DeKalb County, IL - James S. Russell, Biography

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Source: "Portrait and Biographical Album - De Kalb Count, Illinois,"
by Chapman Brothers, Chicago, IL, 1885

Russell Register: Volume Six, P. 762; Frances R. Nelson, Editor

JAMES S. RUSSELL, Police Magistrate, resident at De Kalb, was born Sept. 25, 1834
in Warren County, Indiana.  His parents, John  and Mary A. (Fleming) Russell,  were
natives of Uhlo and settled in DeKalb County in the spring of 1848. They  located
on a farm in Kingston Township, where the mother died December 28, 1879. Their
seven children were named: James S.; Westly D.; Robert W.; Sylvester S.; David F.;
Milton D.; Reuben A.; and Sarah J.

At the date of the removal of the family to De Kalb County, Mr. Russell was four-
teen years old.  The first 19 years of his life were devoted to labor on his fath-
er's farm and in securing his education at the common schools.  From that period
until he was 22 he attended Mount Morris Seminary, in Ogle County.  On completing
his studies he went to Wyoming, Iowa, and was occupied through the following year
as a bookkeeper. Returning to Kingston, he engaged in the management of a part
of the homestead farm, which he worked on shares for nine years.

In August, 1867, he came to DeKalb and purchased a half interest in  the livery
establishment of S. Duffy, succeeding to the sole proprietorship in the spring of
1868. In 1881 he sold the livery with its equipments to Orlando Carter.  He next
engaged as traveling salesman in the interests of the Superior Barb Wire Company
and occupied that position six months.  In the fall of 1881 he became owner by
purchase of an interest, in a hardware house, the property of a body of stockholders,
of whom Mr. Russell was President.  At the end of four months he terminated his
connection with the company. In the spring of 1884 he was elected to the office
of Police Magistrate of DeKalb, which position has since monopolized  his time and
attention.

(carrer info here)

He was married 14 June 1858, to Margaret,  daughter of William and Ellison Cooper.  
The family of Mrs. Russell were at  that date residents of De Kalb County, but in 
1880 sold the homestead in Kingston Township  and removed to their present location 
in Belvidere, Boone County.  Mr.  and Mrs. Russell have three children:  J. Alva was 
born 28 Dec 1862; R. Arthur, 24 April  1870; and Mabel C., 14 Sept 1872.

Four brothers of Mr. Russell entered the military service of the United  States
during the war of the Rebellion, three of whom lost their lives.  Westly D.  enlisted 
in the 13th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and died in Kingston Township from  the consequences
of disease contracted in the army.  Robert W. became a soldier in the  42d Regt. Illinois
Voluntary Infantry.  He was killed in a charge on a rebel battery in the battle  of Stone River.
David F. belonged to the 95th Illinois Infantry, and died in the hospital at  Vicksburg.

Paternal grandparents were Lawrence & Mary  (Huff) Russell, who were from Virginia
and of Scottish descent.  Lawrence & Mary moved to Ohio in 1789  and settled in
Gallipolis, OH.  Later they moved to Indiana & settled on  the Wabash River, pioneers
of that locality.  They sold their farm there and in 1842  came to Illinois and
settled the family homestead of 320 acres in Kingston Township, DeKalb county.