Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed by Sharon Elijah November 1, 2020

One of the highly successful farmers of Carroll county is George E. Russell, who is now living retired at Carroll in the enjoyment of ease which he earned by many years of highly directed effort. He comes of good New England ancestry and was born in the town of Cornville, Somerset county, Maine, June 12, 1843, son of Alden and Hanna (Hilton) Russell, both of whom were natives of the Pine Tree state. The father was a farmer and died in Skowhegan, Maine, in 1907 at the age of eighty-four years, his wife having passed away at the age of seventy-two. He was for many years a member of the state militia and he and his wife were identified with the Methodist church. Of their family five attained maturity, namely: George E., of this review; Horace B., who still makes his home at Cornville, Maine; Clara A., wife of Frank Bell of Los Angeles, California; Emma A. and Edwin C., twins, the former of whom is the wife of Lysander Robinson of North Ansen, Maine, and the latter is deceased. Jesse Russell, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was the head of a family of seven sons and three daughters, namely: William, Eastman, Josiah, Charles, Augustus, Alden, Jesse, Sarah, Frances and James. The maternal grandfather, Daniel T. Hilton, was a native of New Hampshire, and a very wealthy man, being owner of land covering two townships. His wife, whose maiden name was Phoebe Hilton, was of English descent. He passed away at the age of sixty-two years, but his wife lived until she was about eighty. Of their children the names of the following are known: Elbridge, Joseph, Hannah, Jane, Alice and Mahala.

George E. Russell was reared on his father’s farm near Cornville, and educated in the district schools and at Athens Academy. In 1863, being then twenty years of age, he came west to Cairo, Illinois, and worked in saw mills, getting out lumber for the Union army. In 1864 he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and became manager of the Minneapolis corporation, having authority from the city to act as marshal and to make arrests. From Minneapolis he returned to his native state and was married, after which he started west with his bride and stopped in Logan county, Illinois, where he rented land and engaged in farming and stock-raising for six years. In 1874 he arrived in Carroll county, Iowa, and purchased two hundred and forty acres north of Arcadia. He cultivated this farm for fourteen years and then disposed of it and for two years engaged in the dry-goods business with John F. Grote at West Side, Crawford county. After giving up this business he purchased two hundred and forty acres in Carroll, now Maple River township, Carroll county, and later acquired three hundred and twenty acres in Crawford county, northwest of Denison, one hundred and sixty acres in Holt county, Nebraska, and two hundred and eighty acres in Wagner county, Oklahoma, becoming known as one of the most prosperous farmers in this county. In 1903 he removed to Carroll, and has since resided in one of the attractive homes of this city.

On the 15th day of January, 1867, Mr. Russell was united in marriage in Maine to Miss Abbie A. Judkins, who was born at Athens, Maine, May 24, 1846, daughter of John S. and Sarah C. (Butler) Judkins. To this union three children were born, two of whom died in infancy. Charles Melville, the surviving son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell, is a farmer and breeder of Polled Angus cattle. He lives in Carroll township, a mile and one-half north of the city, and has become very successful in his business. He married Lillie M. Fowler, and to this union two children have been born—Byron A. and Grace.

The parents of Mrs. George E. Russell were natives of Maine, the mother having been born at Cornville and the father in Palmyra. He was a farmer and merchant and he and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist church. There were ten children in their family, five sons and five daughters, namely: Henry, William, LeRoy, Sylvanus, Martin Van Buren, Sarah, Isabella and Arabella, twins, Hannah and Abbie. The five sons were all soldiers of the Civil war and each of them served for more than three years. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Russell was Ebenezer Judkins. He was a native of Palmyra, Maine, and was by trade a carpenter. His wife was Betsy Shaw, and there were ten children in their family—Benjamin, John, Samuel, Ebenezer, Pluma, Betsy, Harriet, Sophia, Clifford and Sarah. The maternal grandfather was Benjamin Butler, a cousin of General Benjamin Butler of the Civil war and a descendant of General Henry Butler of the Revolutionary war. His wife was Hannah Hilton, a cousin of Mr. Russell’s grandfather Hilton. Of their family the following may be named: Sarah, Isabella, Mary, Abigail, Hannah, Elizabeth, Joanna, Joseph, Henry and Benjamin Franklin, the latter of whom was known as Frank. Edward Hilton, who was an ancestor of both Mr. and Mrs. Russell, came from London, England, in 1623, and was the first magistrate of Massachusetts in 1641. His son Edward married Ann Dudley, granddaughter of Thomas Dudley, second governor of Massachusetts colony. The mother of Ann Dudley was Mary Winthrop, daughter of John Winthrop, first governor of Massachusetts.

Mr. Russell throughout his life has shown traits of energy, persistence and cool judgment so necessary in the accomplishment of important undertakings, and has at all times aimed to be just and fair in his dealings with others. As an intelligent and respected citizen he occupies an enviable position in the community. He and his wife are valued members of the Presbyterian church. Politically, he is identified with the republican party, and although he has not sought officer he has served as county supervisor. Fraternally he is connected with Signet Lodge, No. 264, A.F. & A.M., and Copestone Chapter, No. 78, R.A.M., both of Carroll. Mrs. Russell is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and also is matron of Signet Chapter, No. 1, Order of Eastern Star. She has been president of the Ladies’ Aid Society of the Presbyterian church a number of years.

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