John Russell
  b: 7/Aug/1865 - IA
  d: 8/Jul/1941 - Gentry Co., MO - bur: High Ridge Cem.

Father: Lewis Russell
Mother: Mary Ann Perkins

Spouse: Minnie Ann O'Neale - b: 16/Aug/1875 - Gentry Co., MO
 d: 24/Oct/1961 - Gentry Co., MO - bur: High Ridge Cem.
 m: 25/Dec/1891 - Island City, Jackson Twp., Gentry Co., MO

Child-1: Homer James - b: 14/Mar/1893 - Gentry Co., MO
                                      d: 6/Oct/1956 - St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., MO - bur: High Ridge Cem., Gentry Co.
                                     m: Elizabeth Berniece (Lizzie) Mann - 18/Mar/1914 - Albany, Gentry Co., MO
          2: William Arthur (Willie) - b: 2/Aug/1894 - Gentry Co., MO
                                                    d: 13/Apr/1978 - Gentry Co., MO - bur: High Ridge Cem.
                                                   m: Alma Clemmons - 22/Oct/1913 - Albany, Gentry Co., MO

Biographical Details:

It is very likely that John Russell, son of Lewis and Mary Ann Russell, was born in Henry County, Iowa, on August 7, 1865; however, this is not entirely certain.  Even so, as a young child he moved with his family to Gentry County, Missouri, and evidently grew to adulthood in this locality.  John Russell and Minnie Ann O'Neale were married on December 25, 1891, in Gentry County by Rev. J. H. Coffey.  She was the niece of Ida May Stuart, wife of John's brother, Lewis Napoleon, i.e., Minnie's mother, Nancy Jane Stuart, married William O'Neale (or O'Neal) and was Ida's older sister.  John Russell was a farmer and lived with his family in Jackson Township one or two miles east of the village of Island City.  Moreover, as is indicated by all available census records of 1900 and thereafter, he, his wife, and their two sons, Homer and Willie, remained in Gentry County for the rest of their lives. (As indicated elsewhere, John apparently did not accompany his three brothers, Ed, Lute, and Charlie, when they moved to the Oklahoma Territory.)  Accordingly, plat maps of Gentry County published in 1914 and 1930 indicate that John Russell owned sixty acres about a mile southeast of Island City.1  Indeed, he evidently had bought this parcel from his brother-in-law, Arch Daugherty, who had owned it previously.  Moreover, his older son, Homer, owned an adjoining parcel and his younger son, Willie, lived close by.  Within this context, settled family tradition has never indicated more children for John and Minnie Russell than the two sons.2  However, the population schedule of the 1920 US Census for Gentry County unaccountably included a daughter, Florence S., age seventeen, living in the household of John and Minnie Russell.  It is probable that this is simply an error on the part of the census enumerator, who, perhaps, confused a hired girl for a daughter.  In any case, no daughter for John and Minnie Russell is known.  John Russell died in the summer of 1941.  Minnie O'Neale Russell survived another twenty years until 1961.  They are buried together in the High Ridge Cemetery at Stanberry, Missouri.
Source Notes and Citations:
1a. Anonymous, Standard Atlas of Gentry County, Missouri, Geo A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, IL, 1914.
     John Russell: Twp. 1) Twp. 62 N; Rng. 32 W; Sec. 30; SE¼ of SW¼ - 40 acres.  2) Twp. 62 N; Rng. 32 W; Sec. 30; E½ of SW¼ of SW¼ - 20 acres.

b. Anonymous, Plat Book of Gentry County, Missouri, W. W. Hixson & Co., Rockford, IL, 1930.  (Available electronically at digital.library.umsystem.edu/)
     J. Russell: Twp. 1) Twp. 62 N; Rng. 32 W; Sec. 30; SE¼ of SW¼ - 40 acres.  2) Twp. 62 N; Rng. 32 W; Sec. 30; E½ of SW¼ of SW¼ - 20 acres.
     H. Russell: Twp. 1) 62 N; Rng. 32 W; Sec. 31; NW¼ of NW¼ - 44.46 acres more or less.  2) Twp. 62 N; Rng. 33 W; Sec. 36; NE¼ of NE¼ - 40 acres.
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2.  Descendants of John Russell are identified from civil and census records as well as oral family tradition:

First Generation

John Russell, born 7 Aug 1865 in IA, died 8 Jul 1941 in Gentry Co., MO, buried High Ridge Cem., Stanberry; married on 25 Dec 1891 in Jackson Twp., Gentry Co., MO, Minnie Ann O'Neale, born 16 Aug 1875 in Gentry Co., MO; died 24 Oct 1961 in Gentry Co., MO, buried High Ridge Cem., Stanberry.

