Father: Lewis Russell
Mother: Mary Ann Perkins

Spouse: John Andrew Johnson
  m: 25/Dec/1887 - Stanberry, Gentry Co., MO

Child-1: Angie Grace
          2: Guy Russell - b: 16/Mar/1891 - Cooper Twp., Gentry Co., MO
                                   d: 5/Jan/1892 - Cooper Twp., Gentry Co., MO - bur: Cooper Cem.
          3: Leah Marjorie
          4: Cleo Andrew

Biographical Details:

Delilah Russell was born December 8, 1852, in Gentry County, Missouri, and was the daughter of Lewis and Mary Ann Perkins Russell.  According to her daughter, Leah Johnson, Delilah was born three or four miles northwest of the site of Stanberry, Missouri.¹  (The town was not established until 1879.)  If this statement is taken as it stands, it implies that her parents must have been living somewhere near Moccasin Creek near the western edge of Gentry County.  It is known that at about this same time her grandfather, William Russell, patented a forty acre parcel one mile west of the future townsite.  Therefore, it is possible that Lewis and Mary Ann Russell were living at this location and that the apparent discrepancy in stated direction and distance is simply due to imprecision of recall many years after the fact.  Alternatively, it is also known that Miles Cogdill, husband of Mary Ann's younger sister, Eliza, was issued a land patent in 1858 for one hundred and twenty acres at precisely the indicated location.  This suggests that, perhaps, Lewis and Mary Ann settled on the parcel first, but subsequently sold or gave it to Miles and Eliza Cogdill after their marriage in 1856, who then evidently completed the patent.  Of course, other explanations are possible, however, it was common practice for pioneer families to "trade farms".  It is a reasonable presumption that, as a child, Delilah moved with her family from Gentry County to the Kansas Territory, then to Missouri and Iowa and finally back to Gentry County before 1870.  She became a member of the Island City Christian Church at the age of seventeen, which must have been shortly after the return of her family to Gentry County.  Subsequently, Delilah was listed as a charter member of the church when it was reorganized and the present building completed in 1878.  Moreover, as a young unmarried woman she followed conventions of the time and became a school teacher in the early rural schools.  Within this context, she attended college in Iowa for at least two winter terms during which time she stayed with either the family of her grandfather, William Russell, or her uncle, John Russell, in Henry County.  Although, the name of the college she attended is not definitely known, it is probable that it was Whittier College, which was founded at Salem by Quakers in the fall of 1867.  Even so, it is evident from the 1870 and 1880 US Censuses for Gentry County that Delilah lived with her father and younger brothers and sisters until the time of her marriage.

John Andrew Johnson and Delilah Russell were married December 25, 1887, after which they settled on a farm about four miles southwest of Stanberry.  They remained on this farm until after 1900 at which time they "moved to town."  Delilah became a member of First Christian Church in Stanberry in 1908.  Subsequently, John and Delilah moved to another small farm of thirty acres just south of the town, where John died in 1926.  Delilah Russell Johnson died on April 14, 1934, and was buried in the High Ridge Cemetery.²  For completeness, it should be noted that in 1930 Delilah Johnson owned eighty acres lying in Section Twenty-four in Township Sixty-two of Range Thirty-three.³  Clearly, this was part of the original farm purchased by John and Delilah Johnson, which subsequently was owned by their daughter and son-in-law, Angie and Homer Evans.  In addition, a plat of Gentry County published in 1930 included a thirty acre parcel lying in the northeast corner of the "Northwest quarter of Section Seven in Township Sixty-two of Range Thirty-two" owned by J. A. Johnson.  However, since John had died four years earlier, this would have then been in the possession of his widow (and, subsequently, was owned for many years afterward by their son Cleo).

