Samuel Wagner Russell Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1449-1451 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	SAMUEL WAGNER RUSSELL is a native of Pennsylvania, and paternally 
is descended from one of the oldest families of New England, tracing his 
ancestry in an unbroken line to Hon. William Russell, who came to 
America in 1632 with Lord Seal, and who was one of the founders of 
Connecticut, as well as one of the first judges of the colony. Later, 
when the colonies revolted, the Russells espoused the American cause, 
and a number of the family served with distinction during the 
Revolution; subsequently they demonstrated their loyalty to the 
government in the war of 1812, and in the various Indian wars; indeed, 
the Russells have been represented in every war in which the United 
States has been engaged, patriotism and love o' country being prominent 
characteristics of the family. 

	Benjamin S. Russell, father of the subject, was born in 
Pennsylvania and is living now in Jamestown, North Dakota, being still 
active in business. Mary Gaskill, wife of Benjamin S. and mother of 
Samuel W. Russell, and also a native of the Keystone state, departed 
this life in the year 1891. Samuel Wagner Russell was born September 27, 
1857, in Towanda, Bradford county, and received his early education in 
the schools of his native town, subsequently, in 1871, entering Shattuck 
School at Faribault, Minnesota. By reason of failing health, however, he 
was not able to finish his studies; accordingly, in 1873, he quit school 
and returned home, remaining with his parents until 1877. In that and 
the following year he took special courses in civil and mining 
engineering at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, but his 
health again becoming impaired, he laid aside his studies and during the 
winter of 1878-9 taught school at Chelton Hills, in his native state. 
The following summer he went to East St. Louis, Illinois, as bookkeeper 
for the National Stock Yard Bank, of that place, which position he held 
for three years, resigning at the expiration of that time to go on the 
cattle range in Nebraska and Montana. 

	Mr. Russell enjoyed the free out-of-door life on the range until 
1887, when he ;went to El Paso, Texas, where, in partnership with a Mr. 
Newman, under the firm name of Newman & Russell, he was engaged for five 
years in the real-estate and brokerage business. Leaving the latter 
place in 1892, he located at Eddy, New Mexico, where he dealt in real 
estate, loaned money, etc., until 1896, when he returned to East St. 
Louis and accepted a position with the National Stock Yard Company, 
holding the same until the spring of the year following. Severing his 
connections with the above concern at the time noted, he went to Miles 
City, Montana, in connection with one of the largest of the live-stock 
commission firms, and after remaining at that place until December, 
1898, came to Deadwood, South Dakota, where, in partnership with certain 
gentlemen from Montana, he bought the "Uncle Sam Mine," on Elk creek in 
Lawrence county. Mr. Russell, in 1899, with his partners, organized the 
Clover Leaf Gold Mining Company, of which he was made vice-president and 
treasurer, and he still holds these positions, contributing greatly to 
the success of the enterprise by his energy, executive ability and 
correct business management. In 1900 he was elected vice-president of 
the Black Hills Mining Men's Association, of which he was also one of 
the original organizers, and in December of the same year he took a 
leading part in organizing the Black Hills Business Men's Club, being 
chosen its vice-president, which position he has since filled. In 
addition to the official relations referred to, Mr. Russell at the 
present time holds the office of first vice-president of the American 
Mining Congress, a national organization composed of the leading miners 
and representatives of the largest mining properties in the United 
States; this high honor, coming to him unsought, is a recognition of his 
distinguished abilities as a business and a mining man, also a graceful 
compliment to him as an enterprising, public-spirited man of affairs and 
accomplished gentleman. Mr. Russell is a master of the profession to 
which he has devoted so much of his time and attention, and as a 
practical miner, familiar with all the varied details of the great 
mining industry, has few equals and no superiors in South Dakota. By his 
energy and straightforward business course, he has done much in the way 
of organizing companies and developing valuable mineral properties, and 
while advancing his own interests in the prosecution of these various 
enterprises, he has also been instrumental in promoting the prosperity 
of his association. 

	Mr. Russell, at the request of the Black Hills Mining Men's 
Association, accepted the appointment of commissioner to the Louisiana 
Purchase Exposition from Governor Herreid and when the commissioners 
organized, in July, 1903, he was elected president and devoted his 
energies and best abilities to winning success for the state at the St. 
Louis Exposition. 

	Mr. Russell is a Republican, but has never entered the arena of 
partisan politics as an office seeker, having no ambition whatever in 
that direction, although by nature and training well qualified to fill 
any public position within the power of the people to bestow. 
Fraternally he is a thirty-second-degree Mason and in religious matters 
subscribes to the Episcopal creed, being, with his wife, a consistent 
member of the church of that name in the city of Deadwood. Mr. Russell 
has a pleasant and attractive home in Deadwood, his family consisting of 
himself and wife only. The latter before her marriage, on the 20th of 
August, 1896, was Miss Mary Logan, of St. Louis, Missouri. Mrs. Russell 
was born and reared in the latter city and is the daughter of C. C. and 
Elizabeth (Finigan) Logan, also of St. Louis.