Aonghas mac Aonghais Thòmais

Gussie Campbell was born April 16, 1916 in Rear Judique Chapel, Inverness County, to Angus T. Campbell and Mary E. Gillis. He was descended from Campbells of Lochaber who originally settled in Glencoe Mills. Gussie lived most of his life in what is now known as Gussieville, Inverness County, where he raised a family of eight children with his wife, Annie Mae MacDougall of Judique.

A hardworking man, Gussie made his living as a fisherman and as an employee of Canadian National Railroad. In the 1970s, when a new parish priest, Father J.V. Campbell, arrived in the area, Duncan Archie J. MacIsaac (also featured in the Cape Breton Folklore Collection) gave him a tour. As they passed through the Hillsdale area, Duncan repeatedly pointed out houses, saying, “That is one of Gussie’s,” until Father J.V. quipped, “Why don’t we just call it Gussieville?” The name stuck, and the area is officially known as Gussieville to this day. Though never boastful of this recognition, Gussie was certainly proud.

Gussie had a deep love of genealogy and was a natural storyteller. As interest in tracing family roots grew, local priests would often send visitors his way, and many a Sunday afternoon was spent discussing kinship and community connections. With his strong voice and quick wit, he was always ready with a good tale or a humorous local story.

Gussie passed away August 1, 2002, and is buried in St. Andrew's Parish Cemetery, Port Hood.