Addington Bollinger Campbell Jr. (1896-1983)

From the Camden Courier-Post, May 12, 1949.

  Lifelong New Jersey resident Addington Bollinger Campbell Jr. was long a leading Democrat in Cumberland County, serving several years as county Democratic committee chairman and in 1928 was named to the New Jersey State Democratic Committee. Following his service, he was affiliated with the Internal Revenue Service as chief of the field division and assistant collector, and in 1949 was named by President Truman as U.S. Collector of Internal Revenue for New Jersey's 1st district. The son of leading Cumberland County oyster shipper Addington Bollinger Campbell Sr. (1866-1930) and the former Mary Emma Joslin (1874-1960), Addington Bollinger Campbell Jr. was born on August 29, 1896, in Newport, New Jersey.

  A student at schools local to Bridgton, Campbell graduated from Bridgton High School and later enrolled at the Banks Business College in Philadephia. A naval veteran of World War I, Campbell captained a sub-chaser during his service, and as the commander of Submarine Patrol 204, was responsible for removing a mine cutter that had landed on a beach in Delaware Bay in late 1918. Following his service, he married in Newport in 1920 to Myrtle Lore Lake (1892-1975), to who he was wed for over fifty years. The couple had at least one son, Duncan Lake Campbell (born ca. 1925). 

   In the years after his marriage Campbell was affiliated with his father's oyster shipping business, and in the 1930s owned an oyster-catching vessel based out of Philadelphia. He entered the political field in 1922 with his candidacy for the New Jersey State Assembly. In October of that year, he was a featured speaker at a Democratic mass meeting held in Vineland, and though defeated in the November election, he was again the Democratic nominee in November 1927.

From the Vineland Evening Journal, October 18, 1922.

  Though defeated in his runs for the assembly, Campbell experienced success in local politics beginning with his service as chairman of the Cumberland County Democratic Committee in 1924. He served several years in that post, and in 1928 advanced to a seat on the New Jersey State Democratic Executive Committee, where he sat until 1935. In August 1933 he began a long affiliation with the Internal Revenue Service when he was appointed as chief of field deputies at the IRS office in Camden. 

  After two years as chief of field deputies, Campbell succeeded to the post of assistant collector of internal revenue for New Jersey's 1st district. Serving under collector Harry Maloney, Campbell's tenure extended until April 11, 1949, when Maloney died. Campbell acted as interim collector until May when President Truman nominated him to succeed Maloney. Campbell was later confirmed by the U.S. Senate and was sworn into office in July 1949.  

   Overseeing a district that comprised ten New Jersey counties, Campbell announced in September 1949 that his office would be "cracking down on delinquent taxpayers in the South New Jersey district", and aimed to collect $2,000,000 from 6,000 delinquent taxpayers. Campbell would further state that:

"Businessmen who ignore demands for payment risk having their bank accounts impounded by the government. If their cash or other liquid assets do not cover the delinquency, the law provides their businessess may be disposed of at forced sales to raise the money."

From the Camden Courier-Post, July 1, 1949.

  Campbell was reappointed as internal revenue collector for the 1st district in November 1952, and in August of the previous year announced the opening of an IRS branch office in Bridgton, that would be staffed by ten deputy collectors and two office assistants. Campbell later assumed the title of district collector and served until announcing his retirement in May 1955, being succeeded by Chris L. Gross.

  Following retirement Addington B. Campbell continued residence in Port Norris, New Jersey, and in June 1975 suffered the death of his wife of over fifty years, Myrtle. A prominent club man in his region, Campbell held memberships in the Olivet Lodge No. 607 of Free and Accepted Masons, the Rajah Temple of Philadelphia, the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Lodge Council Chapter Consistory of Scranton, and the Nabb-Leslie American Legion Post No. 82 of Millville.

  After decades of prominence in New Jersey public affairs, Addington B. Campbell Jr. died at the Millville Hospital on October 28, 1983, aged 87. He was survived by his son Duncan and was interred alongside his wife at the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Cedarville, New Jersey.

From the Millville Daily, October 29, 1983.