My Genealogy Hound

THE RUSSELL FAMILY. In 1806 David N. Russell, of Linlithgo, Scotland, came to this country, on a visit, and in consequence of the embargo affecting the transportation between the United States and Great Britain, during that troublesome period, he was hindered from returning to his native country, and about 1807 or 1808 settled in Logan County. He was born July 12, 1782, and married shortly after coming to Logan County, Ky., Miss Lydia McElwain, who was born in Londonderry, Ireland, June 17, 1780; her mother, Frances McElwain in company with her children, eleven in number, came from Ireland in the beginning of the present century, and for one year located in Annapolis, Md. They then removed to Kentucky, settling first in Warren County, moving thence to near Auburn, Logan County, where Frances McElwain spent the remainder of her life and died at the age of eighty-three years. The exact date of the marriage of David N. Russell and Lydia McElwain is not known; but they settled in Todd County in 1821, improving a farm a short distance southeast of Elkton, now owned and occupied by their son, Charles M. Russell. Here they lived and labored, surrounded by the hardships and privations of pioneer life. The days of weary toil, the individual struggles and sacrifices, will ever form an unwritten page, yet hopefully they looked into the future, and lived to see the reward of their labor, in developing the wilderness into a home of plenty and of happiness; happiness which was heightened by the reflection that they had lived upright and useful lives, besides rearing a family of children to emulate their noble examples. They were members of the old Scotch-Presbyterian Church, in the faith of which they trustfully died; the father, David N., January 17, 1853, and his wife, August 12, 1861. They reared a family of five sons and one daughter. Charles M. Russell, Sr., was born January 29, 1825, on the farm where he now lives, being the one settled by his father, David N. Russell. To him no spot on earth is so dear as this old homestead farm; along its brooks and through its groves he listlessly wandered in childhood with mind free from life’s cares, and happy in the possession of loving parents. Here, too, his parents rest in the quiet of the family burying-ground, while he now occupies the proud position of the head of an interesting family. Mr. Russell was married, in 1862, to Miss Gillie M. Atkins, daughter of John L. and Gillie G. Atkins (nee Edwards), Her father, who is now a resident of Elkton, Todd County, was born April, 1812, came from Tennessee to Kentucky in early life and has since been a resident of Todd County, with the exception of a short residence in Arkansas. Her mother died in Todd County, shortly after the birth of Mrs. Russell, which occurred October 22, 1845. To Mr. and Mrs. Russell have been born seven children as follows: John Bernard, born September 2, 1863; David Nimmo, May 23, 1865; George Lee, November 20, 1866; Nora Lydia, born July 23, 1870 and died March 14, 1874; Charles Ephraim, born February 25, 1873; Cora Ann, born December 23, 1875, and Mary Todd born December 7, 1879, and died August 27, 1880. Mr. Russell’s farm now consists of 425 acres of land, and he is one of the most extensive wheat growers in his county. He is a member of the Elk Fork Grange, and of the A. F. & A. M. Mrs. R. is an honored member of the Mt. Hermon Methodist Episcopal Church.