WILLIAM RUSSELL is a prominent and influential member of a pioneer family, the first of whom to settle in Washington county being Abraham Russell, who was born in Ireland and came to America soon after the war of the Revolution. He married in this country, and became one of the earliest settlers of Smith township, this county, at a time when the Indians were yet troublesome to the white pioneers. He was a successful farmer, and served his country in the war of 1812, and died at an advanced age, leaving the following children who lived to adult age: William (mentioned elsewhere in this record), James and John (twins, the latter deceased in Allegheny county, Penn.) and Nancy (wife of Jacob Drake, a farmer of Armstrong county, Penn.). James Russell (a son of Abraham) was born and reared on his father's farm in Smith township, assisting his father both with the farm work and in distilling, which was then a common vocation among the farmers. About 1819 he was married to Rachel, daughter of Abraham Scott, and children were born to them as follows: Abraham, Jane (who died of cancer at the age of twenty-eight years), Samuel (living in Guernsey county, Ohio), Sarah (widow of William Aten), James (of Beaver county, Penn.), Mary (Mrs. Alexander McConnell, of the town of Beaver, Penn.), William (subject of this sketch) and Margaret (deceased wife of Lorenzo Cohen). Mr. and Mrs. James Russell passed their married life in Robinson township, this county, both living to a good old age. Like his ancestors before him, he was an excellent citizen, steady and industrious, winning and retaining the respect of his neighbors. Politically he was a Democrat, deeply interested in the success of his party. His widow survived him ten years, and was then laid to rest by his side.
William Russell (the subject of this biography) was born February 23, 1830, in Robinson township, this county, and began work on the farm as soon as he was old enough to be useful. On October 20, 1859, he was married to Rebecca Gordon, who was born in 1837, a daughter of David Gordon, of Robinson township, this county, and they have had the following children: James, Rachel, David M. (a farmer living on the home farm in Robinson township), Alice J. and William M. William Russell and his wife first settled on the home farm which he yet owns, and resided upon till 1885. He then came to Smith township, locating on the fertile farm of 170 acres which he is now occupying, situated near the headwaters of Raccoon creek, about three and a half miles south of Burgettstown, this county. In 1892 Mr. Russell erected a handsome residence which adds to the value and beauty of his property. He has always been a successful farmer and careful financier; he raises the best quality of stock, such as Black-Top sheep, Durham cattle and Poland-China hogs. In politics he is a Democrat, but votes for the man rather than the party, and in religion he and his wife are members of Cross Creek Presbyterian Church.
Text taken from page 1373 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]