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Spur´s oldest business, presently known as Campbell Furniture - and Campbell Funeral Home, has been in operation continuously since 10 days following the opening of the town.W.S. Campbell, a young bachelor, heeding the advise of the writer, Horace Greeley, who said: "Turn your face to great West," opened his business - ´W.S. Campbell Furniture and Undertaking´, in a small sheet iron building, 24 by 80 feet, directly across the street from the present location, which the business has occupied since 1916.
The first stock included the most essential items needed for housekeeping in 1909, such as cane-bottomed chairs, metal bedsteads, and springs, rocking chairs, and babybuggies. An invoice dated November 19, 1909 shows a shipment of stock was received from Rodgers-Wade Manufacturing Company out of Paris, Texas
Although board and lodging was only $18.75 per month, the eligible young bachelor, chose a life´s partner two years later, when he married Miss Dora Belle Williams, Nov. 7, 1911. The new partner, educated in Baylor, was a teacher of "Elocution", modernly called, Speech, in Spur. The W.S. Campbells had three children, Isabelle Crossman of Garland, Bonnie McAteer of Spur, and a son, Spencer, who is present owner of the two business firms.
Mrs. George S. Link, a Spur pioneer, made one of the initial purchases in the store. Some of the window shades of that sale are still in use, which indicates the quality of the merchandise sold by the firm. During the early days in Spur, an express wagon, drawn by one horse was hired to take the caskets to the cemetery. Later, a model-T hearse was rented from ´Uncle´ Bill Hyatt´s Livery Stable, to service the funerals.
Following World War I, Weber Williams, brother of Mrs. Campbell, became manager of the Funeral Home. In 1936, Spencer, having completed his college education, assumed management of the firm. He became co-owner in 1941.
Sole ownership of the business, by purchase of the remaining shares, was acquired by Spencer Campbell, following the death of his father W. S. Campbell in 1952. The present site of Campbell Funeral Home was purchased from Chandler Funeral Home in 1957.
Employees of Campbell Furniture and Campbell Funeral Home are: Mrs. Autrey Neil Sharp, H.C. McElyear, and Charles Daniels.
Since 1909, this business with it´s two generations ownership, has operated on principles of honesty ad integrity. Members of this pioneer family have contributed to the growth and development of the Spur Community.
©The Texas Spur Jubilee Addition, 1954
Williams - Campbell - Wedding
A home wedding unusually beautiful in its solemnization and prevailing sentiment was the marriage at 3:30 o´clock Tuesday afternoon of Miss Dora Belle Williams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Williams and Mr. William Spencer Campbell of Spur, Texas.The house was beautifully adorned for the occasion with southern smilax fern and flowers. The ceremony which was witnessed by an assembly of interested friends and relatives, was performed before the improvised altar of graduated palms and ferns in the drawing room. In the dining room flowers and ferns formed an ideal setting for the table in the center, laid in florentine lace and flowers.
Mrs. Hal Jamison rendered the wedding march and Rev. M.F. Daniel read the impressive marriage ceremony.
The bride wore a beautiful going away suit of brown, with hat, gloves, and shoes to match, and carried a shower bouquet of lilies of the valley.
Following the ceremony and congratulations, refreshments were served, after which the bride and groom departed on the 5 o´clock train amid a shower of rice and good wishes and will be at home in Spur after November 20th.
The bride is a very attractive and lovable girl, endeared to a large circle of admirers and friends, and the handsome collection of wedding presents attested the popularity of the young couple.
Among the Houston relative guests attended the wedding were Mrs. J.J. Sweeney, Mr. Will Giles, Miss Edith Heftie and Mr. and Mrs. Jim Williams.
- The Angleton Times
Mr. and Mrs. Campbell returned last week to Spur and are now being congratulated by their many friends in Spur and surrounding country. At present they are at home to their friends at the Hisey residence.
©The Texas Spur, November 17, 1911
Funeral services were scheduled for 10 a.m. today, Thursday, at the Methodist Church of Spur for W.S. Campbell, Sr. who died Tuesday at 12:15 p.m.. Rev. Cal Wright, Pastor, will officiate.Campbell, 78, a pioneer resident of Spur died at his home following an illness of several months.
Campbell was born in Chanute, Tenn. He moved to Spur in 1909 when the town was started and established the Campbell Furniture Store and the Campbell Mortuary. He married Miss Dora Williams of Angleton in 1911.
Both Mr. And Mrs. Campbell were active members in the local Methodist Church, and were made charter members and trustees of the church.
He is survived by Mrs. Campbell, a son, Spencer, Jr.; two daughters, Mrs. Robt. J. McAteer and Mrs. Curtis Crossman; a brother J.C. Campbell of Munday.
©The Texas Spur, July 31, 1952
From the records of Lillian Grace Nay, transcribed by B. Hodges, August 2004
© Dickens County Historical Commission 1997-2022
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