My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS RUSSELL is a prosperous farmer and an early settler of Harlan county. He was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, December 21, 1838, and is the second child in a family of fourteen children — seven only of whom are now living — born to David and Margaret (Gorey) Russell. His father was a native of the State of Ohio and followed farming throughout life, dying at the age of sixty-two years. His mother was born in Washington county, Pa., and is still living and enjoying the fruits of a long and well-spent life.

Thomas, our subject, was reared at home on the farm in Ohio, until twenty-one years of age, when he assumed the responsibilities of life and soon after, in 1860, emigrated West and located on a farm in Montgomery county, Iowa. Here he remained until August 2, 1862, when, the war of the rebellion being under full headway and the demand for reinforcements urgent, he responded nobly to the call of his country for aid, and laying aside his implements of husbandry enlisted in Company F, Twenty-third Iowa regiment, shouldered an army musket and was soon on his way to the scene of the conflict. He served his country faithfully for a period of three years, participating in battles at Champion Hill, Black River, Milliken’s Bend, Vicksburgh; Fort Esperanza, Tex., and Forts Spanish and Blakesly. He was mustered out and discharged at Harrisburgh, Tex., July 26, 1865. The war being over, he returned to Iowa, where he lived and farmed until May 10, 1878, when he came to Harlan county, Nebr., and homesteaded a quarter section in section 3, township 1, range 19, on which he at once constructed a log dug-out and began life in the manner of early pioneers. The country in the vicinity of his claim was scarcely settled and wild deer and antelope still abounded in the neighboring hills and draws and along the timber-lined creeks, When Mr. Russell landed in Harlan county, he had a team, two cows and but $40 in money, and although he saw some hard times in the pioneer days of the county, he has since prospered and is at present in very comfortable circumstances.

He was married December 24, 1860, to Rebecca Martin, a most estimable lady, who was born in Maryland, July 2, 1842, and is the youngest of seven children born to Philip Martin and wife, the former a native of Germany and a carpenter by trade. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Russell, Charlotta, by name, born October 23, 1861. Politically, Mr. Russell is a republican.