My Family Tree

From a History of Long River

THE CAMPBELLS AND THE FLOATING BRIDGE
James Campbell Sr. a military man emigrated from Bradalbane,
Perthshire, Scotland, came to P.E. Island with Governor Patterson in
1774. His wife was a Cameron of Lauchiel. James acted as Secretary for
the Governor for a short time before settling in Park Corner.
James Jr. married a sister of Senator Montgomery and between
these two homes there was a lake, this had to be bridged so they selected
large logs, hewed one side flat, fastened them together with chains and
secured the chains to the bank on each side of the lake, this made the
first floating bridge.
Our famous Island Authoress Lucy Maud Montgomery was a
frequent visitor at the Campbell and Montgomery homes in her young
days and she named the lake the Lake of Shinning Waters. Later she
came to live with her aunt and uncle in the Campbell home and attended
church in Long River.
She was married in the Campbell home to the Rev. Ewan Mac-
Donald and went to live in the manse in Leaskdale, Ontario.
A grandson of James Sr., William, better known as member
Bill operated a large farm and mill in Sea View, he was a Lt. Col. in the
militia and represented 1st Queens from 1873 to 1887 and was Minister of
Public Works in the Sullivan Government for eight years. He resignd
his seat and unsuccessfully contested Queens County in the Dominion
election of 1887.
Another grandson James married Isabella Johnstone of Long
River and took his bride to live in Grahams Road. Chief Justice Thane
A. Campbell is a grandson of this union.

Lucy Maud Montgomery said that James Campbell married two women named Elizabeth Montgomery. The first wife was the sister of "Little Donald" Montgomery; his second wife the sister of "Big Donald" Montgomery, a cousin of the first wife.