The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-11-18
ROBERT RUSSELL.

1854. It AShi1ud, O0los Wne1e ne Hscu
With his parents, Mr. and Mrs s. W.
Russell, with whom he moved to Au-
burn. Indiana, where he went 10
school for eight years The family
then consisted Of s. W. Russell and
wife. Mrs. Tanner, the eldest dsughter,
Thos. s. Russell, who died in 1859,
Mrs. John Thomas, Rsbt- Russell,
Mrs. c. c. Terry. Alonzo Rus
sell, Martha Russell. and Mrs
]. J. Crow. The family left Indiana
for the West, and arrived on Puget
Sound in 1852 and located at Alki point.
Robert Russell. then Is wears of age.
separated from the family at Snake
river, to assist in driving stock to the
Columbia river, and did not join them
again till 1858. ON his journey from
snake river 10 the Columbia he
suffered great hardships and pri-
vaticns, and for four DAYS sub
sisted only on the most scanty
fare. When he arrived on the
Sound he engaged in logging and get
ting out piles and square timber for
transportation This was before the
DAYS OF saw mills. His father took up
q ranch on White river, and after
working there for three years, clearing
land, he came to Seattle at the age OF
q, and went into the drawing bust
ness. which he followed successfully
till the day of his death.
On August %, 1853, he married Jo-
anna NJ. WEIGH, who survives him. As
a result of that union three children
were born, two of whom are still liv-
ing. Robert f. Russell, aged Is. and
Ellen Alice Russell. aged IA.
When the Indian war broke out he
enlisted as volunteer, and rendered
valuable service TO the early settlers.
He was frequently compiimented for
his bravery, and was made an. officer
of the volunteers. He was a quiet.
unassuming man with retiring dis
position. and never sought official
preferment, but in 1885, against his
wishes he was unanimously elected a
member of the city council from the
Second ward, and he fulfilled
the duties devolying upon him
honestly. faithfully and well. He
could have been reelected. but he de-
clined a denomination, feeling that he
had performed his duty as citizen.
While he looked like a strong, healthy
man, he was subject to bilious attacks.
and when he was threatened with that
dread disease, typhoid fever. he at
tempted 10 fight it off, thinking it was
only one of those unpleasant bilious
attacks. He fought it off until
he could stand the strain no longer
and was in bed but two weeks previous
to his DEATH He hoped the trouble
would soon be over. and many OF his
he was seriously i'll until the paper
contained the sad announcement OF
his death.
Robert Russell was good man and
a good citizen, and sprung from good
stock. He was double second cousin
of w. c. Ralston, the San Francisco
millionaire. but never presumed on his
relationship to anybody.
He was a moral, sober man, and was
fond of his family and friends. He
was also fond of hunting, and what
time he took from his business he de-
voted to the chase.
1t is pertinent to publish an estimate
of Robert Russell from two of his con-
temporaries, given in their own Ian
guage. Mr.. Henry L. Yesler said:
He was a young fellow when he
came. He was a first-rate fellow
from the start. | first knew him in
1853, when he came to Alki point, and
worked in the mill there. / noticed
he was industrious and sober. He
never got into difficulty of any kind
He volunteered during the Indian
war, and rendered valuable services to
the settlers, He then worked for his
father on White River farm, and then
came to Seattle and went into the
draying business He succeeded Thos. |
Mercer and l.. Wyckoff as drayman.
He had two horses and wagon. and |
did all the hauling for the community.
He was fair, square, honest man. |
had great deal of dealing with him, |
and we never had u dispute
He made no great pretentions, but |
was kind hearted. and always ready to |
assist the needy, and those who APP
pealed to him for aid. He was thor |
oughly patriotic, and always believed
that Seattle was destined to become a
great city. He was a lover of the law |
and wanted to see the law OF the land |
lived up to. To sum him up, would |
say he was a good, honest, upright, |
honorable citizen, and | never knew |
him to take the wrong side of any |
question.
Mr.. w. II. Surber said:
/ have known Robert Russell since |
1859. In 1861 he and | baiched to-
gether on Z. G. Terry's ranch on the |
In the fall we worked in /
the harvest field, and in the winter We |
hunted deer and elk together. He was
. good shot and good jovial fellow.
who always did his part OF the work /
about camp, and never did any grum-
bling. In the summer of 1862 we
together on pile-driver for
Capt. ). ID. Libby at Utsalady. We
have hunted together more or less
every wear since ! got acquainted with /
him % years ago. The last hunt we /
had together was three weeks before |
ne died. This was on McAleer's lake,
N Snohomish county. We got two
ieer. He killed one and III
killed one. The last time was
With him. he was Just the same as he /
was the first time. There was never /
my change in him He had a good,
disposition. | never knew
aim TO do di>honorable act in his |
life. or take an advantage of fellow
man. 1t was not necessary to make
with him. Ii had work in
his line to do, ! simply told him what
wanted. and he did it, and his price
was always under what | expected to
pay. He was a good man, a good |
husband, a good father and good
;itizen.
Robert Russell died just as he had
passed on hfe's highway 1.-The stone
hat marks the highest point and when
The shadows we're beginning to fall |
coward the east" He belonged to the |
race OF courageous men, now rapidly |
passing away. who, ouistripping the
visions OF Feninore Cooper, marched
70 the Pacific coast and being unable |
% go further, turned around and |
oanded an empire. He was
)ne OF the few men vet |