Obituary of Martin J. Campbell, published in the Portland Review on December 10, 1918.
Martin A. Campbell was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Campbell, of Portland township.
He was born here 24 years ago and graduated from the public schools. He was captain of the football team and one of the most daring players.
He went to Olivet college after his graduation here and then to Detroit.
When the call came to serve his country he was preparing to enter the Detroit Law School.
After a few weeks at Camp Custer he was sent overseas with the 85th. For a time he was in London and then his folks heard he had gone to Russia. Two days before the department notified them of Martin's death the parents received two letters from him, dated Oct. 8 and 11. He told them he never felt better and that he was having the time of his life. He spoke of having met Fred DeLaney and Harry Wilbur in Russia.
The department's telegram, received Monday, says it is officially reported that Corp Martin A. Campbell was accidentally killed Oct. 21. Cause undetermined.
From this it would appear that he was not killed in action. The same qualities which made him one of the best football players the high school has produced would also lead him into places of danger, where others would hesitate to go.
It is possible they also led him to his death.
Miss Dorothy Kenyon, a member of the 12th grade, Portland high school, had been looking forward with pleasant anticipations to the time when Corp. Campbell should return, because it had been practically settled that as soon as the war was over they would be married. They saw each other as often as possible while Corp. Campbell was at Camp Custer and Miss Kenyon was one of the last to bid the soldier good-bye as he left Custer for overseas.
It was while Mr. Campbell was captain of the local football squad that Portland won the county championship – an event which meant much to the high school.
Martin was the son of Rosette Guernsey and Joseph Campbell.
He was survived by his parents and by his siblings
Bennie, Joseph, Maxwell and Merrill Campbell.
SOLDIER KILLED BY WOULD BE SUICIDE
Parents of Corporal Martin Campbell Learn How He Died in Russia.
Portland, Jan 2. Lieut. John F. Hanker, Company E. 339th Infantry, sends to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Campbell details of the death of their son, Corporal Martin Campbell. The war department had previously notified them that the young man had been accidentally killed. The letter comes from Archangel Russia.
"At the time he was killed were were stationed at Buhkarltzen doing duty over military stores of every description," says the letter, He went to the barracks and being about all in from working night and day he sat on the edge of the bunk and started to doze off in a sitting position, A man named Jones bunked upstairs and being somewhat unbalanced, I think when up and put a shell in a rifle, hanging it by the trigger on a nail thinking to get under the muzzle before pulling the rifle down to shoot himself. It went off, he said, before he intended it to. The shell went through Jones sleeve, through the floor and hit Campbell. He died soon after reaching the hospital. He was buried with full military honors in the allied cemetery at Archangel.
Corp Martin J. Campbell is listed among the casualties of the Polar Bear Expedition in "Why did we go to Russia?" By Harry J. Costello (Detroit : H. J. Costello, [c1920]), and in "E" Company, 2nd battalion, 339th infantry, 170th brigade, 85th division, U.S.A. [Souvenir booklet], as well as in several Polar Bear Association reunion programs.
Research of Marilynn Johnson
Martin A. Campbell was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Campbell, of Portland township.
He was born here 24 years ago and graduated from the public schools. He was captain of the football team and one of the most daring players.
He went to Olivet college after his graduation here and then to Detroit.
When the call came to serve his country he was preparing to enter the Detroit Law School.
After a few weeks at Camp Custer he was sent overseas with the 85th. For a time he was in London and then his folks heard he had gone to Russia. Two days before the department notified them of Martin's death the parents received two letters from him, dated Oct. 8 and 11. He told them he never felt better and that he was having the time of his life. He spoke of having met Fred DeLaney and Harry Wilbur in Russia.
The department's telegram, received Monday, says it is officially reported that Corp Martin A. Campbell was accidentally killed Oct. 21. Cause undetermined.
From this it would appear that he was not killed in action. The same qualities which made him one of the best football players the high school has produced would also lead him into places of danger, where others would hesitate to go.
It is possible they also led him to his death.
