November 4, 1806

Jesse Campbell is born.  He was the first saddler in Elysburg, Pennsylvania.
-Vandine Martz Bible
-Bell, History of Northumberland County, 1891, p.797

July 21, 1833 (Sunday)

Married, by the Rev. George Spratt, a short time ago, Mr. Jesse Campbell to Miss Mary Poyer, both of Shamokin.
-Working Men's Advocate, 7/21/1833

May 29, 1872 (Wednesday)

Died. Mary, wife of Jesse Campbell, in Shamokin Twp., aged 56 years, 9 months and 21 days. Her last days were of severe suffering; but in this she manifested the spirit of Christ, whom she had chosen as her portion. As daughter, she was obedient. As a friend, she was ever true. As a neighbor, she was obliging. As a wife she was affectionate. As a mother, she was indulgent and loving. She died well and has gone to reap the saints reward. May her body rest peacefully till Jesus comes, then, with the redeemed of the Earth may she surround the great white throne. She was at the time of her death a member of the M. E. Church. Before joining this she was a member of the Lutheran Church.
-Sunbury Gazette, 6/14/1872

June 9, 1876 (Friday)

Court Proceedings - Com. vs. Jesse Campbell. Desertion, surety, &c. Mr. Campbell is a resident of Lower Augusta, and is a gentleman of years. A family quarrel arose and resulted in the above criminal action. There is no doubt had a little second thought held sway for a short time, he and his wife would be living happily together at the present time and the scandal now current would have been avoided.
-Sunbury American, 6/9/1876

April 28, 1891 (Tuesday)

Jesse Campbell buys a lot, 30 feet by 200 feet on Catawissa Road in Upper Augusta Township and bordering a lot of J.H. Purdy, from Elizabeth Fuller for $1.00.
-Northumberland County Deed Book 109, p. 598, entered 12/19/1893
(Note: Elizabeth Fuller is Jesse Campbell's daughter; this property is believed to be 222 Catawissa avenue, purchased by Jesse Campbell on 9/20/1884 from Ira T. Clement. No record of conveyance to Elizabeth Fuller is found. The property is occupied by Reuben and Marietta Wynn (another daughter of Jesse Campbell) who were tenants of both Jesse Campbell (1885) and Elizabeth Fuller (1888). Jesse Campbell is a single man residing with R.W. Wynn (1891-1893). -rjm)
-Northumberland County Tax Books, Upper Augusta Township/East Sunbury, 1885, 1888, 1891-1893

During 1892

Jesse Campbell, gentleman, is a single man residing with R.W. Wynn, Catawissa Street, has a value/income of $100, for an aggregate value of $100, and is taxed $.60
-Northumberland County Tax Book, East Sunbury, 1891

January 1, 1893 (Sunday)

Jesse Campbell agrees to convey to Catherine Martz (right), wife of Vandine Martz, on or before 1/1/1893, a lot 30 by 200 feet on Catawissa Road in East Sunbury for $1.00 and the further promise that she will "keep, maintain and support the said Jesse Campbell during sickness and health, during life, in her own family in a comfortable manner, supplying him with suitable bed and bedding, meals, nursing and medical attendance during sickness; and upon his death bury him in a manner suitable to his station in life at the Methodist Church Cemetery at Irish Valley where the rest of his family are buried and, at her own proper costs and expense erect a proper tombstone in said cemetery to mark his grave". Catherine will also inherit his personal property. The deed to be left in the hands of C. B. Witmer, attorney for Catherine Martz and not considered delivered to her until one week before the death of Jesse Campbell. This property was conveyed to Jesse Campbell by Ira T. Clement on 9/20/1886.
-Northumberland County Deed Book 109, p. 599, entered 12/19/1893 and Deed Book 110, p. 623, entered 4/6/1894
(Note: Jesse Campbell was born November 4, 1806, as recorded in Vandine Martz's Bible and was the first saddler in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. Since he is not known to be related in any way, the reason for recording his birth date in the bible remained a family mystery until the above agreement was discovered. If Catherine was to be responsible for burying him someday then it became necessary to record his birth date in a safe place until the headstone would be carved. Jesse Campbell had lived in the Shamokin area most of his life and Catherine and Vandine probably didn't even know him until about 1891. On September 20, 1886 he had bought the property at 222 Catawissa Avenue from Ira T. Clement (Deed Book 95, page 257) presumably to be rented or leased to his daughter and son-in-law, Marietta and Reuben Wynn. Tax records show Reuben Wynn as tenant of J. Campbell in 1885. At some point, Jesse Campbell conveyed the property to another daughter, Elizabeth Fuller and tax records show Reuben Wynn as her tenant in 1888 (although no deed was ever recorded in Elizabeth Fuller's name). Then on April 28, 1891 Elizabeth Fuller conveyed the property back to Jesse Campbell for $1.00 (Deed Book 109, page 598) and he, now 85 years old, moved in with Reuben and Marietta Wynn, becoming a neighbor of Catherine and Vandine who were renting from Charles Mettler just up the street. Tax records show Jesse Campbell was living with the Wynns in 1891, 1892, and 1893. But in 1893, presumably after some falling out with the Wynns, Jesse Campbell moved in with Catherine and Vandine and entered into the above agreement to convey the property to her in return for his care for the remainder of his life.  Tax records show Jesse Campbell living with Vandine Martz in 1894. Needless to say, the Wynn's were none too pleased with this idea.

