Genesee County MI Archives Biographies.....Russell, Oliver C. 1826 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 12, 2007, 7:59 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

OLIVER C. RUSSELL, a prominent pioneer of Genesee County, residing on section 7,
Grand Blanc Township, Genesee County, is a native of Simsbury, Conn., being born
within five miles of the city of Hartford on the 20th of May, 1826. The same
State was the native home of his parents, Jesse and Mary (Andrews) Russell, and
his maternal grandfather, was a soldier in the war under Washington.

  When but a small boy our subject removed with his parents to Madison County,
N. Y., and there spent several years receiving his education. His father was a
blacksmith by trade and had in his household five sons and four daughters.

  Our subject left home at the age of nine years and from that time on was
thrown upon his own resources and lived with Daniel Thomas of Onondaga County,
N. Y., until he was seventeen years old, when he began driving a team and for
some three years had charge of the stage running between Madison and Syracuse.
Late in the '40s, he emigrated to Michigan and here he also drove a stage
between Flint and Pontiac, for some three years, and then for a time had charge
of the stage between Windsor and Niagara Falls, in Canada, after which he
carried on the same line of work between Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio.

  Mr. Russell subsequently returned to Michigan and for a time conducted the
stage line between Flint and Fentonville and afterward settled at the latter
place where he took the express and stage agency for what was known as the
Northern Express. Somewhat later he settled on his present farm where he has
built up a fine estate out of the woods, and put it in first-class condition. He
did much severe pioneer work and many a night labored until midnight and then
rose by daylight to begin again. This was in the days when he was clearing his
farm and preparing the soil for putting in crops. He now owns a handsome estate
of eighty-three acres of well-improved land which he has gained by his own
industry and perseverance.

  The marriage of Mr. Russell was to Miss Emily Warren, who like himself was a
native of New York. They are both members of the Baptist Church in Grand Blanc
and he is now serving as Clerk in the church. He has been a School Director and
is independent in his political views with Republican proclivities. While
residing in Flint he served as Constable and was efficient and successful in his
work. He enjoys the full confidence of those with whom he is brought into
business relations, and is among the prominent and most highly respected farmers
of the township. He is possessed of a vast fund of pioneer lore and is a most
entertaining man in conversation.


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

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/genesee/bios/russell789gbs.txt

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