Miss Dorothy Kenyon, a member of the 12th grade, Portland high school, had been looking forward with pleasant anticipations to the time when Corp. Campbell should return, because it had been practically settled that as soon as the war was over they would be married. They saw each other as often as possible while Corp. Campbell was at Camp Custer and Miss Kenyon was one of the last to bid the soldier good-bye as he left Custer for overseas.
It was while Mr. Campbell was captain of the local football squad that Portland won the county championship – an event which meant much to the high school.
Martin was the son of Rosette Guernsey and Joseph Campbell.
He was survived by his parents and by his siblings
Bennie, Joseph, Maxwell and Merrill Campbell.
SOLDIER KILLED BY WOULD BE SUICIDE
Parents of Corporal Martin Campbell Learn How He Died in Russia.
Portland, Jan 2. Lieut. John F. Hanker, Company E. 339th Infantry, sends to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Campbell details of the death of their son, Corporal Martin Campbell. The war department had previously notified them that the young man had been accidentally killed. The letter comes from Archangel Russia.
"At the time he was killed were were stationed at Buhkarltzen doing duty over military stores of every description," says the letter, He went to the barracks and being about all in from working night and day he sat on the edge of the bunk and started to doze off in a sitting position, A man named Jones bunked upstairs and being somewhat unbalanced, I think when up and put a shell in a rifle, hanging it by the trigger on a nail thinking to get under the muzzle before pulling the rifle down to shoot himself. It went off, he said, before he intended it to. The shell went through Jones sleeve, through the floor and hit Campbell. He died soon after reaching the hospital. He was buried with full military honors in the allied cemetery at Archangel.
Corp Martin J. Campbell is listed among the casualties of the Polar Bear Expedition in "Why did we go to Russia?" By Harry J. Costello (Detroit : H. J. Costello, [c1920]), and in "E" Company, 2nd battalion, 339th infantry, 170th brigade, 85th division, U.S.A. [Souvenir booklet], as well as in several Polar Bear Association reunion programs.
Research of Marilynn Johnson
Obituary of Martin J. Campbell, published in the Portland Review on December 10, 1918.
Martin A. Campbell was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Campbell, of Portland township.
He was born here 24 years ago and graduated from the public schools. He was captain of the football team and one of the most daring players.
He went to Olivet college after his graduation here and then to Detroit.
When the call came to serve his country he was preparing to enter the Detroit Law School.
After a few weeks at Camp Custer he was sent overseas with the 85th. For a time he was in London and then his folks heard he had gone to Russia. Two days before the department notified them of Martin's death the parents received two letters from him, dated Oct. 8 and 11. He told them he never felt better and that he was having the time of his life. He spoke of having met Fred DeLaney and Harry Wilbur in Russia.
The department's telegram, received Monday, says it is officially reported that Corp Martin A. Campbell was accidentally killed Oct. 21. Cause undetermined.
From this it would appear that he was not killed in action. The same qualities which made him one of the best football players the high school has produced would also lead him into places of danger, where others would hesitate to go.
It is possible they also led him to his death.
Miss Dorothy Kenyon, a member of the 12th grade, Portland high school, had been looking forward with pleasant anticipations to the time when Corp. Campbell should return, because it had been practically settled that as soon as the war was over they would be married. They saw each other as often as possible while Corp. Campbell was at Camp Custer and Miss Kenyon was one of the last to bid the soldier good-bye as he left Custer for overseas.
It was while Mr. Campbell was captain of the local football squad that Portland won the county championship – an event which meant much to the high school.
Martin was the son of Rosette Guernsey and Joseph Campbell.
He was survived by his parents and by his siblings
Bennie, Joseph, Maxwell and Merrill Campbell.
SOLDIER KILLED BY WOULD BE SUICIDE
Parents of Corporal Martin Campbell Learn How He Died in Russia.
Portland, Jan 2. Lieut. John F. Hanker, Company E. 339th Infantry, sends to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Campbell details of the death of their son, Corporal Martin Campbell. The war department had previously notified them that the young man had been accidentally killed. The letter comes from Archangel Russia.
