Alexander Fergus Campbell

Alexander Fergus Campbell was the inspector at Chicago Avenue station at the time of the fire.  His office was used to contain family members searching for information. There officer Finn repeated information about victims over and over.  As a college graduate (Monmouth College) Campbell was unusual to the department when he joined in the late 1880s.  While working as the assistant business manager of the Chicago Times newspaper he caught the attention of the newspaper owner, Chicago mayor Carter Harrison I, who hired him as secretary of the police department.  Campbell was considered for Chief in 1901 when the appointment instead went to Francis O'Neill.  Campbell left the police department in 1904 to become a special agent for the Chicago Underwriters.

Married to Carrie Graham on 25 Mar 1885 in in Henderson County, Illinois.

CAMPBELL, Alexander Fergus, agent for Chicago Underwriters' Assn.; born Westmoreland Co., Pa.. May 20. 1852; son Mungo D. and Mary Ann (Mabon) Campbell; ed. pub. schools of Monmouth, 111.; married Oquawka. 111., Mar. 25, 1885, Carrie S. Graham. Learned the molder's trade in a foundry at Monmouth, 111., beginning at the age of 13 and remaining 2 years; then was for 5 years clerk in the post office at Monmouth, HI., and after that in Railway Mail service on the C..B.&Q.R.R. for 13 years; came to Chicago in 1885, and was in charge of the circulating department of the Chicago Times until 1893, when entered police department of Chicago and served as secretary and captain until 1899; inspector of police in charge of North Side, 1899-1904; since Feb. 1. 1904, agent for Chicago Underwriters' Assn. Republican. Member of  St. Andrew's Society Club: Illinois. Recreations: baseball and other athletic sports. Residence: 3504 Jackson Boul. Office: 29 S. LaSalle St.