In 1936 William B. Campbell, then living in Denver, wrote a letter to his son Samuel, a reply to a request from Samuel for names and addresses of people he might visit on a trip to the Louisville area. Images of the letter and a transcription of it are given below.
This letter contains many names of both relatives and friends of William Campbell, and defines some relationships. From it we can hear the tone of affection that Campbell had for so many folks back in Kentucky; a tone reflected in the newspaper accounts about him found on another page.
Denver, Colorado, Dec. 3, 1936
2507 Race St., 5 P.M.
The Campbell's
Sam and Margaret
Dear Children,
Just received your letter of Dec. 1st stating that you are leaving for Louisville Dec. 10th, requesting that I tell you of relatives to look up.
I do not know the addresses of them all, but if you will go see your great uncles Clarence L. Key and Corbin Key, also your second cousin John H. Nicholson, they will gove you the addresses of others. Your second cousin Dr. Albert Arnold will also be glad to see you and easy to find.
If you find time to run out on the L. & N. R. R. 18 miles to Shepherdsville you wil see your third cousins Dr. Howard Ridgway and his brother Lindsay who is the present clerk of Bullitt County. Also you will see a lot of my old friends, viz. C. P. Bradbury, County Judge; Ora Roby, County Superintendent of Schools; Ora is a cousin of yours.
Also do not fail to see James Hardaway, cashier of the Peoples Bank and Harry Combs, cashier Bullitt Co. Bank; and furthermore you will see my old home which might interest you and Margaret; the house I built to live in during life.
You will find everybody a friend of mine in Shepherdsville, white and colored.
Will S. Rouse, my old deputy, in Louisville will be glad to see you. He is an excellant gentleman. Also J. F. Combs, ex county attorney is a friend of mine in Shepherdsville who will be pleased to see you. And Col. Daugherty who married a cousin of yours. And James Barrall, editor of the county paper. There are too many to mention. Your Aunt Maud Orms' children you will find in Louisville.
I hope and pray that you will have a pleasant and safe trip. Write me a card while you are there. Where are you going when you leave Louisville? Are you returning to Rochester?
Yo will have to look in Louisville Directory for the addresses. I looked for them here; it seems that I have mislaid them.
I think John H. Nicholson's home is in the 4200 or 2200 block West Broadway. And Clarence Key is out near Army Camp Taylor.
I hope to hear from you and Margaret soon. With much Love, I am your Dad.
Will B. Campbell
P.S. Sam, your Uncle Basil and Aunt Minnie Nall are at Valley Station about 12 miles southwest of Louisville on West Point Pike, just down the Ohio River, almost due west from Louisville. I am certain you would like to see them. You'll remember they were here with us in 1927 at 2728 Gilpin; Jess's sister.
William B. Campbell died in Denver in 1945. Obituaries for him and for Jesse and Inez Allen, his brother and sister-in-law are shown below.
The images on this page are provided to us by Jacque Campbell Love, a descendant of William B. Campbell.
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The Bullitt County History Museum, a service of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is located in the county courthouse at 300 South Buckman Street (Highway 61) in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The museum, along with its research room, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday appointments are available by calling 502-921-0161 during our regular weekday hours. Admission is free. The museum, as part of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization and is classified as a 509(a)2 public charity. Contributions and bequests are deductible under section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the Internal Revenue Code. Page last modified: 13 Sep 2024 . Page URL: bullittcountyhistory.org/bchistory/campbellletter.html