"At the time he was killed were were stationed at Buhkarltzen doing duty over military stores of every description," says the letter, He went to the barracks and being about all in from working night and day he sat on the edge of the bunk and started to doze off in a sitting position, A man named Jones bunked upstairs and being somewhat unbalanced, I think when up and put a shell in a rifle, hanging it by the trigger on a nail thinking to get under the muzzle before pulling the rifle down to shoot himself. It went off, he said, before he intended it to. The shell went through Jones sleeve, through the floor and hit Campbell. He died soon after reaching the hospital. He was buried with full military honors in the allied cemetery at Archangel.
Corp Martin J. Campbell is listed among the casualties of the Polar Bear Expedition in "Why did we go to Russia?" By Harry J. Costello (Detroit : H. J. Costello, [c1920]), and in "E" Company, 2nd battalion, 339th infantry, 170th brigade, 85th division, U.S.A. [Souvenir booklet], as well as in several Polar Bear Association reunion programs.
Research of Marilynn Johnson
Martin A. Campbell was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Campbell, of Portland township.
He was born here 24 years ago and graduated from the public schools. He was captain of the football team and one of the most daring players.
He went to Olivet college after his graduation here and then to Detroit.
When the call came to serve his country he was preparing to enter the Detroit Law School.
After a few weeks at Camp Custer he was sent overseas with the 85th. For a time he was in London and then his folks heard he had gone to Russia. Two days before the department notified them of Martin's death the parents received two letters from him, dated Oct. 8 and 11. He told them he never felt better and that he was having the time of his life. He spoke of having met Fred DeLaney and Harry Wilbur in Russia.
The department's telegram, received Monday, says it is officially reported that Corp Martin A. Campbell was accidentally killed Oct. 21. Cause undetermined.
From this it would appear that he was not killed in action. The same qualities which made him one of the best football players the high school has produced would also lead him into places of danger, where others would hesitate to go.
It is possible they also led him to his death.
Miss Dorothy Kenyon, a member of the 12th grade, Portland high school, had been looking forward with pleasant anticipations to the time when Corp. Campbell should return, because it had been practically settled that as soon as the war was over they would be married. They saw each other as often as possible while Corp. Campbell was at Camp Custer and Miss Kenyon was one of the last to bid the soldier good-bye as he left Custer for overseas.
It was while Mr. Campbell was captain of the local football squad that Portland won the county championship – an event which meant much to the high school.
Martin was the son of Rosette Guernsey and Joseph Campbell.
He was survived by his parents and by his siblings
Bennie, Joseph, Maxwell and Merrill Campbell.
SOLDIER KILLED BY WOULD BE SUICIDE
Parents of Corporal Martin Campbell Learn How He Died in Russia.
Portland, Jan 2. Lieut. John F. Hanker, Company E. 339th Infantry, sends to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Campbell details of the death of their son, Corporal Martin Campbell. The war department had previously notified them that the young man had been accidentally killed. The letter comes from Archangel Russia.
"At the time he was killed were were stationed at Buhkarltzen doing duty over military stores of every description," says the letter, He went to the barracks and being about all in from working night and day he sat on the edge of the bunk and started to doze off in a sitting position, A man named Jones bunked upstairs and being somewhat unbalanced, I think when up and put a shell in a rifle, hanging it by the trigger on a nail thinking to get under the muzzle before pulling the rifle down to shoot himself. It went off, he said, before he intended it to. The shell went through Jones sleeve, through the floor and hit Campbell. He died soon after reaching the hospital. He was buried with full military honors in the allied cemetery at Archangel.
Corp Martin J. Campbell is listed among the casualties of the Polar Bear Expedition in "Why did we go to Russia?" By Harry J. Costello (Detroit : H. J. Costello, [c1920]), and in "E" Company, 2nd battalion, 339th infantry, 170th brigade, 85th division, U.S.A. [Souvenir booklet], as well as in several Polar Bear Association reunion programs.
Research of Marilynn Johnson
Inscription
Corp Martin's were transported back to Portland, Michigan for burial. He was NOT buried in Russia.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
