My Genealogy Hound

W. R. Russell, merchant, Pocahontas, Ark. The mercantile interests of this portion of the county have been ably represented for a number of years by Mr. Russell. General merchandising, of course, necessitates the carrying of a varied assortment of goods, and in his stock Mr. Russell has a variety which cannot fail to satisfy every want of his patrons. He is a native of Randolph County, Ark., born in 1857, and the son of Marion Russell, also a native of Randolph County, Ark. The elder Russell was a successful tiller of the soil, and when a young man was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Leonard, a native of Tennessee. At the breaking out of the Rebellion Mr. Russell joined the Confederate States army as lieutenant of Company H, Fifteenth Missouri Regiment, and was killed at the battle of Big Blue, during Price’s raid, in November, 1864. The paternal grandfather, James Russell, was one of the first settlers of Randolph County, and located about eight miles north of Pocahontas, where he improved a good farm, and there remained the balance of his days. W. R. Russell was one of four children born to his parents. Two brothers are deceased, and a sister, Alice M., the wife of R. M. Bigger, is now residing in Little Black Township, Randolph County. The subject of this sketch was educated in the private schools of his native county, and at the age of twenty-one commenced working for himself. He first came to Pocahontas, and engaged as salesman for Levi Hecht, for whom he clerked eighteen months. After this he farmed for three years, and then again came to Pocahontas, where he engaged as a clerk for R. Nicholas, remaining with him three years, when he established his present business, and now has a good substantial trade on a cash basis. He was married, in 1880, to Miss Mary E. Ulmer, a native of Indiana. They have two children: Ina and Pearly. Mr. and Mrs. Russell are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and each takes an active part in church work. He owns a farm of 210 acres, seventy-five under cultivation, and is a man who manifests a deep interest in all public enterprises.