I was sorry to hear you had been detained in Houston. I know Mr Wood was put out about it. RM wrote us that Col M was going for Lizzie. So let us hear all your movements and all that concerns you every thing connected with you will be interesting to us. Give my best love to dear Lizzie with a kiss. she stands No 1 in my heart & estimation, and I will tell her again their are but few good enough for her, and them I don’t know. And give my love to Mr Wood. I regard him as a brother. and to Willis, Billy, Campbell and Eliza. Kiss the two latter and dont let them forget me. If you like I hope we shall meet again. And to Duncan & Willie though last not least, my prayers and best wishes will follow them were ever they go, tell them to be good industrious and persevering, in all they undertake. Brother Isaac and Anne send love and kind regards to all. And now my dear Mrs Wood accept my warmest and most Sisterly affection from your devoted friend
         EEC
    Minimal punctuation added by the transcriber to enhance readability.
  • Edwin Eliza Campbell wrote to Evelina Alexander Barnes:
         February 25th 1850
    My Dear Friend,
         Your letter was duly received, and I do most deeply sympathize with you in all your afflictions, and disappointments, you have truly had a most disastrous time. And I most humbly pray that nothing else has occured since your letter, and that all the rest have safely reached their destined home. I heard from Sister Flora who is in Macon, that Lizzie had very soon returned to you, I regreted it, for I hoped she would have spent a few weeks pleasantly in Galveston while you were getting things straightened at Danville. But I was not surprised, I know their are but few girls at her age but who would not first have consulted their own pleasures first, regardless of such an affliction at home. But Lizzie is what I have always thought her one in a thousand.
         We have not heard one word from Sister Anns family, since we received Archibald's letter announcing poor Brother Johns death, all the particulars I gave you in a former letter. I feel extremely anxious to know what their plans are for the future, poor Sister Ann was so determined to return last summer that I cannot but expect her back. The cholera rages most violently on Red river, and Brother Isaac says he very much questions whether Susan Mary will be able to return this summer. Oh, that you all could have found it to your interest to have remained here, the result might have been different, but who can tell, it might have been the same, death is confined to no place or circumstances. I shall feel unhappy until I hear from you all again, and hope you or Lizzie will find time from your various duties provided you are at your new home to let us hear how all are, and if they have arrived safely at home. I had a note from Sally a few evenings since, she appears to be unhappy and uneasy about you all. I should have sent my letter at once but Mrs Brown told me she should send hers and Sister Flora wrote for yours to be sent to her as soon as we received them. I wrote you before that she was there nursing poor Isaac, who went home with his aunt Sarah and was taken very ill and is still unable to stand up. I mention this again for fear my letter has not reached you. Anne Tracy is with me, and regrets she could not have seen you and Lizzie before you left. She hopes however that she will some time or other be able to visit Texas. I am glad to hear from you that RM has married so well, we have had a report here that she was his 5 wife which seemed to have devoted her at once to an early death. I was glad to hear that you made some pleasant acquaintances in Houston, you have received that much good out of all your perplexities, and disappointments. You know that I have been sick ever since you left and have not been out of the yard. I took cold the night I sat up at Mr Riggs and it resulted in an attack of pneumonia, I am now getting to feel a little better, but still have a pain under my shoulder. I wish I could have collected some town news for Lizzies amusement. I do not see or hear any thing accept when Henrietta comes up, she tells Anne all she hears, among other things she says that Eliza Pickett is to be married next month, to Mr Walker the speaker of the house, he is a widower with 2 children the oldest 12. Miss Bugby is also going to take a Mr Smith, he has been married twice and has two children. Mary Abercrombie is to be married to a Mr Davis. Mr Farly was married last week to Miss Hoxey. Miss Warren was married the next night. Mrs Ogburn has had a ball room built with springs to give her brother a party. I would like to get Anne Tracy to give Lizzie a description of Mr F wedding costume & hear them all laughing at his singularity and I should suppose he looked very much like he was dressed for a monkey show - I suppose some of your correspondents keep you posted up on all the Montgomery news and all I could write will be stale to you – Mrs Snodgrass has been to Orleans for Mr S who was very sick there. Mrs Brown has been staying in town with the children, I have not seen her but once, because I have not been able to walk so far. I have not heard a word of any of the other kin. I suppose however all are well or I should hear something to the contrary.
         Mike Powell did not call to see us. I suppose Sally told him what I had said, but I cant help it, if all concerned cut me, I must expect my disapprobation, and condemn Sallys romance which she must have read in some antiquated novel, that it was beautiful to make a sacrafice of her own affections and those of the man she professed to love, to a sister who can fall in love with every new face she meets with. I told Sally I was not willing for Duncan to marry Betty since I knew her own feelings had not changed. They are all in a dilema that I think they had better sett to work to get out off. Sally thinks Duncan loves her best, and fears that Betty loves him better than she is capable of doing.
         I am my dear friend ashamed to send you this in answer to your very interesting and affectionate letter, but hope I shall sometime or other feel in spirits to repay your kindness.
         And now my dear friend I bid you good night with a prayer for a world of blessings for you and yours. And ardently hope you have around you, your children, kindred and all your household. Remember me most kindly to Mr Wood, Willis &Billy – and many kisses to Lizzie, Campbell and the little ones. I intended to have written to Lizzie and directed this to Galveston, but by this time you have surely reached Danville and I shall direct [it] there, some of the party will send it to you should you still be in Houston. I hope Lizzie will write and tell us all she has seen and thinks of Texas. If she loves me half so well as I love her she will I know. Much love to Duncan & Willie, I hope to hear from them. Remember me to Mrs Mary Jane – Anne Tracy sends much love to Lizzie and yourself, she appreciates highly all your affectionate feelings for her. And Brother Isaac joins in respectful regards to all. I will leave this open should I hear any thing of interest tomorrow I will add to it before the mail closes –
         yours devotedly, EEC
         Added later at top of first page: I saw Mrs Brown this morning. she tells me Mr & Mrs Snodgrass had not yet returned. I fear his health is failing. She says that Mrs Henly has just returned from Tuskegee, and that Sallie has rheumatism. I will write to her to take the Potasic and Sarsaporilla. Tell Eliza her bag and handkerchief hangs on the glass just where she left it which keeps her little busy self constantly before us.
    Minimal punctuation added by the transcriber to enhance readability.
  • Edwin Eliza Campbell died on 30 November 1856 at age 51 never having married.
  • Last Edited: 10 Apr 2012