1. Homer James Russell, born 14 Mar 1893 in Gentry Co., MO, died 6 Oct 1956 in St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., MO, buried High Ridge Cem., Stanberry, Gentry Co., MO; married on 18 Mar 1914 in Albany, Gentry Co., MO, Elizabeth Berneice (Lizzie) Mann, born 31 May 1897 in Jackson Twp., Gentry Co., MO, died 24 Aug 1957 in King City, Gentry Co., MO, buried High Ridge Cem., Stanberry.
2. William Arthur (Wille) Russell, born 2 Aug 1894 in Gentry Co., MO, died 13 Apr 1978 in Gentry Co., MO, buried High Ridge Cem., Stanberry; married on 22 Oct 1913 in Albany, Gentry Co., MO, Alma Clemmons, born 9 Mar 1893 in Jackson Twp., Gentry Co., MO, died 4 Sep 1985 in King City, Gentry Co., MO, buried High Ridge Cem., Stanberry.
a. Death Certificates, Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO, (Death Certificate No. 27976 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO).

Second Generation

1. Homer James Russell married Elizabeth Berneice (Lizzie) Mann and evidently settled on a farm southeast of the village of Island City in Jackson Township in Gentry County, Missouri.  However, by 1940 Homer and Lizzie Russell were resident in the small town of Rea, Missouri, in northeastern Andrew County and he was the proprietor of a grocery store in that community.  They evidently remained in this locality for most of the rest of their lives.  Homer died in Missouri Methodist Hospital in St. Joseph in 1956.  Lizzie died in 1957 at the home of her daughter, Zella, at the "West Edge of King City" after a stay of six weeks.

1-3. John Lewis Russell, born 2 Dec 1914 in Jackson Twp., Gentry Co., MO, died 21 Apr 2004 in Kansas City, Wyandotte Co., KS.; married on 12 Sep 1937, Ellen Emma Baum, born 5 Oct 1913 in Andrew Co., MO, died 29 Nov 1998 in Kansas City, Wyandotte Co., KS.  They had Janet Ellen Russell.
1-1. Iva Pauline Russell, born  12 Sep 1916 in Jackson Twp., Gentry Co., MO, died 4 Jun 1993 in Gentry Co., MO, buried High Ridge Cem., Stanberry; married (1) in 1944, William E. Shultz.  They divorced; married (2) on 14 Jan 1979, Luther Ross, died 22 Apr 1980.
1-2. Zella Mae Russell, born 5 Mar 1918 in Jackson Twp. Gentry Co., MO, died 23 Aug 1991, buried High Ridge Cem., Stanberry, Gentry Co., MO; married 8 Oct 1936 in King City, Gentry Co., MO, Cleo Jessie Simmons.  He was the grandson of Eliza A. Perkins.  They had Mary Maxine, Elizabeth Ellen, Loretta Mae, and Cleta Marlene Simmons.
1-4. Eldon Wayne Russell, born 23 May 1920 in Jackson Twp., Gentry Co., MO, died 16 Apr 1994, buried King City Cem., Gentry Co., MO; married 8 Sep 1940, Betty Ulrich, born 8 Mar 1923 in King City, Gentry Co., MO.  They had Larry Wayne Russell.
b. (1920 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 133B, (microfilm: roll T625_919; img. 837); 1930 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 112B, (microfilm: roll T626_1188; img. 226); & 1940 US Census Population Schedule for Andrew County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 153A, (microfilm: roll T627_2081; img. 909).)

c. Marriage Records, Gentry County, Albany, MO:  Bk. 11, pg. 105, (Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO (microfilm: roll 37665; img. 106)).

d. Death Certificates, Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO, (Death Certificate No. 27976 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO).

