My Genealogy Hound

B. J. Russell. Prominent among the farming and stock-raising interests of the county, and among those deserving special recognition for their long residence in the county, stands the name of the above mentioned gentleman, who was born in Cole County, Mo., near Miller County, in 1830, and is the fourth of six children born to Hiram and Mima (Etter) Russell, natives of Kentucky and Virginia, respectively. The parents immigrated to Missouri in 1826, settling in what is now Moniteau County, but remained only a short time, when they came to what is now Saline Township, Miller County, all then called Cole County. He improved about 210 acres, and was one of the first settlers of the county. He remained on the old homestead for a number of years, and later in life moved to Mt. Pleasant, where he died in April, 1885, at the age of eighty-one years. His wife died in 1879, at the age of seventy-five years. B. J. Russell was reared to agricultural pursuits, and assisted his father in clearing his farm. He was educated in the subscription schools of Miller County, and commenced for himself at the age of twenty-one years. He was married, in Miller County, Mo., in 1850, to Miss Martha Jane Clark, who was born in Tennessee, and who is the daughter of James and Polly (Stubblefield) Clark, natives of Tennessee. The father died in Tennessee, and the mother afterward immigrated to Illinois, thence to Miller County, Mo., and was a resident of Saline Township for over forty years. She died in 1882. After marriage the subject of this sketch settled in Saline Township, and in 1865 purchased a partly improved farm of 160 acres, which he has continued to improve. He owns two good farms in Saline Township, and has 360 acres under cultivation. He raises a good grade of stock, and ships about two car loads each year. He assisted in organizing the school district in the township, and is one of the prominent men of the county. Mrs. Russell is a member of the Christian Church at Olean. To their union were born ten children, seven now living: Mary Eliza, now Mrs. Harrison, and a resident of Saline Township, is the mother of seven children; Ann Elizabeth, who died when small; Nancy Adaline, now Mrs. Van Hooser, who resides in Saline Township, is the mother of four children; James Alexander, who died in 1883 at the age of twenty-six years, leaving a wife and four children; Hiram Thomas, who is married and resides in this township, and is the father of one child; William Franklin, married and resides in Saline Township, and is the father of one child; John, died in infancy; Martha Jane, now Mrs. Etter, resides in Saline Township, and is the mother of one child; Samuel B., is married, and resides in the township, and Lewis Cummins, who is married and is residing with the subject of this sketch. Mr. Russell started life a poor boy, and has made what he now has by his individual efforts. He is one of the oldest settlers in the county, and has the respect and esteem of all acquaintances.