1. In a brief account of the Russell family written by Leah Johnson, great-granddaughter of William and Anna Bonham Russell (date unknown, but probably sometime in the 1950's), she states:  My mother was born northwest of Stanberry three or four miles before city of Stanberry was started in 1879. ... My mother taught school for several yrs; one winter went to college in Ia. and stayed with her grandfather Russells; another winter went to college & stayed with her uncle John Russells.  His wife was Levina his second wife.
     Although this account is somewhat terse and disjointed, it is probably correct in most particulars.  Clearly, "Levina" must refer to Lavina Kester, the second wife of William Russell, and not to the wife of his son, John.  (Leah Johnson, unpublished MSS.)
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2. "MRS. DELILAH JOHNSON DEAD
     Mrs. Delilah Johnson died at her home south of Stanberry last Saturday afternoon at 12:25 o'clock.  Her death was due to a complication of diseases and the ravages of old age.
     Mrs. Johnson had been in failing health for the past few years.  She became ill last Tuesday and was in a critical condition until death claimed her Saturday.
     The following obituary has been furnished this office:
     Delilah, daughter of Louis and Mary Ann Russell, was born near Stanberry, Mo., December 8, 1852, and departed this life at her home south of Stanberry on April 14, 1934, at the age of 81 years, four months, and six days.
     At the age of 17, she became a Christian and united with the Island City Christian church.  She transferred her membership, in 1908, to the First Christian Church of Stanberry, where she remained a faithful member until her death.  She always had an abiding faith and trust in her Lord and Savior.
     She was married on December 25, 1887, to John Andrew Johnson, who preceded her in death by eight years.  To their union were born four children.  They were: Mrs. Angie Evans of Stanberry; Guy R. who died in infancy; Miss Leah Johnson of Stanberry; and Cleo of Maryville.
     Besides the children she leaves to mourn her death one sister, Mrs. Lavina Coakley of Hobart, Okla.; five brothers, S. A. Russell of Culbertson, Nebraska; Edward Russell of Arkansas; L. N. Russell, Emmett, Idaho; and John and Charles Russell of King City.  She also leaves eight grandchildren besides a host of other relatives and friends.
     For several years her strength had been failing with advancing age.  About two weeks ago, she developed a cold which she could not overcome.  About five days before the end, it became critical and on Saturday, just after noon, her spirit left the body.  All three of her children were present at the time of her going.
     Funeral services were conducted on Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the First Christian Church by the Rev. N. O. Rogers and interment was in the High Ridge cemetery.  The funeral was in charge of the Pennington Undertaking Co."  (obituary: Stanberry Headlight; Stanberry, MO, Thur., April 19, 1934.)
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3. Anonymous, Plat Book of Gentry County, Missouri, W. W. Hixson & Co., Rockford, IL, 1930.  (Available electronically at digital.library.umsystem.edu/)
     D. Johnson: Twp. 62 N; Rng. 33 W; Sec. 24; SE¼ of NW¼, NE¼ of SW¼ - 80 acres.
     J. A. Johnson: Twp. 62 N; Rng. 32 W; Sec. 7; N¾ part of NE¼ of NW¼ - 30 acres.
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Additional Citations:

4. 1900 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 195B, (microfilm: roll T623_855; img. 396).

5. 1910 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 190B, (microfilm: roll T624_781; img. 379).

6. 1920 US Census Population Schedule for Los Angeles County, California, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 136B, (microfilm: roll T625_104; img. 894).

7. 1930 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 76A, (microfilm: roll T626_1188; img. 153).

8. Marriage Records, Gentry County, Albany, MO:  Bk. 2, pg. 217, (Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO (microfilm: roll 37663; img. 134)).

9. List of Charter Members - Island City Christian Church, Centennial Homecoming Booklet - June 11, 1978, Stanberry, MO, unpublished.

11. Death Certificates, Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO, (Death Certificate No. 12508 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO).

12. Russell-Perkins Family Record, unpublished MSS.

13. Don Raymond,"High Ridge Cemetery", unpublished. (Gentry County MOGenWeb Archives, 2005.)

14. High Ridge Cemetery, Gentry County, Missouri (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=1367686&CScn=High+Ridge&CScntry=4&CSst=26&CScnty=1434&, continuously updated).

15. Shirley Campbell Ramos and Patricia Campbell Kratz, Descendants of Phillip and Rebecca Russell, Gregath Publishing Company, P. O. B. 505, Wyandotte, OK, 74370, 1997: pgs. 200-5.

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