Biographical Sketch of Benjamin F. Russell, Crawford County, Missouri >From "History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and Gasconade Counties", Biographical Appendix, Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888. ********************************************************************** Benjamin F. Russell, editor of the Crawford County Mirror, was born in Greenwood, Maine, October 26, 1844, and after attending the common schools, entered Gould's Academy, Bethel, Maine. In 1861 he enlisted in Company G, Tenth Maine Infantry, United States army, and served two years, taking part in the battles of Winchester, Falling Waters, Front Royal, Cedar Mountain (at which place he received a severe wound) and the campaigns of the Shenandoah Valley. Upon the expiration of his term of enlistment he returned home and attended one term longer at the Gould's Academy. In October, 1862, he entered the Third Massachu- setts Cavalry, and, as a reward for meritorious conduct in the Red River expedition, was promoted to first lieutenant; he was under the command of Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley, serving until the close of the war. In 1871 he immigrated to Texas County, MO., and after farming for a time turned his attention to journalism, publishing the Western Success at Salem. He was subsequently local editor of the Texas County Pioneer, and, having purchased the Crawford County Mirror he moved it to Steelville. The Mirror was born to live, and has wit- nessed the funeral rites of seven county papers, and, with one excep- tion, has the largest circulation of any paper ever published in the congressional district. Mr. Russell is an active and out-spoken Republican in politics. His father, Benjamin, traces his origin to the House of Russell, of England, the head of which, Hugh Du Rozel, settled in England with William the Conqueror. Our subject married Bessie L. Millsaps. Mr. Russell is a man of literary taste, and was twice chosen poet of the Missouri Press Association. That he is possessed of some poetic genius the following selection from his poems testifies: UNDISCOVERED GEMS A weary traveler on the desert wide, Foot-sore and hungry set him down to rest; And toying with the pebbles by his side, Unthinking, placed one in his girded vest. He bore it as an odd but worthless stone, Until one day a lapidist he met, Who looked upon it and declared that none A richer diamond had discovered yet. 'Twas cut and polished, and a brighter gem No eye had seen. The ransom of a king It well might be, or glitter in a diadem; And he had thought it but a worthless thing. And there are souls hid 'neath a rugged form, 'Oft passed unnoticed by the careless eye, Till sorrow's touch, or life's tempestuous storm, Disclose their beauty to the passer-by. And though the pilgrims in these lower lands May never know the value of these gems; In God's good time and in His tender hands, They'll shine and deck immortal diadems. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joe Miller Penny Harrell ====================================================================