G.W. Russell. There are numerous fine farms in this county which may be compared favorably with any others in the state as regards production, and also as regards improvements located upon them. Many of these places are owned by self-made men -- men who started in the world with nothing but an unlimited amount of energy and perseverance, and who have succeeded in their chosen profession. As a representative of the agricultural class, we take pleasure in presenting the name of the subject of this sketch, who lives in the town of Farmersburg, Clayton County, Iowa.

Mr. Russell was born in Orange county, Vt., April 7, 1845. His father, Isaac Russell, was born in New Hampshire, March 17, 1803. September 7, 1827, he married Miss Nancy Tewksbury, a native of Grafton, N.H., who was born there June 20, 1807. After their marriage they remained in the state of Vermont until the year 1855, when they made their permanent home at Farmersburg, Clayton County, Iowa. They have both long since passed to their eternal rest, she dying in the year 1875, and he in 1878. Four children blessed this union, of which we making the following mention: J.C. Russell lives at White Plains, N.Y., Rosella Wakeman resides at Wheaton, Ill.; G.W. and J.W. are twins, and the latter now lives at Ogden, Iowa.

G.W. Russell was reared on a farm in Clayton County, and attended the public schools of the same. He was married May 16, 1872, to Miss Anna M. Tapper. James Tapper was a native of England and his wife of Ireland. They were married in New York City and went to New Orleans, La., and subsequently to St. Louis and Fort Atkinson, (where he assisted in building the fort) and in the year 1841 settled in Giard Township. He was one of the earliest settlers in the county and has noted its rapid growth since his arrival. He died February 25, 1885, aged seventy-four years. His beloved wife survives and lives in Monona. The were the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living, and are as follows: Mary, William, James, John, Mrs. Hester Egbert, David and Anna. The parents were both zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Russell are the parents of five children, three of whom are still living: Ross R. was born April 26, 1880; Mamie was born January 13, 1876; David was born August 3, 1882. Our subject resided for a time on the farm, where he dealt extensively in grain and the raising of fine, thoroughbred roadsters and draft horses. He rents his farm, situated in Wagner Township, consisting of three hundred broad and well cultivated acres.

He is a member of the Masonic order and has held several offices in the same. In politics our subject is a strict and stanch adherent to the principles of the Republican party. He and his most worthy wife were early settlers in Clayton County, and are highly esteemed as citizens of the same. Having watched the growth and progress of the country, and feeling in it all the pride of one who sees a blank and barren wilderness grow and develop into a city, they feel that its life and industry are to itself a credit and honor, and to others a source of pleasure and pride.

~source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties; Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894; pg. 414-415
-transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall