William Cameron and Eleanor McLaughlin

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Husband William Cameron ^{1 2}

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           Born: 15 Oct 1795 - Maytown, Lancaster Co, PA 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 10 Sep 1877 3
         Buried: 

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         Father: Charles Cameron (Abt 1769-1814) 1
         Mother: Martha Pfoutz (      -1830) 1

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       Marriage: 5 Jan 1820 2

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Wife Eleanor McLaughlin ²

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           Born: 20 Jun 1803 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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         Father: Hugh McLaughlin (      -1815) 2
         Mother: 

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Children

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1 F Mary Cameron ³

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Hon. John B. Packer (      -      ) 3

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2 F Jane Cameron ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Francis C. Harrison, M.D. (1823-1893) 2
           Marr: 1866 2

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3 F Elizabeth Cameron ³

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef Sep 1877
         Buried: 

         Spouse: John A. Green (      -      ) 3

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4 M William Cameron, Jr. ³

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 1861 3
         Buried: 

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General Notes: Husband - William Cameron

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He was a tailor by trade. When business was dull he would engage in other occupations, often joining the rivermen in their work of carrying produce to market at the time of high water, frequently making the return journey on foot. In September, 1814, he volunteered as a private in the "Northumberland County Blues," attached to Col. George Weirick's regi-ment, and marched to Marcus Hook. This regiment was discharged at Philadelphia in the latter part of December, 1814, and his account of their muster is interesting as showing the limits of the city at that time, as they are said to have marched out of the city about Fourth street, to the old "Brick Tavern" to encamp on Union Green.

During the first years of their married life he and his young wife occupied rented rooms in the upper stories of business buildings. One spring morning Mrs. Cameron remarked that they might be able to buy a place near by upon favorable terms-an old hatter's shop which stood there having been partially burned. The prospect was not bright, but Mr. Cameron, who was about to start upon a trip down the river, said that his energetic and clever spouse might try leasing the place. By the time he returned her industry had made the place a clean and comfortable dwelling, and their hope of ownership, though in the future, made the place seem indeed a home. They bought it as means permitted, built a better residence, and from this starting point may be dated their prosperity. Later Mr. Cameron purchased all the places dear to him by early associations, the home of his father, the old home of his beloved "Nellie," and the grounds on both sides of the creek where he had wooed and won her, a touching evidence of the sensitiveness which underlay his somewhat stern exterior. At the time of his death he owned a large amount of the best property in Lewisburg, while his country lands extended north from the east end of the Limestone Ridge across the heart of Buffalo Valley, and along the east bank of the West branch of the Susquehanna to the border of Milton, comprising many of the best farms of that fertile region.
His business enterprises were varied and extensive, the first of note being the construction, under contract, of portions of the Pennsylvania canal, by which he cleared about ten thousand dollars. While engaged in this work Mrs. Cameron moved into a log cabin upon a farm which they bought near the scene of operations. It was a forlorn looking place, but by hard work and good management was transformed into a veritable garden. Other enterprises were the tunnel of Elizabethtown, the railroad bridge at Harrisburg on the Cumberland Valley R. R., and the dams at Columbia and Lewisburg. In 1839 he engaged in the wholesale dry-goods business in Philadelphia, under the firm name of Welsh, Cameron & Co., and continued about three years. He was also a leading member of a firm that successfully operated the railroad from Columbia to Philadelphia. It had been managed for one year by the Department of Public Works, but was falling deeper and deeper in debt, when Mr. Cameron took charge of it. In 1853 he engaged in banking, assisting in the establishment of the Lewisburg Savings Institution, which later became a chartered State bank, and then, under the National Banking Act, was incorporated as the Lewisburg National Bank. On one occasion, when on the witness stand, he gave "banking" as his occupation.
In speaking of his life, in his prosperous years, he never failed to give credit to his wife for her share in the efforts which had gained his wealth, and at his death, which occurred September 10, 1877, he left almost all his possessions to her for her lifetime. It is a fact worthy of note that his work tended to the improvement and development of the localities in which he was interested, dilapidated buildings being restored, swamp lands drained, or avenues of commerce opened. While he did not make a name in public life like his brother, Hon. Simon Cameron, or his brother James, who fell in the Civil war, his influence was no less a power for good wherever he was known. Never ostentatious in gifts, he still made generous donations when a worthy cause was recognized. A steam fire-engine, costing over $10,000, was given to the city of Lewisburg, and twice a year he gave orders to the coal dealers to see that none were suffering from cold, while the gifts quietly sent from his own store houses cannot be estimated. He was familiarly known in the community as "the Squire," the title having first been acquired through his commission from Gov. Schultz, February 19, 1827, as a justice of the peace, but it was continued as a tribute of respect to his character and standing.

1 —, Encyclopaedia of Contemporary Biography of Pennsylvania, Vol. I (New York: Atlantic Publishing & Engraving Co., 1889), Pg 7.

2 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 775.

3 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 776.