by Charles W. Bowman

Biographies

   Mr. Russell is a native of Licking County, Ohio, born August 20, 1829. He attended the common schools of the town in which he lived. When quite young, he spent one year in New York City. Afterward he learned the tanner's trade in Cincinnati. In 1851, he settled in McDonough County, Ill., where he cultivated a farm, though he was largely engaged in mercantile life, buying and shipping a large amount of grain, of which wheat was the principal one. He found his market in Chicago, New York and Boston. In this employment Mr. Russell was engaged about eight years. In 1865, he came across the plains with a wagon train from Junction City, Kan. He took the Smoky Hill route. The Indians were exceedingly troublesome. The company were driven in by them. Eleven soldiers were killed by the savages. Mr. R. was not able to reach Denver and so returned to his family who were residing in McDonough County, Ill. From 1865 to 1870, he was disposing of his interests prior to coming to Colorado. Mr. R. settled in Rocky Ford, Bent County, and located a ranch on the Spanish Land Grant. In 1871, he removed his family to that point, and entered at once upon mercantile life and stock-raising. In 1870, there were not more than half a dozen families in the valley between Pueblo and Fort Lyon on the south side of the Arkansas River. Soon afterward many families moved into the valley. Mr. Russell's customers were mostly stockmen, and they came from far and near. His stock of goods consisted of general merchandise. His trade amounted to from %50,000 to $90,000 a year. In the spring of 1871, Mr. Iliff, the late cattle king of Colorado, received at this point a large herd of cattle from Mexico, which he had contracted for from a Mr. Tipton. It was at a time before Mr. Russell had any buildings erected, and Mr. Iliff drew his check for $60,000 in payment for the herd while sitting under a tree that now stands on Mr. Russell's grounds. This was time fist large business transaction that took place at the Ford. Mr. R. continued in the business until 1875, in company with George W. Swink. The railroad passing through the valley at a point farther south, together with competition all along the line, and having sustained heavy losses, Mr. R. discontinued mercantile life and paid his whole attention to ranching and stock-raising. With the system of ditches that is being introduced into the Arkansas Valley, Mr. R. believes that agriculture can be made to pay a good per cent on money in vested. He has been successful in raising large crops of oats. In 1881, he had 100 acres sown with this grain. Mr. R. cuts almost fifty tons of hay, and is yearly increasing his acreage. Like some of his neighbors, he believes alfalya is going to play in important part in the hay raising portion of Colorado; he is sowing additional ground to this grass every year. Mr. Russell was married in May, 1850, to Miss Ellen Squires, of New Haven, Conn. They have six children, all living; three daughters married. Mr. R. is a firm believer in the short—born breed of cattle and is strongly convinced that the time is not far distant when stock will be kept up and fed during the winter, and controlled by fences during the summer. He is improving his herd by the introduction of thoroughbred cattle.