John Allen Campbell


John Allen Campbell was a politician and officer in the United States Army, as well as the first Governor of the Wyoming Territory.

Biography

Campbell was born in Salem, Ohio and attended public school in Ohio. In 1861, he joined the Union Army in the Civil War, during which time he served as a publicity writer and later as adjutant general on Major General John M. Schofield's staff. He advanced from lieutenant to lieutenant colonel. On February 24, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Campbell for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on April 10, 1866.
John Campbell married daughter of Benjamin Wunderly and Rachel Knettle Wunderly, on February 1, 1872. Campbell died 8 years later. Isabella never remarried and died on September 23, 1923 in Washington D.C.. Both John and Isabella are buried at the Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

Career

Campbell continued to serve under Major General Schofield during the Reconstruction Period, and in Virginia Campbell helped set up senatorial and representative districts. President Ulysses S. Grant appointed him Governor of Wyoming Territory in 1869 and again in 1873. While Governor, Campbell approved the first law in United States history explicitly granting women the right to vote. The law was approved on December 10, 1869. This day was later commemorated as Wyoming Day.
In 1875, Campbell served as Third Assistant Secretary of State under Secretary of State Hamilton Fish. Campbell was a member of the Republican Party.
Campbell was appointed American Consul at Basel, Switzerland, on December 3, 1877, and resigned on February 4, 1880.

Death and legacy

Campbell died on July 14, 1880 and is interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Campbell County, Wyoming, is named after him.

In popular culture