Benjamin Campbell traveled nearly 2,000 miles from Missouri to California 170 years ago. Little did he know when he began that trek that a city would bear his name and, nearly two centuries later, dedicate an exhibit in his family’s honor.

By the end of October the city will commemorate its founding father and the 170th anniversary of his family settling in the Santa Clara Valley through a modest exhibit in city hall. Kerry Perkins, Campbell Historical Museum and Ainsley House senior museum specialist, says the exhibit will focus on the Campbell family, their westward migration and what it was like living in the Mexican territory of California.

“We will mention how they lived in Mission Santa Clara for a few months while the Mexican American War was being fought, and then what led Benjamin Campbell to purchase his initial 160 acres of land which eventually led to the town of Campbell,” Perkins told this newspaper.

Perkins says the exhibit will tell an abridged version of the family history and will feature artifacts the family owned. Campbell was officially incorporated as a city in 1952.

Campbell first arrived in the Santa Clara Valley in 1846 at the age of 19 with his father, William, and other family members. Five years later, Campbell purchased 160 acres of the land that had been part of the Mission Santa Clara de Asis. Meanwhile, his father started a sawmill in Saratoga, according to the Campbell Historical Museum.

After purchasing land and planting hay and grains, Campbell traveled back to Missouri to wed Mary Rucker and brought her to California in 1852. The family’s ranch house was located on what is now Campbell Avenue. Campbell and his wife established a post office for residents out of their home.

As fruit orchards sprang up throughout the Santa Clara Valley, the Campbells and other ranchers permitted the South Pacific Coast Railroad to travel through the area, which also helped the transportation of crops to markets outside the area. In 1886 a small railroad depot called Campbell Station was built.

Railroads were immensely convenient for the canneries and fruit drying companies, many of which were located next to the train tracks, such as the Aisnley and Hyde canneries.

The J.C. Ainsley Packing Company, Hyde Cannery and Payne Cannery were Campbell’s main fruit packing companies. People were traveling and putting roots down in the Orchard City as jobs from canneries and town businesses provided work. As more people were traveled to the town, buildings were erected such as the Bank of Campbell and the Growers National Bank. Historic buildings still exist in the core downtown.

The Hyde cannery building remains on Orchard City Drive. It now houses small businesses and a restaurant.

City hall is located at 70 N. First St.