Fresno County CA Archives Biographies.....Russell, Ezra M. January 16, 1841 - July 29, 1930 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Steve Harrison raleighwood@juno.com January 11, 2010, 2:28 pm Source: History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the San Joaquin Valley, California (1905) Author: Unknown “EZRA M. RUSSELL. A veteran of the Civil war and a resident of California for over thirty years, Mr. Russell is entitled to a place in this work. From early manhood he has made his way in the world, never receiving assistance from outside sources, his success being the result of hard work and perseverance. A native of New York, he was born in Oswego county, January 16, 1841, a son of Jonathan W. and Elizabeth (Secner) Russell. The father was a brick mason by trade and in 1847 removed from New York to Illinois where he lived until 1853, when he located in Iowa. There he worked at his trade and also engaged in farming. In 1866 he sold out and started to cross the plains, but owing to the uprising among the Indians he was compelled to give up the venture. After living in Denver for a short time he returned to Iowa, where he remained until 1872, when he came to California. Locating near what is now the town of Kingsburg he purchased land and followed fanning and fruit-raising until his death. His wife, who also died in this state, became the mother of ten children. Ezra M. Russell was the second child. His education was obtained in the district schools, but at an early age he was obliged to give up school. He started out in life as an apprentice to the brick mason's trade, which he followed until 1873, when he came to California, locating in Oakland, and continued working at his trade. Later he went to Clear Lake and still later to Fresno, arriving in the latter place in 1874. Soon after he took up a soldier's homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres near Kingsburg, where he has since made his home. He is now engaged in general farming and stock-raising, also devoting a portion of his land to the cultivation of grapes and other fruits. In 1862 Mr. Russell enlisted in Company B, Thirteenth Regiment, United States Infantry, his company being attached to the Western army. At the battle of Vicksburg, where he received seven separate wounds, he was severely wounded by being shot in the left foot. He was honorably discharged from active service in 1864, but in the spring of 1865 he assisted in organizing a company of which he was elected captain. In Iowa Mr. Russell was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Jane Jones, who was born in Lake county, Ill., January 12, 1845. Her father, Jonathan, was a native of New York state. Later in life he removed to Illinois and still later took up his residence in Iowa where his death occurred. To Mr. and Mrs. Russell have been born eight children, namely: Alice, now the wife of F. Enos Silva; Ada, deceased; Rena, now Mrs. E. Vanwinkle; Nellie, Benjamin, Cassie, Clark, who is married and lives near Kingsburg, and Chester. In fraternal relations Mr. Russell is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Atlanta Post, of Fresno. Like nearly all old soldiers, he is a staunch Republican, but he has never cared to take a very active part in political matters. Here in this section of the county where he has lived for so many years and where he is so well known he is highly respected. He was one of the first settlers in the Kingsburg country, and has never neglected to do his part in the work of building up and improving the country.” END Additional Comments: "History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the San Joaquin Valley, California." by J.M. Guinn. Chicago: The Chapman Publishing Co., 1905. Page 1407. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/fresno/bios/russell917bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/cafiles/ File size: 4.2 Kb