And who is Reuben Wynn? An accident prone son-in-law:

January 24, 1874 (Saturday)
Reuben Wynn had several fingers sawed off at Clement's planing mill on Saturday.
-Sunbury Gazette, 1/30/1874

During 1888
Reuben Wynn, laborer, is a tenant of Elizabeth Fuller, has a value/income of $25, 1 cow valued at $15, for an aggregate value of $40, has $100 at interest, and is taxed: county tax $.24, state tax $.30
-Northumberland County Tax Book, Upper Augusta Township, 1888

May 15, 1887 (Sunday)
Reuben Wynn of Purdytown, was stricken with paralysis last week and confined to his bed.
-Sunbury American, 5/15/1887

April 14, 1890 (Monday)
There was a pleasant surprise party given at the home of R.W. Wynn of Purdytown on Monday evening, it being his sixtieth birthday. There was a large number present.
-Northumberland County Democrat, 4/18/1890

January 26, 1891 (Monday)
On Monday afternoon, Reuben Wynn of East Sunbury, employed in the shops carpenter department had one of his feet very much injured by having a timber fall upon it.
-Northumberland County Democrat 1/29/1891
-Sunbury American, 1/30/1891

July 23, 1891 (Thursday)
After a long illness, Reuben Wynn is again at the shops.
-Northumberland County Democrat, 7/23/1891

April 6, 1892 (Wednesday)
Injured at the Shops - Reuben Wynn Receives a Blow from a Sledge Hammer - Reuben Wynn, an old employee of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, was badly injured at the upper yards on Wednesday by being hit with a sledge hammer. He was working under a car while a companion was busy testing the wheels and axles. While crawling from under a car, the sledge struck him at the base of the skull. He was taken home to Purdytown when Dr. Chas. M. Martin attended him. He was badly injured but whether the blow will result seriously is not known. Mr. Wynn is an old man and the chances are against him.
-Sunbury Weekly News, 4/7/1892

December 28, 1893 (Thursday)

Jesse Campbell gives notice in writing to Reuben W. Wynn that the term of his lease at 222 Catawissa Avenue will be fully ended on 4/1/1894, and "demanding and requiring the said Reuben W. Wynn to remove from and leave the said premises."
-Northumberland County Appearance Docket and file 161, September Term, 1894

July 16, 1894 (Monday)

The Grim Destroyer - Jesse Campbell died at his late residence on Catawissa Street, East Sunbury, on Monday afternoon aged 87 years, 7 months and 12 days. Funeral services at the house Thursday morning at 10 o'clock. Interment at Irish Valley Church.
-Northumberland County Democrat, 7/19/1894
Jesse Campbell born November 4, 1806.
-Vandine Martz Bible
(Note: I get 87 years, 8 months and 12 days. The date is also confirmed in the Parish Registers of the Zion Lutheran Church compiled by Rev. Frederick S. Weiser, 1969. -rjm)

July 19, 1894 (Thursday)

Funeral services of Mr. Jesse Campbell aged 87 years, 9 months and 12 days, was held at the residence of Mr. Vandine Martz with whom he had made his home, on Thursday July 19. The interment was in the Methodist Cemetery of Irish Valley where many friends and relatives had gathered to pay their last tribute to the deceased.
"Into the eternal shadow that girds our life around,
Into the infinite silence wherewith deaths shore is bound
Thou hast gone forth, beloved! and I were mean to weep
That thou hast left life's shallows and dost possess the
deep."
-Northumberland County Democrat, 7/26/1894
(Note: I still get 87 years, 8 months and 12 days. There is a larger dissonance of data, however. The stone for Jesse Campbell shows the correct month and day of his death, however the year is stated as 1893. Oops! Please accept my apologies on behalf of my great-grandmother, Catharine Martz, who was charged to "erect a proper tombstone" for Mr. Campbell.  See 1/1/1893. -rjm)

July 23, 1894 (Monday)