He was born in Aylmer, Ontario, Canada, on the 23d of March, 1857, a son of William and Jane (Van Wagganer) Campbell, both natives of Canada and of Scotch extraction. The father was a business man and for many years was postmaster of Aylmer, Ontario, but after his retirement from business cares and responsibilities he and his wife came to Watertown, South Dakota, where their son Robert F. had preceded them. Both passed away in that city about 1905.