BIO: John W. RUSSELL, Huntingdon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Denise Phillips

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 115-116.
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  JOHN W. RUSSELL, Shy Beaver P. O., Huntingdon county, Pa., was born 
in Hopewell township, April 30, 1844, son of Jacob and Catherine 
(Weaver) Russell.  George Russell, his grandfather, was a farmer of the 
same township, owning over 600 acres of land, on which he built a 
dwelling, barns, etc.  He came to Huntingdon from Berks county in 1795.  
He died in Hopewell township.  His son, Jacob Russell, was also a large 
land owner and a farmer, having 500 acres of land, which he improved 
and cultivated.  He filled the offices of tax collector and supervisor 
of Hopewell township.  He was a Democrat.  Jacob Russell married 
Catherine, daughter of Christian Weaver, of Hopewell township.  They 
had ten children:  Susanna, deceased, wife of William Fisher, of 
Illinois; David, of Hopewell township; Isaac, on the homestead; Mary 
(Mrs. Thomas Kirk), of Hopewell township; John W.; Abraham, of Hopewell 
township; Samuel, of Hopewell township; Daniel, of Bedford county, Pa.; 
James, resides with his brother John W.; and Rosanna, deceased, wife of 
Philip Brumbaugh.  Mr. Russell died in 1869, and his wife in 1873.  He 
was a member of the Reformed church, a good and respected man.
  John W. Russell obtained his education in the schools of Hopewell 
township and at Martinsburg, Blair county, Pa.  He taught school in 
Hopewell township for twelve terms, having been in charge of one school 
eleven years.  He resided on the farm with his father until he was 
twenty-one years of age; he was then for two years employed as 
repairman on the Huntingdon and Broad Top Railroad, after which he 
began farming on his own account, on the place where he now resides.  
He owned 110 acres, and built upon his property a fine dwelling, at a 
cost of over $1,200, and a barn costing $1,100, besides making other 
improvements.  Mr. Russell also has lime pits on the farm.  He gives 
some attention to raising stock.  He is a very active and enterprising 
business man; owns two other farms, on containing 149 acres, in 
Woodberry township, Blair county, and one in Bedford county, of 424 
acres.  On both of these tracts he has built dwellings, barns, etc.  
Mr. Russell takes a very deep interest in education; he was for twenty-
four years in the school board of the township.  For three years he was 
supervisor, and he has also been assessor and tax collector.  He is a 
Democrat.  He was elected justice of the peace in 1892, and has filled 
the office satisfactorily, giving evidence of good judgment and 
impartiality.
  Mr. Russell is a member of the Reformed church, and a worker in its 
Sunday-school; a man of sterling worth, and highly respected.