My Genealogy Hound

ADAM RUSSELL. It is a well established fact that a man, if possessed of natural ability and energy, can accomplish almost any given purpose in life, and such is the case with our subject, who is a practicing attorney at Coulterville. Here he has followed his profession since 1874, and, in addition to the management of an extensive legal practice, he has been an important factor in the growth and progress of the town.

Alexander and Margaret (Anderson) Russell, the parents of our subject, were natives of Ireland, where the former was born in County Donegal in 1805, and the latter in County Derry, October 28, 1812. Accompanied by his parents, they emigrated to the United States in 1831, and were married in Philadelphia, Pa., four years later. Thence they came to Illinois and settled upon the old Russell homestead, which is located one and a-half miles south of this village. At that time the land was in its primitive wildness, and there were only three other houses for miles around. Upon the farm which they developed from the wilderness they continued to reside until 1870, when the father died. Mrs. Russell is still living, and makes her home in Coulterville. The father was a man who made friends wherever he went, and contributed to the general welfare of the community, where he was held in high esteem. In politics he was a stanch Republican. The paternal grandparents of our subject, Adam and Elizabeth Russell, after emigrating from Ireland, made their home with the father of our subject, residing with him on the old homestead until their decease.

Adam Russell was the second in order of birth in a family of seven children, and was born in 1842 on the old homestead, which he now owns. His advantages for obtaining an education were quite limited. At the age of seventeen years he went to Sparta, and was apprenticed to learn the trade of a harness-maker, which occupation he followed until 1874. Deciding to follow the profession of a lawyer, he read the necessary books at night after his day’s work was done, and on completing his legal studies he opened an office, and now has a good clientage.

In 1866 Mr. Russell and Miss Martha S. Wilson, a native of this county and the daughter of Peter C. and Mary J. (Day) Wilson, were united in marriage. The parents of Mrs. Russell were early settlers in Randolph County, and the father died in 1892. In his political relations Mr. Russell is a firm believer in Republican principles, and in 1890 ran for the office of County Judge. He is always interested in the welfare of his community, and has delivered addresses at the various conventions and public gatherings in the county.