Yolo-Placer County CA Archives Biographies.....Russell, William 1834 - 1909 ************************************************ 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: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 9, 2005, 6:55 pm Author: Tom Gregory WILLIAM RUSSELL For forty years prior to his demise Mr. Russell resided upon the farm near Winters which is now owned and managed by his widow and which, after repeated failures during the prolonged droughts of early days, has now been transformed into a valuable and remunerative property, returning abundantly in its large harvests the fruits of the care and cultivation received. The one hundred and sixty acres comprising the homestead were taken up from the government by his father as early as 1857, but he himself did not settle here permanently until 1869 and afterward throughout the remaining years of his busy existence he engaged in the upbuilding of the land. Adjacent to the place the Southern Pacific Railroad recently establisheed the station of Norton. Seventy-five acres are under cultivation to grain. The balance of the land is watered from the Yolo county irrigation ditch and this renders possible large crops of alfalfa as well as a productive fruit orchard of twenty-five acres. The genealogy of the Russell family is traced to Virginia, whence William Russell migrated to Kentucky and in the blue grass state he took up government land at Russell's Cave, nine miles from Lexington. The generation following him was represented by Felix G. Russell, who was born and reared on the Kentucky plantation and after marriage engaged in farming in the old home neighborhood. During 1852 he came to California with his sons, William and Samuel P., and subsequent to a brief unsatisfactory experience at the mines he came to Yolo county and with his sons secured squatter's claims. During 1875 he went to Texas and bought land. His death occurred in that state when he was more than eighty years of age. Born in Gallatin county, Ky., April 17, 1834, William Russell grew to manhood in the blue grass state and received a fair education. With his brother and father he came to California in 1852, the trip via Panama consuming sixty days. During the months immediately following his arrival in the west he mined in Placer county, but the work did not prove profitable and the three came to Yolo county to take up land. During 1857 he and his father came to the vicinity of the present site of Winters and took up land still owned by the family. Here he planted a small orchard of peaches, but these were destroyed by grasshoppers during their second year of bearing. The drought of 1864 proved so serious that he was forced to leave the ranch and seek a livelihood elsewhere. While his father remained there he proceeded to Nevada and engaged in prospecting near Austin, but lack of success caused him to secure work by the day at the mines. Two years later he went to the headwaters of the Missouri river in Montana and engaged in prospecting and mining. Later he went to Round valley in Oregon, where he engaged in baling hay. Afterward he resumed without special success the work of a prospector and miner. Returning to Yolo county in 1869 Mr. Russell aided his brother to put in a crop, but failure ensued. However, he did not allow himself to become discouraged, but continued to work with intelligence and persistence, ultimately wresting success from reverses and discouragements. As soon as possible he bought his father's interest in the quarter-section and from that time until his death he remained the sole proprietor and owner of the well-improved farm. After years of usefulness and activity he passed away October 22, 1909, deeply mourned by family and friends. For years he had been a devoted member of the Baptist Church and a generous supporter of religious enterprises. His interest in educational matters led him to fill the office of school trustee. In politics he was a firm believer in Democratic principles. The marriage of Mr. Russell took place September 17, 1874, and united him with Miss Susan I. Wilson, who was born in Moniteau county, Mo., June 25, 1841. Their eldest child, Susan Mary, born June 18, 1875, married L. S. Allen of Yolo county and they have two children, William R. and Susan L. The oldest son, James W. Russell, born February 16, 1877, married Lena Searse, by whom he has a son, William A. They make their home near Winters, which is likewise the home of the youngest son, Florence Dudley, familiarly known as Jack D. Russell; he was born December 26, 1878, and married Myrtle Marely; they have two children, Earl D. and Ruth Emma. The family have a high standing among the pioneers of the county, whose esteem they have won by intelligence, industry and high principles of honor. Additional Comments: Extracted from HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA WITH Biographical Sketches OF The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development From the Early Days to the Present HISTORY BY TOM GREGORY AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913] File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/yolo/bios/russell133nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 5.5 Kb