2. William Arthur (Willie) Russell and Alma Clemmons were married in 1913 and lived all of their married life on a farm about two miles south of Island City in Jackson Township of Gentry County, Missouri.  They had one surviving daughter, Irene, although census records indicate a second daughter, Laura, that apparently died as a young child.  Wille and Alma were typical "country people" of Northwest Missouri.  In particular, Wiile had great pride in his livestock, especially of the equine variety.  Indeed, in later life he still bred "Missouri Mules" from Belgian mares.  (In 1995, the mule was declared the "state animal" of Missouri because of the long history and association with the state.)  Willie and Alma were faithful members of the Island City Christian Church.

2-1. Irene Russell*, born 1 Sep 1915 in Jackson Twp., Gentry Co., MO, died 25 Feb 1994 in St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., MO, buried High Ridge Cem., Stanberry, Gentry Co., MO; married on 21 Feb 1941 in Stanberry, Gentry Co., MO, Charles Martin Harrah, born 28 Oct 1904 in Jameson, Daviess Co., MO, died 30 Jul 1995 in Kansas City, Platte Co., MO, buried High Ridge Cem., Stanberry, Gentry Co., MO.  They had Merlin Arthur Harrah.
2-2. Laura A. Russell, born ~Dec 1917 in MO.  Evidently died as a young child.
*"Irene Russell was born in Island City, MO, to William Arthur and Alma (Clemmons) Russell. She married Charles Martin Harrah Feb 21, 1941, in Stanberry, MO. She was a member of Island City Christian Church. She died at a St. Joseph, MO. Hospital. She was preceded in death by her son, Merlin A. Harrah, who passed in 1983. Survivors include her spouse, Charles M. Harrah, 2 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren."  (obituary: Albany Ledger; Albany, MO, Wed., Mar. 2, 1994.)

"Charles Martin Harrah, 90, Kansas City, formerly of the Stanberry and King City, Mo., areas, died Sunday, July 30, 1995, at a Kansas City health-care center. Born Oct 28, 1904, in Jameson, Mo., he was a graduate of the Jamesport, Mo., high school. Mr. Harrah had farmed before retiring. He was a member of the Island City, Mo., Christian Church. In 1941, he married Irene Russell in Stanberry. She died in 1994. He also was preceded in death by a son, Merlin A., in 1983. Surviving is a sister, Frances Bess, Dexter, Mo., two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Service was 11 a.m. Tuesday, Bram-Clark Funeral Home, King City. Burial in High Ridge Cemetery, Stanberry."  (obituary: St. Joseph News-Press; St. Joseph, MO, Aug. 1995.)

e. (1920 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 136B, (microfilm: roll T625_919; img. 843); 1930 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 113A, (microfilm: roll T626_1188; img. 227); & 1940 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 141B, (microfilm: roll T627_2106; img. 649).)

f. Marriage Records, Gentry County, Albany, MO:  Bk. 11, pg. 318, (Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO (microfilm: roll 37665; img. 333)).

(unpublished notes)
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Additional Citations:

3. 1900 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 278A, (microfilm: roll T623_855; img. 563).

4. 1910 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 264A, (microfilm: roll T624_781; img. 527).

5. 1920 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 133B, (microfilm: roll T625_919; img. 837).

6. 1930 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 113A, (microfilm: roll T626_1188; img. 227).

7. 1940 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 141A, (microfilm: roll T627_2106; img. 648).

8. Marriage Records, Gentry County, Albany, MO:  Bk. 3, pg. 113, (Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO (microfilm: roll 37663; img. 324)).

9. Death Certificates, Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO, (Death Certificate No. 25067 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO & Death Certificate No. 61-036521 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO).

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

11. 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).

12. Russell-Perkins Family Record, unpublished MSS.

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13. World War I Draft Registration Cards, National Personnel Records Center, National Archives-Southeast Region, Morrow, GA, (microfilm: roll MO-1683214; imgs. 6018 & 6019).

14. Marriage Records, Gentry County, Albany, MO:  Bk. 8, pgs. 118 & 155, (Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO (microfilm: roll 53447; img. 158)).

16. marriage license list: Albany Ledger; Albany, MO, Thur., Oct. 23, 1913.

17. marriage notice: Albany Ledger; Albany, MO, Thur., Mar. 19, 1914.

18. Death Certificates, Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO, (Death Certificate No. 29928 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO).

19. 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. 229-31.

20. Death Master File, Social Security Administration, Washington, DC, continuously updated.

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