Biographical Sketch of

Charles E. Russell

Transcribed by Barbara Voss



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 437 - 438

Charles E. Russell, a practical and enterprising farmer of the town of Green Lake. Green Lake County, who now resides
on section 32, is a native of Connecticut. He was born in Litchfield County, Oct. 25, 1808, and is a son of John and 
Charity (Everetts) Russell. His father was a native of New Bedford, N. Y., and in the early days of his manhood he 
entered the army and served throughout the entire Revolutionary War. For some time he acted in the capacity of hostler 
to General Washington and afterwards entered the ranks and rose to sergeant. Toward the close of his life, he drew a 
pension in recognition of his services. When the war was over, he went to Litchfield County, Conn., where he became 
acquainted with and married Miss Everetts, a native of that county. He was a prominent and respected citizen and served 
as a selectman of his town in connection with other local offices. He followed the occupation of farming throughout his 
entire life and was an excellent business man. In political sentiment, he was a supporter of the Democracy. Neither Mr. 
Russell nor his wife ever united with any church, though they were of the Episcopal faith. Both died in Litchfield, 
Conn., where their remains now rest in  peace, the death of the husband occurring at the advanced age of eighty three 
years, the wife dying when sixty years of age. 

Our subject is the only living representative of a family of eleven children, six sons and five daughters, and thus to 
his lot it falls to perpetuate the Russell history. He was reared to manhood on the old homestead and received a good 
common school education, attending the district school and the Quaker schools, where he paid $23 per quarter for board 
and tuition. The boys and girls were kept in separate enclosures, surrounded by board fences twelve feet high. Mr. 
Russell says it was an excellent place for bad boys. After leaving school he looked about for some profession or 
occupation at which he might earn a livelihood, and chose mercantile pursuits. He obtained a position as salesman in 
a store, but after a time abandoned it and devoted his time to farming.

On the 2nd of May, 1828, Mr. Russell married Catherine C. Deming, a native of Columbia County, N. Y., born April 17, 
1809, who with her parents removed to Litchfield County, Conn., when a little child. Four children have been born of 
this union: John wedded Mary Warren and has two children; Everett C. married Susan Nelson and has three children; 
Catherine H. M., widow of Dr. C. E. Evans has one child; and Mary, the youngest, is the widow of George Russell.

In 1844, Mr. Russell, of whom we write, came to Wisconsin with a view of selecting a location, and in his travels found 
no section which so well suited him as that of Green Lake County. Here he entered a tract of land of 240 acres, situated 
on section 25 in the Town of Green Lake, it extending, however, across the boundary line into Fond Du Lac County. There 
were then so few settlers in the community that he resolved to wait for a short time before bringing his family to the 
West, and in the interval made further preparations for a home. One of his neighbors in the East had also come to Green 
Lake Township and of him Mr. Russell bought the tract of land on which he now lives. The month of June, 1847, witnessed 
the arrival of the family and from that time forward they have since made their home. Great success has attended the 
efforts of our subject and he is now the owner of 493 acres of arable land, highly improved and cultivated. It is 
considered one of the best forms in the town and its broad and well tilled fields yield a golden tribute to the care 
which the owner bestows upon them. His prosperity is due almost entirely to his own efforts, being the result of 
industry, good business ability and fair and honest dealing. Politically, Mr. Russell is a Democrat, having supported 
that party since attaining his majority. He cast his first Presidential vote for Jackson and has served as Side 
Supervisor of his town for three terms. He is one of the oldest settlers now living in this section of the county, 
and is numbered among its most highly esteemed citizens. His upright life through all these years has won him many 
warm friends who will be glad to see him represented in the permanent history of his adopted county. 






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