James H. Russell Resolution

James H. Russell

An obituary follows the first article

As Resolved by
Southern Oregon Pioneer Association

In Memory of James H. Russell

<>James H. Russell one of the respected Members of the Southern Oregon Pioneer Society was born near Natelus, Tennessee April 5th 1923,and died at his home in Ashland, Oregon, on October 1st 1895, after an extended illness – The funeral took place October 2nd and the remains were carefully laid at rest in Ashland Cemetery, following the services which were held at the Presbyterian Church – Mr. Russell was left an Orphan when only five years of age, removing to Ohio where he lived until a lad of 15 years when he went to work with a railroad construction force and took his first instructions in the stonecutters trade, going thence to Pittsburg,Pa where he completed his apprenticeship in this trade.  – When the Gold discoveries in California in 1849 attracted immigration to the PacificCoast, Mr. Russell joined the Big Pittsburg Company that arrived in Californiain the fall of ‘49, the young and sturdy Pittsburghers forming a company and crossing the plains with a pack train of 60 mules  – Mr. Russell mined awhile on the Yuba River, when his health failing he made a trip to the Sandwich Islands during the winter of ‘50 and ‘51 for a Six months stay after which he returned to California, and in company with others came up into the Northern part of the State in the fall of ‘51.  Having selected a place in Scotts Valley, Siskyou County, to locate and farm, Mr Russell in company with Major Hugh F. Barron, John Gibbs and Thomas Hare startedt hrough the mountains of Oregon for the Willamette Valley after supplies and it was while returning from this trip that the four partners were so well pleased with the Rogue River Valley that they decided to locate here –  P. Dunn, Thomas Smith, and a Mr Aberding had a very short time before located claims just South of where Ashland now is, and some other settlements had been made at different points in the Valley
– Messrs Russell, Barron, Gibbs and Hare made locations farther up the Valley where the Mountain House sprang up and was an important point ever afterward.  These locations are now comprised in the five farm of Major Barron who is the only survivor of the quartet of Partners– Mr Russell was married May 9, 1854 to Ann Hassettine Hill, and they moved to Yreka California in October 1856, and lived there for four years – Mr. Russell engaged in the pork packing business – Returning to Jackson County, he erected a Marble Mill on Colemen Creek near Phoenix, and first utilized the fine marble found in Josephine County, manufacturing it into monuments,and using it for various purposes, one of the first uses it was put to being in the building of the foundation for the then magnificent Dowell residence in Jacksonville.  –  Mr. Russell afterward spent a year and a half in the mines in Idaho– Returning on April 14th 1865, the day of the Assassination of President Lincoln, the family took up their residence in Ashland and Mr Russell erected a Marble Mill there,directly back of where the Johnson and Odd-Fellows blocks now stand. The Mill burnt down in the big fire in Ashland 1878. In 1875 the family removed to SosaSprings on Emigrant Creek, and conducted that resort for three years, removing back to Ashland in 1878 where they have since resided – Eleven children were born to Mr and Mrs Russell, and all but one survive and fill honorable places in the duties of life: They are James B. Russell of Yreka: - Grace, wife of J.D. Fountain of Klamath Falls: - Mattie, wife of Rev T.B. Boyd of Portland - Hortense wife of R. T. Vinning of Los Angeles - Dotia wife of H.L. Walter of Portland - Bertha wife of O. Winter of Ashland – Misses Nellie - MableE - & Pearl and Carl the latter four at home–
     Mr Russell was converted toChristianity in 1866 at meetings held in the Old School House in Ashland, the first built there – He joined the M.E. Church South at that time, and was a consistent member of that Church to the time of his death, though he has never been given to making a display of his religious zeal, but lived as a quiet and unassuming follower of the teachings of his Church–
   Mr Russells more than three score years and ten of life were filled manyof them with those
experiences peculiar to Pioneering, and which test the real worth and perseverence of character as no other conditions do–
     Of the many noble and respected Pioneers of Ashland, none have lived and labored here and been more highly esteemed than James H. Russell, and genuine tributes of respect and sympathy from a host of friends in this community, go out to his family, one of the first of the county, at the close of the honorable and useful career of the husband and father.

Very Respectfully submitted
               P. Dunn           )
               F.D. Wagner     ) Committee
               W.W. Kentnor  )

Obituary

VALLEY RECORD

ASHLAND, Or.,......Thursday, Oct 3, 1895

ANOTHER EARLY SETTLER GONE


Last updated by WilliamP. Russell onSaturday, 08-Sep-2018 09:40:29 MDT