Bethany College - Bethanian Yearbook (Bethany, WV)

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Hleianber Campbell. ALEXANDER CAMPBELL was born in Comity Antrim, Ireland, September 12th, 17S6. In early boyhood he was more fond of field sports than of books. His first lessons were learned at an elementary school in Market Hill, Comity Armagh; later he attended an academy at Newry; and, lastly he was a student at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. His father, Thomas Campbell, had united with the Secession, or Antibnrger Presbyterian Church, and it was under its jurisdiction that he came to America, in 1807, and located near Washington, Pennsylvania, whither he was followed by Alexander in October of 1809. His first effort at public speaking was an exhortation before a small audience in a private house, and following a sermon by his father. He was then 24 years old. Shortly after this, in May of 1810, he preached his first regular discourse at Brush Run. A year later, March 12, 1811, he was married to Margaret Brown, at her father ' s residence. In 1812 he was formally ordained to the ministry. In i8i8he opened in his own house a school for both sexes, known as the Buffalo Academy. In 1827 his first wife died, and in 1828 he was married to Selina H. Bakewell. In 1830 he was a delegate to the Virginia convention for amending the state constitution. In 1 84 1 the crown and consummation of all his earthlv projects was reached in the founding of Bethany College. The life of Alexander Campbell was filled with arduous and varied labors. He taught, he traveled, he preached, at home and abroad; he wrote, early and late; he debated in private and in public, before vast audiences, with the representative men of the day, in behalf of a simple faith against the stronghold of creeds, in behalf of the Protestant world against Romanism, and in behalf of universal Christianity against Infidelity. In stature he was tall, and to the last his bearing was majestic. He died in 1S66 at the age of eighty. In the last days of a serenely beautiful old age — as in youth — his noble cheerfulness of disposition shone with none the less power to charm and bless those whose privilege it was to enjoy his companionship.