In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1852
From History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present (1910)
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 History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.