Hugh Russell

As printed in 1902

HUGH RUSSELL. Jr.

Hugh Russell, Jr., was recently a member of the Ixiard of public affairs of Springfield, and a patriotic devotion to the general good was manifested in all his official service. He is a native of Scotland, his birth having ocairred in Creetown on the 12th of January-, 1846, his paraits being Hugh and Elizabeth (Conning) Russell, who were also natives of the land of hills and weather, and were there married. In 1866 the father came with his family to the United States, landing in New York city, where they made a short stay, and then went to Xenia. Ohio.

The subject of this review spent his lx)hood and youth in his native land, acquiring a common school education, after which he followed the sea for four years. He had a number of relatives who were seafaring men and they induced him to leave school and go upon the water. After the period mentioned, however, he returned to his native country and Ijecame apprenticed to a stone cutter at Creetown, Scotland. He was twenty years of age when the family came to the new world, and after locating in Xenia he followed his trade there.

In 1867 Mr. Russell came to Springfield and emlxirked in stone contracting in partnership with William lowest, under the firm name of Russell & Alowett, a connection which continued for one year, wha: Mr. Mowett withdrew. In 1858 our subject's father and the other members of the family removed from Xenia to Springfield and Hugh Russell, Sr., joined his son in business on the withdrawal of his foniier partner. Later a brother, Anthony Russell, became a member of the firm and the business was then carried on under the name of Russell & Sons for ten years. At the end of that time the father retired and the firm nam.e was changed to Russell Brothers. The partnership was dissolved in April, 1898, when oiusubject was elected a member of the board of public affairs, and Anthony C. had entire charge of the Inisiness until his death, which occurred July 7, 1901. Since then our subject has resumed business under the fimi name of Russell Brothers, and as a contractor is engaged in stone work, the laying of cement sidewalks and kindred labor. He has been employed in the construction of a number of churches, schoolhouses, public buildings, residences and mausoleums, both in Springfield and adjacent towns and throughout his entire business career he has maintained an enviable rq)station for excellent workmanship and honorable dealing.

Mr. Russell's father died in Springfield on the 3rd of October, 1902, and his mother passed away in 1898. She was a most devoted wife and mother and was an earnest member of the Presbyterian church. In the family were five sons and two daughters, namely: Anthony C, who was so long connected with our subject in business, was born in Galloway, Scotland, in 1844, and came to the United States in 1861 with his brother 'william. 'hen the country became involved ill civil war he enlisted, October 3,.1862, as a private in Company D, One Hundred and Tenth Ohio X'volunteer Infantry, and was severely woimded in the battle of the Wilderness. He was honorably discharged May 16, 1865. Another brother, William, also entered the service and is supposed to have been killed in battle, as he was never afterward heard from. James and Michael are both residents of Springfield. The sisters were Mrs. William Mc- CuIIoch, of Springfield, and Mrs. Andrew Burnett, deceased, of Wichita Falls, Texas.

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

As printed in A Biographical record of Clark county, Ohio .. (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.