Izard Co., AR - Biographies - J. H. Russell

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J. H. Russell, farmer, Melbourne, Ark. Mr. Russell is one more of the many
residents of Izard County, Ark., who were originally from Bedford County,
Tenn., and who, since their residence in this State, have become leading men in
whatever calling in life their tendencies have led them. Mr. Russell was born
in 1821 and is the son of Joseph D. and Mary (Hightower) Russell, natives,
respectively, of North Carolina and Tennessee. The father was born in 1777 and
the mother in 1800. They were married in Hickman County, Tenn., about 1820, and
afterward removed to Bedford County, of the same State, where they remained
until 1829. They then located in Scott County, Mo., and after stopping there
for several years went to Webster County, of the same State, and here the
father passed his last days, his death occurring in 1847. He was twice married,
first to a lady whose name is not remembered, and by her [p.971] became the
father of two children: William B. and Daniel D. By his second marriage, to
Miss Mary Hightower, he became the father of five children, four of whom lived
to be grown: J. H., subject of sketch; Louis, was killed during the war with
Mexico and after being discharged, it is supposed by Indians; Louisa
(deceased), was the wife of John Cox, the family living in Missouri; John W.
(deceased), whose family reside in Fulton County, and one who died in infancy.
Mrs. Russell died in Kentucky, in 1827, while Mr. Russell was on his way to
Missouri. She was a member of the Baptist Church, of which Mr. Russell was also
a member until about six or eight years before his death, when he joined the
Christian Church and died a member of the same. He was a school teacher,
farmer, and also a carpeuter, but followed the teacher's profession principally
after reaching mature years. He was an old line Whig, but not active in
politics. He was well-to-do while living in Tennessee, but lost nearly all he
had by going security for his friends. J. H. Russell had very poor chances for
an early education, but this he made up to a great extent by observation and
reading. In 1862 he moved to Arkansas, settled in Izard County, and still
continued to till the soil, the occupation he had followed while living in
Missouri. While residing in Howell County, of that State, he was appointed one
of the three to organize the county, and served as county judge, being elected
to that position afterward (or one of the associate justices), and was once
elected justice of the peace of his township. He was first married to Miss
Elizabeth Sweet, of North Carolina. His second marriage was in 1867, to Mrs.
Susanab (Bighum) Woods, a native of Tennessee, who bore him one child, Margaret
L., who died in infancy. Mrs. Russell was the mother of four children by her
first marriage (three now living): James (deceased), Mary E. (at home), Martha
C. (wife of K. W. Rector), and Ursula C. (wife of G. R. Landers). Mr. Russell
has one son; his name is Robert F. He is now in his twenty-third year. At the
time of the Mexican War Mr. Russell joined the army at Springfield, Mo., but
the company was not received, although he was very anxions to go, and had hired
a man to run his farm. He was suffering with poor health during the late war.
He bought 400 acres of land in Izard County, in 1868, and resides on that farm
at present. There were about forty aores improved at that time, and he now has
135 acres under a fine state of cultivation, with good buildings, barus, etc.
He and wife are both members of the Christian Church, and he is a member of the
Masonic fraternity, In his political views he affiliates with the Democratic
party, and was originally a Whig.