Byron Campbell was an important pioneer in the preservation of Evansville’s historical record. Having moved to the area as a young boy in 1844, Campbell operated a meat market in town, served on the Village Board, was elected to the first City Council in 1896, and served two terms as Mayor starting in 1915. As Mayor he promoted the restoration of Lake Leota and organized a historical museum in City Hall, as well as securing the placement of stone markers at various historic sites around the city. He collected a significant trove of historical documents and artifacts as a hobby, and published a series of historical articles in the Evansville Review between 1914 and 1915. His book, Pioneer Days of Evansville and Vicinity (Antes Press, 119xx), was the first published volume on Evansville History and remains an essential resource for the study of Evansville history to this day.