(14 June 1866 – 3 December 1946)1
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Herbarium (NCU) curates about 60 vascular plant specimens collected by Margaret Campbell Campbell, who usually signed her collections as “Margaret C. Campbell”. Most are undated and have scant locality data, noting simply “Hendersonville, N.C.”. A few specimens are dated 1894. She seems to have had a particular interest in orchids, as that family accounts for about half of her specimens curated by NCU.
How Ms. Campbell became interested in botany is not known, nor is it clear how her specimens made their way to Chapel Hill. At least one specimen was sent to fellow botanist and Henderson County resident Edward Read Memminger before being incorporated into NCU’s collection.
Margaret C. Campbell was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to Francis Lightfoot Lee Campbell and Ellen Milliken King Campbell (1834-1914).1,7 Francis Campbell is listed as “gentleman” with no profession in the 1870 U.S. Census for Henderson Township, Henderson County, North Carolina. The household included McMillan King, presumably a relation of his wife, whose profession is listed as “Planter.”2 Margaret’s brother, Robert Blair Campbell (1870-1967) was executor of her estate.3 Her sister, Mary Lee, was two years her junior. Margaret, her sister Mary, and her widowed mother, Ellen Campbell are listed in the 1900 U.S. Census for Hendersonville, Henderson County, North Carolina as sharing a household with Ellen’s sister and brother, Susan King and Kirkwood King. Neither Margaret (age 33) nor Mary Lee (age 31) are listed as having a profession.4
The 1910 U.S. Census lists Margaret as sharing a household with her 75 year old widowed father, Francis, who has “Own Income”.5 It seems that Margaret’s parents, Francis and Ellen, both listed themselves as “widowed” — perhaps that was more socially acceptable than being separated.
At some point Margaret moved to Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, as that is listed as her usual residence on her death certificate. She died at the age of 80 from heart disease, and was buried in Saint John in the Wilderness Cemetery in Flat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina.1, 6
SOURCES:
1. Find A Grave Memorial ID = 58675682. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58675682/margaret-c-campbell accessed on 28 September 2022.
2. Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. ear: 1870; Census Place: Hendersonville, Henderson, North Carolina; Roll: M593_1143; Page: 285B
3. Ancestry.com. North Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Henderson County, North Carolina Estate Records; Author: North Carolina. Superior Court (Henderson County); Probate Place: Henderson, North Carolina.
4. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Year: 1900; Census Place: Hendersonville, Henderson, North Carolina; Roll: 1200; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 0042; FHL microfilm: 1241200
5. Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.Year: 1910; Census Place: Hendersonville, Henderson, North Carolina; Roll: T624_1115; Page: 17A; Enumeration District: 0076; FHL microfilm: 1375128
6. Ancestry.com. North Carolina, U.S., Death Certificates, 1909-1976 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. North Carolina State Archives; Raleigh, North Carolina; North Carolina Death Certificates
7. Ancestry.com.U.S., Passport Applications, 1795-1925[database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Roll #: 2447; Volume #: Roll 2447 – Certificates: 380850-381349, 19 Mar 1924-20 Mar 1924
burial & parents: Find A Grave 58675682
mother: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58679554/ellen-milliken-campbell