Introductions - The Twins

 Lizzie & Matie Campbell, AKA 'The Twins'

 Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Campbell (24 Jun 1862 - 30 May 1893)

Mary 'Matie' Campbell (24 Jun 1862 - 1 Sep 1901)

Before the age of Kodak, perhaps the most often photographed members of our family are two women who, in life, were only ever referred to as Lizzie and Matie. The only records that call them by their presumed given names of Elizabeth and Mary are in Lizzie's marriage license and their obituaries and death certificates. 

Born in 1862 to Robert Clark Campbell and Albina Bridge Campbell of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. They were identical as identical twins can be. To this day, no one can point with certainty to a photo of them and identify which is which. 

Lizzie was married to James Willis Annis in Oshkosh on 11 Apr 1889. She had two daughters, Mildred Mary Annis (my grandmother), born 6 May 1890, and Elizabeth Campbell Annis, born 24 May, 1893. Although Lizzie "seemed to be getting on finely," six days later she "suffered a relapse and sank into unconsciousness from which she never rallied, and died about one o’clock in spite of all that medical aid could afford." The death certificate listed her cause of death as serous apoplexy but, in my unqualified opinion, the description of events described in the obituary suggests that she may have suffered from postpartum preeclampsia. 

Matie also died at a young age. She never married and died 01 Sep 1901.

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