Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, ed. 8-B, 1887
Greenup County

JOHN RUSSELL, was born near Londonderry, Ireland, December 25, 1821, and in
1830, was brought to this country by his father, John Russell, a farmer, who
settled in Tyler County, now West Virginia, on the farm on which our subject
was reared.  At the age of sixteen years young Russell was sent to Wheeling,
where for five years he clerked in a hardware store.  In 1850 he came to
Kentucky, and for two years was bookkeeper for the Amanda Furnace, Greenup
County, at $400 per year and board.  He was given one-quarter interest in
the profits of the whole business, and his salary increased to $1,000 per
annum.  This position he held about three years, or until the death of
Archibald Paull, of Wheeling, the senior partner.  He next bought an eight
interest in the Belle Fonta Furnace in 1855, forming a partnership with the
owners, Thomas and Hugh Means, the capital at that time being, with the
addition of various mineral lands, $56,000.  Mr. Russell is one of the
corporations of the Norton Iron Works, the largest in the county, with a
capital stock of $800,000.  From 1873 to 1876, inclusive, Col. E. M. Norton
was president of the corporation; since 1877 Mr. Russell has held that
position, although one of the smallest stockholders.  There is employed, on
an average from 400 to 600 hands, with 125 at the Star Furnace.  In 1856 Mr.
Russell married Miss Anna Mead, of Greenup County, daughter of H. A. Mead.
To this marriage have been born five children, as follows: Mollie, Helen
Virginia, John, Emma and Charles.  Mr. Russell is president of the
Catlettsburg National Bank, president of the Means & Russell Iron Co., and
president of the St. Clair Coke Works in Fayette County, W. Va., and is also
engaged in other enterprises in the city of Ashland, of which he has been a
citizen for twelve years past.

Russell Means Norton Mead Paull
=
Ireland Fayette-WV Tyler-WV

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/greenup/russell.j.txt