Delaware County, OH: Elias Russell - biography

File submitted by Celia Snyder for use in the USGenWeb Archives.

************************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in
any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons.  Persons or organizations desiring to use this material,
must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal
representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb
archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission
to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.

http://www.usgwarchives.net
***********************************************************************

"Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," 1887

ELIAS RUSSELL first drew breath among the hills of Delaware County, Ohio,
to which State his father had removed from his native State of Virginia
with his parents when a boy.  The grandfather of our subject, John RUSSELL
by name, was born in the Old Dominion, being the offspring of a family, who
traced their ancestry from England, and whose first representatives in this
country located in Virginia in the Colonial days.  They were
agriculturists, and became noted for their thrift and prosperity.

John Russell married early in life and became the father of a fine family
of sons and daughters.  Among these was Joseph A., who was born in
Virginia, and when a boy removed with his parents to Ohio, where he grew to
manhood, married Miss Jemima C. ECKHART, and became the father of Elias, of
our sketch.

The Eckhart family was originally from Germany, and its later
representatives became prominent in the early settlement of Ohio.  Joseph
Russell after his marriage located with his young wife in Fairfield County,
where he opened up a farm and remained until his death, which occurred in
the winter of 1881, after he had arrived at an advanced age.  The wife and
mother still survives, making her home near Lithopolis.  The parental
household included two sons and four daughters, of whom the record is as
follows:  Daniel, the eldest, married and settled in Shelby County, Ill.;
Elizabeth is the wife of Daniel STUMPF; Elias, of our sketch, was the
fourth child; Mary became the wife of Wilkinson CLARK, of Fairfield County,
Ohio, and Sarah married Calvin FOOR.

Our subject spent his early years in Fairfield County, Ohio, passing his
winters in attendance at the district schools, and assisting in the labors
of the farm until his marriage.  This event took place when he was in his
twenty-third year, in September, 1860, his chosen bride being Miss Nancy
M., daughter of Thomas and Effie (DRAKE) WHITZEL, of Fairfield County,
Ohio.  In the fall of 1861 Mr. and Mrs. Russell came into Shelby County,
Ill., where they took up their residence for a year.  They were not quite
satisfied with that locality and migrated into Champaign County, locating
first in Stanton Township.  Here our subject engaged in farming and
stock-raising and cultivated annually a large area of corn and wheat.
Finally, in 1881, he secured possession of eighty acres of land on section
10, in St. Joseph Township, where he permanently located and which has
since been his home.  He has been willing to labor for the good things of
life, and his industry has been amply rewarded.  Himself and family are
enjoying all the comforts which could be reasonably wished for, and possess
in a marked degree the esteem and respect of their neighbors.

Mr. and Mrs. Russell have become the parents of two children only-Frank S.,
and an infant who died unnamed.  Mr. R. since coming to this township has
served as School trustee and Treasurer, Commissioner of Highways, and in
other positions where he has been of decided assistance in local matters.
He is esteemed as a man of excellent judgment, and his honesty has never
been questioned.  Since becoming a voter he has upheld the principles of
the Republican party.