John R. Russell Biography


	This biography appears on pages 15-16 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JUDGE JOHN R. RUSSELL.  

Judge John R. Russell, of Deadwood, has served three terms as county 
judge of Lawrence county, South Dakota, and is an attorney of 
recognized ability. He was born in Lindsay, Ontario, Canada, on the 
15th of October, 1870, a son of Michael and Johanna C (Raymond) 
Russell. The mother was born in Dresden, Germany, September 12, 1849, 
and emigrated to the United States, being married in Chicago. The 
father's birth occurred in April, 1847, in Limerick, Ireland, and in 
1849 he accompanied his parents to Canada, his father having been 
evicted from his estate in Ireland. While still a boy Michael Russell 
went to Kansas and resided in Leavenworth in 1864 and 1865, being 
employed by railroad contractors, and while there he met Buffalo Bill, 
who became his fast friend. In 1865 he went to Salina, Kansas, and 
thence to Cherry Creek, Colorado, the site of the present city of 
Denver, and later went east. Later he returned to the west, staying for 
a time in Colorado and Nebraska, but in 1877 he came to Deadwood by 
stage. In March of that year he embarked in business at Deadwood and 
continued in that connection for a number of years. He also was 
interested in mining and at the present time holds patents to a number 
of valuable mining properties. He also owns considerable real estate.  

	The subject of this review was the second in order of birth in a 
family of three children, the others being: Mary Harriet, who died in 
Deadwood in 1888; and James Emmett, of that city, who is a mining 
engineer and a graduate of the University of Michigan in the class of 
1904. The mother passed away on the 11th of September, 1907.  

	Judge Russell attended the common and high schools of Deadwood 
and after graduating from the latter was a student in the Spearfish 
State Normal School. He also attended the University of Notre Dame at 
Notre Dame, Indiana, for a number of years. In 1892 he began the study 
of law in the office of Edwin Van Cise, acting at the same time as law 
clerk for about eight years. He has his degree from the Chicago Law 
School and was admitted to the bar in 1899. In 1900 he began the 
practice of his profession in Deadwood and has continued independently 
until the present time. In 1902 he was nominated as states attorney but 
was defeated and in 1904 was again offered the nomination, which he 
declined. In 1902 he was made city attorney and in 1908 was elected to 
the office of county judge, in which position he served three terms. He 
was an admirable judge as he has that impartiality that is essential to 
the administration of justice, allowing no personal predilections to 
influence his decisions, which are based upon the law and equity. He 
continues the private practice of his profession and has appeared as 
counsel in some of the most important litigation of the district. He 
has other business interests, being a director in the Black Hills Trust 
& Savings Bank and a stockholder in the Gold Mountain Mining & Milling 
Company. He also is connected with a number of other companies in the 
vicinity of Deadwood and has recently sold some valuable mining lands, 
though he still owns a number of patented mining properties.  

	Judge Russell was married on the 7th of May, 1905, to Miss Anne 
Galvin, who was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a daughter of ,John and 
Mary Galvin, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Russell was reared by 
an aunt and at one time lived in the west, but met her future husband 
while visiting relatives at Deadwood. They have one child, Dorothy 
Anne, who was born June 29, 1906, and is now attending school.  

	The Judge is a member of the Roman Catholic church, of which he 
is a trustee, and is also a member of the Knights of Columbus. 
Fraternally he belongs to Lodge, No. 1906, B. P. O. E., of which he is 
exalted ruler and of which he was treasurer for six years, and also 
district deputy of the order in 1913. In 1904 he was president of the 
Deadwood Business Men's Club and under his administration the 
organization was able to do much for the good of the city. He has used 
his ability not only to gain personal success but to secure the good of 
the community and those who know him honor him for his integrity and 
public spirit.