The enterprise and energy which are leading to the rapid and substantial up-building of Washington County and other sections of Oklahoma find expression in the life record of W. E. Campbell, who is a merchant of the south, alert, energetic and farsighted. He came to this state from Missouri, his birth having occurred at Lexington, in Lafayette County, on the 4th of October, 1876. His father, Robert M. Campbell, was a native of Virginia and became one of the early settlers of Missouri, where he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits for a number of years. In 1890 he removed to the Indian Territory and took up his abode at Alluwe, where he followed farming until a decade ago. He then settled in Kansas, where he now resides. His wife, who in her maidenhood bore the name of Bettie Harbor, is a native of Missouri and is with her husband in Kansas.
W. E. Campbell was educated in the schools of Oklahoma, having come to this state with his parents when a lad of but twelve years. He afterward turned his attention to farming and stock raising, which he followed in Osage County until about three years ago and then retiring from active connection with agricultural interests he entered upon merchandising at Oglesby. He is a very energetic and wide-awake business man, alert to every opportunity and since opening his store in Ramona he has developed a large and gratifying trade. He is proving himself a worthy representative of one of the prominent families of the state. He has three uncles in Nowata: J. E., who is one of the pioneer bankers of that place; H. C. Campbell, who is engaged in the cattle business and also connected with oil interests; and A. W. Campbell, who is engaged in merchandising at Nowata and also at Talala. Mr. Campbell of this review has lived up to the standard set by those of the family of the previous generation and in business life is ready for any emergency or for any opportunity. He has two brothers, Barnard and Albert, who are merchants in Bartlesville, while his brother Alluwe Robert is engaged in farming and stock raising. Their sister Rebecca is the wife of H. M. Hill of Kansas, while another sister, Lucy, is with her parents at Neodesha, Kansas. Frances is the wife of Grover Springer of Kansas, and Joe resides in Neodesha, that state.
In 1918 Mr. Campbell was united in marriage to Miss Blanche Garrison of West Virginia. They have a wide acquaintance in Oglesby and this part of the County and their circle of friends is an extensive one. Mr. Campbell is deeply interested in all projects and movements for the public good and is a member of the good roads commission, to which he was appointed in June, 1921. He is thus taking active part in advancing the interests of the public highways and his labors are at all times an effective force in bringing about public progress and improvement.