Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-01-13
HON, WILLIAM A. RUSSELL,
Sudden Death Ofthe Well-KnOwn
Paper, Manufactures

who Figured SO Prominently In the |
Development of Bellows FalIs---His
Large Business Interests and His
Services In Public Life.
In the death of Hon VIM. A. Russell, !
which, took place at his Boston residence at
8 A. NJ Tuesday, a life goes out, to which,
probably more than to any other one, this
village owes its present prosperity and its
high place among the manufacturing viii
lagos of New England. Born in Wells
River 6S years ago his early life was spent
in Franklin, N. H., and he graduated from
an academy there. In 1913 he became in
terested with his father, the late William
Russell of this place, in manufacturing
paper in Franklin. In 1858 they moved
to Lawrence, Mass, and later owned mills
at Belfast, Me-, as well as Lawrence and
Franklin.
About 1865 he came to Bellows Falls and
became interested in the Bellows Falls
Canal company, which at the present time
owns all the power here except that of the
grist mill, and which has been developed
by his sagacity into a very valuable piece
of property - the owners, and has been
the means of making the village take the
place it now occupies. He never lived
here, but his interests have called him here
large portion Of the time until the last
year or two.
Mr. Russell accumulated large amount
of pi operty, very largely through the man
ufacture of paper and pulp. To him, prob
ably more than to any other man may be
credited the revolution of paper making by
the introduction of wood a substitute
for rags. The small pulp mill erected here
| by him in the COS was one of the first for
grinding pulp. Later he took leading
! place in developing the chemical process.
He always had lively interest in Bel
lows Falls, and many of his old employees
here always speak with pride of the init
macy which each individual one supposed
he had with Mr.. RUSSELL as in his earlier
years of business every one knew him per
sonally.
At the time of his death Mr.. Russell was
one of the large owners in the Interna-
tional Paper company, of which he was
elected the first president, and in the forma-
ton of which he took a prominent part be
tween the years of 1895 to its completion
almost exactly one year previous to his
death. He was president and principal
owner of the old Fall Mountain Paper com
pany, of the Bellows Falls Electric Light
company and the Canal company. He
owned the toll bridge here since about
1870. He made contribution of $1,000 to
the public library at its inception, present
ed the Congregational church with its or
gan, which cost about $1,000 and had as
sisted many public enterprises here with
his influence and his money Mr. Russell
always kept his residence in Massachusetts,
from the time he left Franklin IN 1858, the
larger part of the time occupying a resi-
dence in Lawrence, and later one in Boston.
In 1867 he served the city of Lawrence
as alderman, the next year was a member
of the state legislature from that city. In
1868 he was member of the Republican
national convention from his state. He
was elected a member of the 10th Congress
from the eth Massachusetts district and
served three terms, making an enviable
record upon important committees, as an
able organizer and financier With these
exceptions his life was devoted to the de-
velopment of his business erteTpris S.
Mr.. Russell was twice married, and he
leaves two sons and daughter by his last
marriage, and two daughters by the first.
His last wife, who was Frances Spofford
Hall of Bradford, Mass, survives him. his
first wife having died in 1866
Mr.. Russell was an indefatigabe work
err seldom sparng himself in the ndomit-
able display of energy shown in his bust
ness. He had always been in robust health
until the unusual strain of the few years
previous to the completion of the paper
trust combination last year. AS result
of this he had suffered nervously the past
year, and some anxiety had been expressed
For few days previous to his death no
serious results were feared and the family
were to have left for winters stay in
Florida Wednesday. The death was from
apoplexy, coming suddenly and without
warning.
Mr. Russells step-mother, Mrs VIM.
Russell, resides here, as do his sister, Mrs
Chas II, Sawyer, his nephew, VIM. A.
Hall, and George X. Russell, a cousin. His
niece, Mrs. S. w. Wilder, jr, went to
Boston Monday and was visiting the fam
lily at the time of his death. Among those
who went to Boston to attend the funeral
yesterday were Mr.. and Mrs Chas. II
Sawyer Mr.. and Mrs. c. w. Osgood Mr..
and Mrs. VIM. A. Hall, while Mr.. and Mrs.
S. w. Wilder and George X. Russell were
already there
The mills of the International Paper
company were all shut down Yesterday
afternoon by orders from the New York
office out of respect for Mr.. Russell.
Moreton a. Durkee intends locating in