My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Dallas County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Capt. A. S. Russell, justice of the peace, and farmer, Pine Grove, Ark. Capt. Russell is a prominent agriculturist, residing in Dallas County, and like the majority of people who claim the State of Alabama as their birthplace, he is enterprising, intelligent and thrifty. His parents, Ephraim W. and Mary (Vaughn) Russell, were natives of Georgia, and both born in the year 1801. They were married in Alabama, and there resided until 1840, when they came to Arkansas, and made their home in Saline County, until 1842, when they came to what is now Dallas County, settling in the woods near where our subject now resides. There the father tilled the soil and lived for thirteen years, when he removed to near Ouachita River, where he farmed until his death, in 1860. His wife died in 1850. Both were members of the Baptist Church for many years. When they first settled in Arkansas the country was very wild, wild animals abounded, and the nearest post-office was at Rock-port, about forty miles distant. Camden was then a small trading post. Mr. Russell had a little steel hand-mill a number of years, and on this ground his corn, there being no wheat raised for some years. He assisted in surveying and making the first road in the country. His father, Caleb Russell, was probably born in Georgia, and died in Alabama, and his father was from Ireland. Caleb Russell’s wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Grady, was of Welsh descent, and died in Alabama. Grandfather James Vaughn was born in Georgia, and died in Alabama. Capt. A. S. Russell was born in Perry County, Ala., in 1827, and was the eldest of five children born to his father’s first marriage. He began his duties on the farm at an early age, and divided his time between this and in attending the common schools, where he received a fair education. At the age of twenty-one years he entered his present tract of land which he has improved and has since made his home. He worked a number of years at the carpenter trade, and in May, 1862, joined Company E, Twenty-ninth Trans-Mississippi Infantry, and held all the ranks to captain. He was in the fight of Prairie Grove and Helena, where he was captured and was imprisoned at Alton, Ill., for about one month. He was then taken to Johnson Island, where he was held until January 9, 1865, when he was exchanged and returned to his company, having been commissioned captain while in prison. He operated in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas; disbanded at Marshall, Tex., in May, 1865, and returned to the farm, where he now has 150 acres. He served as justice of the peace prior to the war, and has held that position to the satisfaction of all nearly ever since, there being only two appeals taken to the circuit court. In politics he was formerly a Whig, but now affiliates with the Democratic party, and his first vote was for Gen. Scott, in 1852. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1865, Manchester Lodge No. 16, and was secretary of the same. He is now a member of Russell Lodge (named for him), the Agricultural Wheel, and a representative citizen.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 55 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Dallas County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Dallas County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Dallas County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.