My Genealogy Hound

Elias Russell, farmer, blacksmith and wood-worker, of Big Creek Township, was born in Atalla County, Miss., about 1832, his parents being William and Polly (Williams) Russell, natives of South Carolina. They were married in the Choctaw Nation, Miss., where the father died when our subject was a lad. The mother died in Mississippi in 1850. The grandfather, John Russell, was born in South Carolina and died in Mississippi. The maternal grandfather, James Williams, was a full-blooded Indian, born in South Carolina, and served in the War of 1812 under Jackson. Elias Russell is an only child, and during his youth received but a limited education as he was obliged to support his mother. When about grown he learned his trade, at which he has worked at different times since. In 1853 he went to California as a wagon-master, and until 1865 remained there working in the mines. He then engaged in teaming and stage-driving and during the year 1865 went to Adams County, Ill., where he was married the following year to Elizabeth P., daughter of Malavary Inman. Mrs. Russell was born in Brown County, Ill., and to her union with our subject eight children were born, of whom four sons and two daughters are living. Mr. Russell has lived upon his present farm since 1868, and is one of the pioneers of this vicinity. He has 173 acres of good land, and has greatly assisted in the upbuilding of the surrounding neighborhood. Himself and wife belong to the Union Baptist Church, and have taken great pains to educate their children. Mr. Russell is a Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln in 1860.