A History
of Crawford, Ida and Sac Counties, Iowa
[?]: Lewis Publishing Co., 1893
R
Unless
otherwise specified, biographies are submitted by Conley
Wolterman.
Andrew Russell,
a prominent farmer of Boyer Valley Township, near the post office of
Early, one of the well-known citizens who settled in Sac Township in
1873, was born in Park County, Indiana, near Rockville, April 6, 1835,
a son of Ben and Sarah (Johnson) Russell. The father was born in Kentucky,
the mother in Ohio.
In 1849, when Andrew
was 14 years of age, the family moved to Clinton County, Iowa, locating
near Lyons, where the father died in 1871. As an occupation, he had
always followed farming, had taken an active interest in political affairs,
always voting with the Republican Party, was a good citizen and a consistent
member of the church. The mother was living in Clinton County at the
advanced age of 82 years. She was the mother of 4 sons and 4 daughters.
One son, Monroe, became a soldier during the war, in the Second Iowa
infantry, lived in Jackson County where he was one of the early settlers.
On April 23, 1854,
Andrew Russell started West, overland, journeying to Oregon and California,
and from that date to 1859, engaged in prospecting, mining, and freighting
with pack mules. He returned via the Isthmus and Mississippi River to
Iowa, located in Clinton County and engaged in farming until 1873. Then
he came to Sac County, settling in Boyer Valley Township, where he opened
up and improved his farm. The residence was a good frame structure,
one and one-half stories high, 14 x 22 feet, with an L of the same height,
also 14 x 22 feet, and was surrounded by a fine grove and orchard of
three acres. The barn was a convenient building, well constructed, and
substantial. Andrew was a member of the School Board for some years.
At the age of 25,
in Clinton County, Iowa, he was married to Easter Case, a native of
Clay County, Indiana, daughter of Obediah and Susanna (Royality) Case.
The father was born in Tennessee and the mother in Kentucky. They had
moved to Clinton County in 1846, where both died. Two of their sons
took part in the Civil War: Zeniah served in the 26 Iowa, and died during
service, while Isaiah also died in the Army.
Andrew Russell and
his wife had twelve children: Luella, wife of Henry Ward residing at
Slaughter, Washington; Orion and wife reside in Washington; and Albert
also resides in the same State; Eudora, the wife of Oren Prentice, resides
in Washington, she having been a teacher in Sac County before her marriage;
Elmondah, the wife of George Smith of Washington; Walter at home; Edith,
the wife of George Roe of this township; Alvin; Ethel; Dayton; Carm;
and Effie at home.
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