Susannah was the daughter William Rowles (b: 1778 @ Clearfield County, PA) and Mary Henry (b: 1799 @ Donegal, Ireland. She was born in 1841 in Ferguson Township, PA and had three 3 sisters and 2 brothers.

Susannah's father died in 1848 when she was approximately 6 years of age. Her mother remarried to Greenwood McCracken. Susannah and her siblings often used their stepfather's surname of McCracken while growing up. Her youngest brother, Daniel Webster [Rowles] McCracken was a toddler at the time of their father's death and he used the surname of McCracken exclusively.

Susannah Rowles and John Briggs Campbell were united in marriage on August 11, 1861. As a result of their son being born one month after their marriage date, it became difficult for Susannah to prove her son's paternity following the death of her husband. Their daughter, Mary Elizabeth, who was born after their marriage, was never in question by the pension board.

Countless statements by Susannah's friends, family, and community members regarding the birth of their son, and verifying the fact that John Briggs Campbell had fathered him, were written to support of her efforts in proving his paternity. In addition, there were legal documents written on Susannah's behalf by several local attornies. [All documents can be found on Fold3]

The final determination of the pension board stated that there was sufficient and ample evidence proving that the late John Briggs Campbell, Sr. had indeed fathered his young son. Susannah was granted a widow's pension, as well as a monthly pension for her two children until their eighteenth birthdays.

The children of Susannah (Rowles) Campbell and John Briggs Campbell, Sr.:

John Briggs Campbell, Jr. was born in Lumber City, PA on July 10, 1861 to John and Susannah. He was employed as a laborer and farmer. In 1881, at the age of 20, John married Theodosia Glenn. Together they raised 10 children; 7 sons and 3 daughters. They remained in Pennsylvania their entire lives.

John and Theodosia are buried at Williams Memorial Cemetery in New Millport, PA. Their graves are located under a large cedar tree and several of their children along with their spouses are buried next to them. A grandson, James Campbell, who died at the age 9 while attending school in Hershey, PA, is also buried next to them.

Mary Elizabeth Campbell was born in Lumber City, PA on September 4, 1863 to John and Susannah. After Susannah had given birth to her last child in 1883, she fell ill. Mary Elizabeth cared for her mother until her death. (See further under Susannah's additional children) In 1890, Mary Elizabeth married John Francis Davis. They had 3 children, 2 daughters and a son. Sometime after 1910, Mary, John and their children left Pennsylvania and moved to west to Everett, Washington. Mary Elizabeth died in Everett on January 5, 1944 at the age of 80.

Susannah Campbell -Life after John and additional children-

There are four census records in existence for Susannah (Rowles, aka McCracken) Campbell: 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880.

In 1867, four years after her husband's death, Susannah gave birth to a son, David "Gilmore" Campbell. The father is shown as 'David Campbell' on documents, however, it is unknown if he was related to her late husband.

In the 1870 census, Susannah is shown residing in home of her brother, William Miller Rowles, aka McCracken.

In 1876, a daughter, Anna M. Campbell was born to Susannah and an unknown father.

In 1880, a daughter, Lucy Williams, was born to Susannah and an unknown father.

In 1883, shorly before Susannah's death, she gave birth to a daughter, Zelda McKenzie. Zelda's father, Kenneth McKenzie, was born in Scotland and had settled in Houtzdale, PA.

It is unknown if Susannah Campbell and Kenneth McKenzie married.

Susannah died in 1883 in Houtzdale, PA. Her oldest daughter, Mary Elizabeth (Campbell) Davis, and her husband, helped to raise Susannah's younger children.