The Russell Families of Jones County, Iowa

JOHN F. RUSSELL.

John F. Russell, of Anamosa, was born August 11, 1852, in Highland, Ohio, and is a son of John and Margaret (Feehan) Russell. In the fall of 1852 his parents came to Iowa and after living for twenty years in Jones county, removed to Des Moines in.1872, making that city their home during the term of Mr. Russell, Sr., as Auditor of State.

With the exception of the first few months of his life John F. Russell has been continuously a resident of Iowa and the public schools afforded him his educational privileges, while the spirit of progress which has been the dominant feature in the upbuilding of this section of the state has prompted him to put forth effective and earnest effort for success. In early manhood he engaged in the livery business in Des Moines, but afterward turned his attention to the hardware business. In 1893, however, he returned to the farm in Jones county, thereon he remained for seven years, carefully tilling the soil and gathering rich harvests as the result of his labor and enterprise. In 1906 he again took up the livery business, establishing a stable in Anamosa, where he is now enjoying an extensive patronage. He is recognized as the leading liveryman of the town, having good horses and fine turnouts, while his business has reached out to profitable proportions.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

RICHARD S. RUSSELL.

Richard S. RusseU. one of the farmers of Greenfield township, was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, November 7, 1861, and is the son of J. H. and Sophia (Warner) Russell, both natives of the Keystone state. In the late '60s the parents came to Iowa, settling first in Linn county, and subsequently coming to Jones county, where they secured a farm in Greenfield township. They lived on section 22 for five years and on the farm now owned by our subject several years. The father died a number of years ago at the age of seventy-six years, but his wife survived until October 4, 1907, when she passed away in the seventy-ninth year of her age. They had a family of ten children: Joseph, deceased; George, who is living in Independence, Iowa; Richard and Robert, of Greenfield township; Edward, living in Rome township; Amanda; Alice, deceased; Mrs. Emma Kendall, who lives in Mechanicsville, and two who died when very young.

Richard S. Russell was but seven years old when his parents removed to Linn county and when, six months later, they came to Greenfield township, Jones county. Here he grew to maturity, assisting his father and older brothers in the work of the farm from the time that he was able to handle the implements of agriculture. He received a fair education in the schools of the township and in his home learned those lessons of life that are indispensable if a man is to succeed in honest endeavor. Through his own efforts he was able to purchase one hundred and seventy acres of good arable land in this county, and also to buy ten acres of timber in Cedar county. The Greenfield township farm is modern in every way, in the well tilled fields and in the substantial buildings evincing the skill of a man industrious and progressive. The house is deserving of especial mention, it is large, well built and equipped with all the conveniences that make for the comfort of life.

On the 29th of April, 1888, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Russell and Miss Dora Grimm, a daughter of Daniel and Mollie (Reisland) Grimm, the latter, deceased. Mr. Grimm, however, is living in North English, Iowa, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. They were the parents of a large family: Dora, who is now Mrs. Russell; William Henry, who lives in Oklahoma; Mrs. Ida Adams, who lives in Kansas; John A., of Garrison, Iowa; Mrs. Mollie Maria Fisher, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Daniel L., of Benton county, Iowa; Mrs. Oma C. Holderness, a resident of Deep River, Iowa; Charles E., of Benton county, Iowa; Lewis A., a resident of Benton, Iowa; and Hattie J., deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Russell have been born four children, all of whom live at home; Vesta who was twenty on November 25, 1909; Clella, who was sixteen in the same month; Perry, who was fourteen July 10, 1909; and Verda, who was eight on the 19th of November, 1909.

The family are members of the Evangelical church of White Oak, while Mr. Russell affiliates with the democratic party politically. His success in his undertakings as much as his public spirit have recommended him to the voters of Greenfield township, who three years ago elected him one of the trustees. His administration has been marked by the same characteristics of honesty and progress which have been noticeable in his own private life.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ROBERT H. RUSSELL.

Robert H. Russell, one of the well-to-do farmers of Greenfield township, was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1864. His parents, J. H. and Sophia (Werner) Russell, were married November 28, 1848, and for almost two decades afterward lived in the east before coming to Iowa to try their fortunes in this comparatively new state. In 1867 they made the journey across the country, settled first at Lisbon, and six months later, removed to Greenfield township and lived on a farm on section 22 for five years. At the end of that time they located on the farm on which they spent the remainder of their lives and which is the home of their son today. Both have passed away, the father in June, 1902, at the age of seventy-eight years; the mother, October 4, 1907. They became the parents of ten children: William, who died when very young; Joseph, who died at the age of thirty years; Mrs. Emma Kendall, of Mechanicsville; Amanda, who died at the age of twenty-four; Frances E., who died in early childhood; George, who resides in Independence, Iowa; Richard S., who lives in Greenfield township, about half a mile from his brother Robert H.; Robert H., of this review; Alice, who passed away at the age of sixteen; and Edward, who is a resident of Rome township.

Robert H. Russell was but three years old when his parents came to Iowa, and he grew to manhood on the home farm in Greenfield township, which has been the scene of his endeavors up to the present. It embraces three hundred and three acres of excellent land, on which Mr. Russell has made a number of important improvements since it has come into his hands. The buildings are of modern construction, and the fields are tilled in accordance with the most approved scientific methods. Through a careful study of the soil and of the subject of the rotation of the crops, he has been able to prolong and increase the measure of its fertility.

On the 28th of September, 1890, Mr. Russell wedded Miss Minnie F. Miller, a daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Grauel) Miller. Her father was married twice, and by his first wife, who was Miss Rebecca Grauel, he had ten children, six daughters and four sons. Mrs. Mary K.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.