Joseph Allen Russell died Tuesday morning, Feb. 6, at 5:50 o'clock

at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Laura Mahana in East Lampasas.

Joseph Allen Russell was born in Bumkin County, North Carolina on April 12, 1813, and died in Lampasas, February 6, 1923, lacking a few weeks being 110 years of age, and was the oldest man in Lampasas and perhaps the oldest in the state of Texas.

...He was married twice.  The first marriage was to Miss Mary Brown in North Carolina, and to this union thirteen children were born.  Ten of the children grew to manhood and womanhood, but never have gone to their resting place.  The second marriage took place in Lampasas about six years ago, when he married Mrs. Mary Bowers, at the age of 104. She lived four years, and since that time he has made his home in Lampasas with his daughter, Mrs. Laura Mahana.

The deceased was an unusual character in many respects.  He was past 100 years when he had the first doctor to prescribe medicine for him; he never used tobacco in any form, and no  one can truthfully say he ever was intoxicated in his life.  He was a stockman and farmer the greater part of his life and at two different times he amassed a fortune, but lost it in business transactions, and the only real estate he possessed at the time of his death is a 100-acre farm on Mesquite creek, which is now occupied by Rice Wells.  On this farm there is a bluff where he dug for gold and silver and the government assayed the rocks and found both gold and silver, but it was in such small quantities that it was thought not enough to mine.

...He was of medium height and build, but was strong and vigorous up to the very last, his mind was clear and he was conscious up to the last breath he drew.

...The names of the ten children are:  P. C. Russell of Wichita Falls, Zeb Russell, died in New Mexico; Joe Russell, died in the Panhandle, Will Russell of Amarillo; Robert Russell of Oakhurst, Texas; John Russell, killed in Canyon City, Colorado; Mrs. Mattie Peterson, California; Mrs. Laura Mahana, Lampasas; Mrs. Maria Wavey of  Dallas; Charlie died in Colorado at the age of 18.

[Transcriber's note:  much of the large microfilmed copy is too dark to read and is omitted here.]