Genesee-Lapeer-Kent County MI Archives Biographies.....Russell, William H. 1842 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 1, 2007, 2:59 am

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

WILLIAM H. RUSSELL, M. D. This prominent physician and surgeon who is carrying
on an extensive practice in Clio, was born in Sligo, Ireland, February 26, 1842,
and his father, John Russell, was born about the year 1810, and died in his
eighty-sixth year. He was employed as a miller in that city. He came to Michigan
forty years ago and located at Romeo and here turned his attention to farming,
buying property near the village of Almont, Lapeer County, a tract of eighty
acres, which he still owned at the time of his death.

  Dr. Russell was only nine years old when he came with a six-vear-old brother
John, to the United States. He had attended the public schools at Sligo and
after coming to this country he worked for two years as a mechanic at Romeo, and
then was for two years employed by Michael B. Kane, as Assistant Engineer of the
tug "R. R. Elliott." He then worked in a carriage factory for five years in
Almont and Romeo and thoroughly mastered that trade.

  Although he had not reached his majority young Russell enlisted August 17,
1871, [sic] and went to the front with the First Michigan Cavalry, Company L,
acting as bugler of his regiment. He was in the following active engagements :
Winchester, Middletown, Strasburg, Harrisonburg, Orange Courthouse, Cedar
Mountain, the second Bull Run, Ocquan, Thoroughfare Gap, Grenwich, and after
that conflict the regiment was brigaded, forming the Michigan Brigade commanded
by Gen. Custer, and took part in the battles of Hanover, Hunterstown,
Gettysburg, Brandy Station, Monterey, Cavetown, Boonesboro, Hagerstown,
Williamsport, Falling Waters, Snicker's Gap, Kelley's Ford, Culpepper
Courthouse, Raccoon Ford, White's Ford, Jack's Shop, James City, Stevensburg,
Richmond, the Wilderness and Cold Harbor. Our young hero was detached with
ninety-three men of whom he had command and took cars to Harper's Ferry and
fought from that point to Winchester, where he was wounded and captured.

  Our subject was imprisoned at Lynchburg, Pemberton, Libby Prison, Danville,
Salisbury, and at one time escaped from Danville with twelve men. He had escaped
with two others from Rockingham, W. Va., but was recaptured and remained a
prisoner two hundred and eighty-two days. He was twice wounded, once in the face
and once in the left knee.

  After the war Mr. Russell studied medicine with Dr. McTaggart, of Toronto,
Canada, who was at that time located at Grand Rapids, this State. He then
entered the Detroit Medical College and attended the various courses of lectures
in 1872 and 1873. After this he came to Clio March 26, 1873, and has here built
up a very successful practice. His marriage, in 1868, united him with Agnes,
daughter of William McKay, who was a farmer of Almont, This lady is a sister of
ex-Sheriff and ex-Representative William McKay, of Tuscola County, and she was
born at Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, and came to the United States in her
girlhood. One son has been granted to the Doctor and his estimable wife, Leland
H., who was born April 6, 1869, and has been liberally educaed, [sic] completing
his studies in the Normal School at Valparaiso, Ind.

  Dr. Russell is identified with the fraternities of the Odd Fellows and Masons,
and is a member of the James Bradley Post, No. 194, G. A. R., of which he has
been Commander for the past five years. He is also one of the Senior
Vice-Commanders of the Department of Michigan and was Vice-President of the
Sailors' and Soldiers' Association of Northeastern Michigan until 1887, when he
was elected its President. The Saginaw Valley Medical Association counts him as
a noteworthy member, and he is now United States Examining Surgeon for this
district. He is a strong man on the Genesee County Republican Central Committee
and has been on the Village Council for three years. Dr. Russell is the owner of
several stores in Clio and has real estate near the village, besides a fine
tract of land in the Missouri Valley of Dakota.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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