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         WILLIAM S. RUSSELL, one of the leading and progressive farmers of Louisa County, residing on section 35, Elliott Township, was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, Feb. 12, 1842. His parents were David and Mary (Smith) Russell, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of the Buckeye State. David Russell was among the earliest pioneers of Des Moines County, having located in Huron Township in 1835, where . . .

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. . . he still continues to reside. Our subject grew to manhood upon that farm, and received his education in the common schools of the county. At the age of nineteen years he enlisted among the brave boys in blue of the 2d Iowa Cavalry, becoming a member of Company K, and participating in the battles of Montroy, Mask Battery, Farmington charge, the Booneville raid, Black Land, Iuka, Patton’s Mills, Corinth, the entire campaign in Mississippi under Gen. Grant, Holly Springs, Yockeney River, Coffeeville, the bridge burning raid in Mississippi, Grierson’s raid, Misner’s raid to Palona, the battle of Jackson (Tenn.), Collierville, Coldwater, Salisbury skirmish, Moscow, Tuttle raid and West Point. After a three years and two months’ service, during which he participated in some of the hardest fought battles of the war, Mr. Russell received his discharge of the 9th of September, 1864.

Returning to his home in Des Moines County, Iowa, our subject remained upon his father’s farm until 1867, and then purchased land in that county, which he farmed until 1880. At that time he became the owner of a farm on the river bottom in Huron Township, making it his home until the 4th of March, 1885, when he became the owner of 150 acres of land on sections 35 and 36, Elliott Township, where he is still residing. On the 12th of February, 1867, he was united in marriage with Isabel Kurts, a native of Pennsylvania. Three children grace their union—Alva, May and Myrtle. Politically, Mr. Russell is a stalwart Republican, and at present holds the office of Township Trustee.