The Russellville Democrat., 1885-06-18
. Thomas Russell, M. D.


 l Judson D. Russell & Co., publishers of New York, are preparinga history of the Russell family in the United sketch of Thomas Russell, NJ. D., after whom our beautiful little city was named, and brief history of the town he founded, will appear in the forth- coming volume. We produce the article, knowing that it will be read with interest by the many friends of the subject of the sketch and his honored decendents who are now residing in our midst: Doctor Thomas Russell, the founder of RusselIyille, Arkansas, was born in the Parish of Gafeshead, in the county of Durham, England. June the 18th, A. D. 1901. His parents were John and Hannah Russell After enjoying the advantages of some of the literary in- stitutions of England, in which he ac- quired considerable classical kLowl- edge, he served an apprenticeship of five years, under Doctor Thomas Mitch- ell, member of the Royal College of Surgeons, in London. In 1925 he en- tered Guys and St. Thomas's Hospitals, London. From these institutions he received numerous certificates for at- tendance upon lectures, and for pro- ficiency In the various departments, and succeeded in carrying off two first prizes, namely: the Demonstrators prize in Dislocation, and the Demon strators prize in Midwifery. In 1926 he graduated at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, thereby becoming a member of that body.
 After travelling extensively in the Continental countries of Europe, he came to America, A. D. 1929, and set- tied near Carlyle, Illinois, where two brothers, James, and Edward Russell, had preceded him. Here he was mar ried to Mary A. Graham, A. D., 1882. In search of new home and a milder climate, he came to Arkansas, and To- cated in the Arkansas River Valley, A. D. 1885, one year prior to the ad- mission Of the State into the Union. He was eminently successful both as Physician and Surgeon, performing surgical operations tha. baffied the skill of others.
 When the civil war arose in 1861, he had acquired considerable property, but the greater part of this was swept away by the privations and desolations of war. He continued an active prac- titioner until the spring of 1866 when he was stricken with Pneumonia which caused his death April 18th. He was man of strong will, remarkable mem- ory and vigorous intellect.
 There now survive him his widow, Mary A. Russell, and five sons, all of whom reside at Russellville, except Albert Russell, who is at Challis, Gus ter county, Idaho. Jas. w. Russell, Alva Russell and Tnos. J. Russell are engaged in mercantile pursuits; Law renee Russell is lawyer.
 RUssELLvILLE.
 About the year 1842, when but small hamlet, this place was named, by a majority vote of it's citizens, RUSSELL WILLIE, in honor of Doctor Thomas Rus sell, who was at the time one of the principal. land owners, and prominent citizen. The growth of the village was slow, and up to 1872 it had only dcvel- oped into small town. But in 1S72-73 when the Little Rock & Fort Smith railway was constructed along this val ley the growth of the town received an impetus which gave a gradual develop ment for several years, and at present the population numbers about fifteen hundred.
 1 Among the most important enter prises of the place are it's gins, blaming mills, grist mill, marble works, foun. dry, wagon and blow factory, cotton factory, and newspaper. the Democrat. It has high school building. Mason ic hall, and four church edifices; the Baptist, the Methodiat Episcopal, the south Methodist and the Cumberland Presbyterian.
 The central location of the town on the line of the Little Rock < Ft. Smith Ry.; the proximity of the Arkansas river (three miles south), with it's fer tile bottoms; the adjacent hills with their cool springs, and soil admirably adapted to the growth of fruits and vegetables give this little city future bright with promise.