As Published by
Chapman Publishing Co. in Chicago
Biography of James H. Russell
Closely associated with the early
advancement
and industrial growth and prosperity of Ashland was the late James H.
Russell,
a man of marked ability and integrity. Coming to the coast with
the
venturesome miners of 1849, he assisted in developing the rich mineral
resources of this section of the Union, and after settling permanently
in Oregon in 1851, was one of the first to make use of the veins of
fine
marble underlying much of the land in the southern section of the
state.
An an early settler of Jackson county, and its leading pioneer marble
worker,
he is justly entitled to honorable mention in a work of this character.
His widow, Mrs Ann H. Russell, is also especially deserving of
commendatory
notice, being a woman of intelligence, culture and great artistic
talent.
Since the death of Mr. Russell she has continued the business which he
so firmly established, and has the distinction of being one of the
oldest
and most capable marble workers in the United States.
A native of West Tennessee, James
H. Russell was born April 15, 1823 and died at his late home, in
Ashland,
Ore. October 1, 1895. His parents, James and Mabel (Howard)
Russell
were born and reared in Marietta, Ohio, and both died while yet in the
prime
of life. Thus left an orphan at the tender age of five years,
James
H . Russell was educated in Washington county, Ohio, near Marietta,
living
there until fifteen years old. Going then to Pittsburg, Pa., he
served
an apprenticeship at the trade of a marble worker and stone cutter, and
afterward worked as a journeyman in that city. Joining a party of
seventy enterprising and ambitious young men, he started for the gold
diggings
of California in 1849, coming across the plains from the Missouri river
with the Big Mule Train. After mining on the Yuba river for two
years
he came with three companions, Messrs. Gibbs, Hare and Barron to
Jackson
county, Ore. Locating at a place now called Barron, they took up
a donation claim containing two sections of land and continuing in
partnership
carried on the land and conducted the Mountain House, which they
established
until 1858. During the Indian wars of 1853-56, Mr. Russell was
actively
engaged, serving as major in the regiment commanded by Col. John Ross.
Settling in Yreka, Cal., in 1856,
Mr. Russell was employed in the butcher business for four years.
Returning to Jackson county, Ore., in 1860 he located on Coleman creek,
near Phoenix where he opened a marble quarry, and put in a marble mill,
which was furnished with water power. A year later he went to
Canyon
City, and while working in a tunnel of the Blue Mountain mines was
struck
by a huge boulder, which shattered his leg, inflicting such serious
injuries
that he did not get home for eighteen months.
April 14, 1865, Mr. Russell moved
with his family to Ashland, where he erected a marble mill, its site
being
at the rear of the lot now occupied by the Odd Fellows' building.
After his accident Mr. Russell had the able assistance of his wife, who
had employed her leisure time while he was away in developing her
hitherto
latent artistic talent, becoming in the time an adept marble carver and
sculptor. Quarrying his marble in Josephine county, Mr. Russell
had
it hauled here with teams until completion of the railroad as far as
Roseburg,
when he had it shipped in from the east. He had the honor of
errecting
the first monuments in Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Klamath and Lake
counties,
Ore., and in Siskiyou county, Cal. After his first mill burned he
ordered his marble from eastern quarries and continued his business
until
his death.He had an enviable reputation throughout the country, at the
time of his death his name being the fourth from the top, in regard to
length of time and financial integhrity in the marble directory of the
United States. A generous, public-spirited citizen, he was ever
one
of the foremost in the encouragement of beneficial enterprises, and was
prominent in the building of school houses, churches and public
buildings.
Mr. Russell served as councilman one term; was an active member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South belonged to the Jackson County
Pioneers'
Association; and was one of the leading Prohibitionists of city and
county.
May 9, 1854, at the home of the
bride,
Mr. Russell married Ann Haseltine Hill, who was born in Sweetwater,
Tenn.,
and came across the plains with her father, Isaac Hill, when fourteen
years
old.., and settled in Jackson county, Ore. A more extended
history
of the Hill family may be found elsewhere in this volume, in connection
with the sketch of Mrs. Dunn, a sister of
Mrs.
Russell. Since Mr. Russell's death, Mrs. Russell has conducted
the
marble business most successfully, her well-equipped shop being at the
rear of her residence. She is one of the pioneer marble workers
of
the coumtry, and the oldest woman marble worker in the United
States.
Her work which is of a superior order, will be found in southern
Oregon,
northern California and eastern Oregon. Among the beautiful and
artistic
monuments which she has erected in Ashland are the Atkinson, Waner,
Chitwood,
Dennis, Tolman, McCall, Ganiard, Thomas Smith and Russell monuments,
all
of the inscriptions on same, except last date, being cut by
herself.
These monuments are truly works of art, and a credit to her good taste
and workmanship. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Russell eleven
children
were born, namely: James B., in the marble business at Yreka;
Mrs.
Grace Fountain, an artist, living in Portland; Nellie, at home; Mattie,
wife of Rev. Mr. Boyd of Woodland, Cal.; Mrs Mollie Eubanks, a twin
sister
of Mrs. Boyd, who died in Ashland; Mrs. Hortense Vining, of Los
Angeles,
Cal. ; Mrs Theodosia Walter, of Portland; Bertha, wife of O. Winter of
Ashland; Mable, an artist, residing in Ashland; Carl, engaged in mining
in Siskiyou county, Cal.; and Pearl, at home. Mrs. Russell
belongs
to both the Jackson County Pioneers' Association, and the State Pioneer
Association, and is a member, and ex-president of the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union. Politically she is a strong Prohibitionist, and
religiously
she is a consistent member of the First Presbyterian Church. At
Rest
Cottage, Evanston, Ill., the last earthly home of Frances E. Willard,
may
be seen a beautiful piece of Mrs. Russell's handiwork. It
represents
the badge of the W.C.T.U., the white ribbon bow, carved from
marble.
It was first exhibited at the W.C.T.U. booth, at the Jackson county
fair,
later at the World's Fair and is now in the memorial room in Rest
Cottage.
Last updated by William P. Russell onSaturday, 08-Sep-2018 09:40:23 MDT