J. B. Russell

As printed in 1881

J. B. RUSSELL.

John Boyd Russell was born in the state of Maryland on the 16th day of September 1811. In John's boyhood his father, Mr. R. Russell, removed his family to Mason county, Virginia, now Jackson county, West Virginia, where they continued to reside, except during four years spent in Ohio, until John was grown. Such educational advantages as he had were received in the schools of Virginia. Though his early education was to some extent neglected, he has by subsequent study, and almost constant perusal of standard works of literature, become possessed of a fund of useful knowledge. Mr. Russell immigrated from Virginia to Ray county, Missouri, in 1856, and settled upon the farm where he now resides, in sections five and eight, township fifty-three, range twenty-eight. This farm comprises four hundred and eighteen acres of productive and valuable land, well improved, with good comfortable dwellings, strong fences, etc., is situated on the vest fork of Crooked river. Mr. Russell has been twice married, first, before leaving Virginia, in the year 1834, to Miss Sarah McKnown. She died in 1863, and he was subsequently married to Mrs. Francis M. Thompson, widow of B. N. Thompson. Mr. Russell is the father of nine children, all the issue of his first marriage; only four of them are living and they are all married. In religious belief Mr. Russell inclines to Universalism. He has never been a member of the church or any secret society or organization. He was justice of the peace for four 3_ears in this county, and also served in that capacity in Virginia. Mr. Russell is a successful, prosperous farmer, and an esteemed and influential citizen of the community in which he lives.

As printed in History of Ray County, Mo. (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.