Newspaper Chronicles - Mabank, Texas; July 12, 1917 J. O. Russell John Oliver Russell, a highly respected citizen and a pioneer of Kaufman County, departed this life and the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. R. Crane of Mabank, July 11, 1917, after a short illness of pneumonia. Mr. Russell was born Nov. 10, 1841 in Noxube County, Miss., near Macon and spent his early manhood there, coming to Texas om 1959 (inc. 1859?) where he had since continuously resided. On moving to Texas, he settled near Poetry and lived there until the fall of 1883 when he bought a farm near Independence and moved to it. After 24 years spent on this farm, owing to failing health, he went west to Haskell County and resided there for some 4 years when he and his wife broke up housekeeping and returned to Kaufman County to the home of Mrs. W. R. Crane with whome he continued to live until his death. He was married in 1866 while living in Mississippi to Mattie A. Stewart with whom he lived as a devoted husband until the end. Mr. Russell was a confederate veteran, having served through the entire conflict with true southern devotion as a member Company F, 11th Mississippi Regiment, David Brigade, Heaths Division. His father gave 8 sons to the Southern Cause, of whom J. O. Russell was one of the most loyal and devoted. During the war, he was at one time seriously wounded and had it not been for a Testament which he carried in his vest pocket, he would have doubtless lost his life, as a bullet pierced the Testament and entered his side breaking two of his ribs just under his heart. Mr. Russell was a devoted and consistent Christian having joined the Baptist Church before the Civil War. He was among the too few who highly revered the Book of Books and was always ready to converse with it as his theme. He spent much of his time pouring over its sacred pages. Surviving are his wife, Mattie A. Russell and five children, 2 sons and 3 daughters as follows: Mrs. W. R. Crane, Mabank, Texas, Mrs. B. D. Jones, Terrell, Texas, Mrs. John R. Hill, Randlett, Oklahoma, and Charles Russell, Wichita Falls, Texas, John G. Russell, Amarillo, Texas. A son James died some years ago. Funeral services were conducted at Poetry, his old home, by Revs. W. H. Wynne of Terrell and S. D. Dollachite of Kaufman. He was buried in Dry Creek Cemetery, near Poetry. Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Tom Russell ************************************************************************ 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. ************************************************************************