Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....Russell, Oscar T. May 22, 1864 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com September 26, 2005, 12:57 am Author: Emma E. Forter OSCAR T. RUSSELL. Among the well-known and successful farmers of Marysville township, Marshall county, may be mentioned Oscar T. Russell, who was born in the state of Illinois on May 22, 1864, the son of John H. and Maria Jane (Watkins) Russell, who were natives of Ohio and Kentucky, respectively, the former having been born in 1831 and the latter in 1835. John H. Russell was reared on the farm and received his education in the public schools. When he was but a lad he came with his parents to Illinois, where they established their home on a farm, and there the son, John, learned the principles of agriculture during his younger days and became impressed with the independent life of the farmer. In 1851 he was united in marriage to Maria Jane Watkins, who received a splendid education in the public schools and was a successful teacher for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Russell were married in the state of Illinois, where they lived for some years after their marriage, when they decided to locate in Iowa. Mr. Russell purchased four hundred acres of land in northwestern part of that state, which he developed and improved and engaged in general farming and stock raising for five years, when he sold the place and in 1884 moved to Kansas. Here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of splendid land near Marysville, the farm being the one on which the son, Oscar T., now lives. John H. Russell engaged successfully in farming and stock raising until the time of his death in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Russell always took an active interest in the services of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which they were members. Politically, Mr. Russell was identified with the Republican party, and while taking much interest in local affairs, was not an office seeker. He and Mrs. Russell were the parents of the following children: Sophia, James, Oscar T., Effie A., W. G. and five that are now deceased. Sophia Mulnix lives at Potwin, Kansas, where her husband is a druggist; James H. is a retired farmer at Summerfield, Kansas; Effie A. resides at Marysville, Kansas, and W. G. is a merchant at Jefferson City, Missouri. Oscar T. Russell was reared on the farm and received his education in the common schools. He remained at home, assisting his father with the work on the farm, until he was twenty-one years of age, when he started in work for himself. He rented a farm near Marysville, where he lived for two years. He and his brother, W. G. then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, which they farmed in partnership for two years, when Oscar purchased the entire farm, which he operated until 1906. In the latter year he sold the place and purchased the old home place of one hundred and sixty acres, which he has increased and is now the owner of five hundred and forty acres of the best land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation and well improved. During a portion of his time as a farmer he has given attention to the feeding of cattle: but for the past few years, he has devoted the greater part of his energies to the cultivation of corn and wheat, in which lie has been most successful. In 1897 Oscar T. Russell was united in marriage to Adelaide Riley, the widow of Albert H. Riley, and the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Neely) Robinson. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson were natives of England and Canada, respectively, the father having been born in 1816 and the mother in 1829. John Robinson received his education in the schools of England and as a young man farmed in that country before he went to Canada. On his arrival in Canada he purchased a farm and there he engaged in general farming and stock raising until his death in 1872. He had purchased three hundred and sixty acres of land in Center township, Marshall county, but had never lived on it. His widow lived on it with her family of nine children. Mrs. Robinson was educated in the schools of Canada and there she lived for some time, dying on the home farm in Marshall county, in 1897. They were very active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and took much interest in all departments of church work. They were prominent in the social life of the community, and did much for the moral and social uplift of the district, in which they were held in the highest regard. They were the parents of the following children: Henry N., George W., Isabelle, Albert R., Sarah Jane, Victoria E., Adelaide, Morley P. and Lillie. George W. lives at Lincoln, Nebraska, where he is a street-car conductor; Isabelle Smith resides at Sabetha, Kansas, and her husband is a traveling salesman; Albert R. lives near Maryville, Missouri, engaged in farming; Sarah Jane Healy resides at Los Angeles, California, where her husband is an adjuster for one of the railroads; Victoria E. Riley resides near Home City, Kansas, where her husband is a farmer and stockman; Morley P. lives near Blue Rapids, Kansas, and is a farmer, and Lillie is now deceased. Adelaide (Robinson) Russell was born near Petersburg, Canada, on July 26, 1867; was reared on the farm and received her education in the local schools. She and Mr. Russell are the parents of four children as follow: Blanche, born on April n, 1898, graduated from the Marysville high school in the class of 1916; Lawrence Oscar, August 9, 1901, a student in the high school: Robert. April 3, 1908, and Esther, February 20, 1912. Mrs. Russell is an active member of the Christian Science church and Mr. Russell also attends that organization. Politically, Mr. Russell is identified with the Democratic party and has served his district as a member of the school board for four terms. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions by Emma E. Forter Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/marshall/bios/russell11nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ksfiles/ File size: 6.4 Kb