Morning journal and courier., 1885-05-20
OBITUARY.

Death of General William HI. RusseII-l Principal of His Collegiate and | Commercial Institute-His Career at | the Head of the State MilItla-HIs | Public Life.
 Major General William H. Russell, princi- | pal of the Collegiate and Commercial Insti- | ute of this city, died at his residence in Woos- ter Place at o'clock last evening at the l age of seventy five years. The trouble which l caused his death commenced with stroke of apoplexy week ago last Sunday morning while he was dressing for church. From that time he was not able to leave his bed From Sunday last until Monday he slowly improved and his recovery was considered possible, but on Monday night be became un- conscious and remained so until his death last evening.
 General Russell was son of Matthew Tal- colt and Mary Huntington Russell and was descendant in the fifth generation of Rev. Noadiah Russell, one of the founders of Yale college and who has been represented in every generation since among the graduates and officers of the college. He was born in Middletown, Conn, August 12, 1909, and was educated at Captain Partridge's military academy in Middletown where Thomas R. Trowbridge and Harry Prescott of this city were his schoolmates He entered Yale col lege in 1899 and graduated the valedictorian of his class in 1883. Professors George E. Day and James D. Dana were his classmates MT. Russell was the founder of the famous Skull and Bones society, which was then in- eorporated under the legal name of the Rus sell Trust association, being named after it's founder, and now holding property under that name. After graduation from 1883 to 1885 he, taught in the Edge Hill school, Princeton, N. J., which was founded by the eminent Greek scholar, Professor Patton. From there he came to Yale and was a tutor in the college from May, 1885, to September, 1886. He then became principal of family school for boys in this city, which is now known as the Collegiate and Commercial h. stitute. The school has been attended by from 130 to 160 pupils since that time. At first the school was conducted on literary basis, but in 1858, before the war, it assumed the character of military school and fur nished three hundred officers to the Army of the Union as we'll as drill masters to the vol unteers in the southern part of Connecticut. There are 4,0Q0 living graduates of the school.
 MT. Russell studied medicine at the Yale Medical school in 1885 and '36 and took the degree of M. D. from there. In 1886 he married Mary E., daughter of Dr. Thomas Hubbard. He represented the town of New Haven in the legislature in 1S46 and AT and he af R,,ol ingham served eight or ten years as major general of the militia of Connecticut.
 He directed much thought to military problems and to the true proportion of 8 citizen soldiery to the population and the raising, maintaining and disciplining of such @ force. He believed that there were sound principles which could be made obvious to the people, and on which a permanent system could be established in opposition to the shifting, uncertain and inefficient policy which had previously been pursued by his own and other States. The result of his thought was the inauguration of the present military system and force with supervision of various encampments of volunteers. Gen eral Russell was appointed internal revenue collector to succeed the late Hon. John Woodruff in December, 1868, and held the office until the consolidation of the districts. He was Q gentleman of broad culture and re- fnement, highly respected by all. His meth
 
 own and has been marked by success. He was among the first to broaden the prepara- tory studies by the introduction of natural history, natural science and kindred sub jects.
 General Russell was conspicuous and dignifed figure as he rode at the head of the military parades of inauguration days of years ago, and many now leading and emi- nent citizens of the State members of his staff. He was not iufrequently called to preside at great Republican mass meetings held during and after the civil war and was digni6ed presiding officer and an effective speaker. His last public appearance was as presiding officer of the mass meeting held at Carll's Opera House in the late campaign addressed by Carl Sohurz. MT. Russell was member of St. Paul's church and has always been respected for his high Christian character and noble hearing. In death the community will feel the loss of friend and loyal citizen.
 He had ten children, six of whom are now living: Harriett Russell, Mrs. George Hurl- bert of Middletown; Talcott H, Russell, a law yer of this city; Dr. Thomas Russell, of this place: Philip G. Russell, lawyer in Wash ington, D. O., and Edward H. Russell, mining engineer in Utah.
 The funeral of General Russell will be held on Friday at 2:30 p. m. from his late resi- dence in Wooster Place.