Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1904-11-02

~ S}53E bright eyed baby boy. In the mod.
80 est country home he fattened, thriv
i - {f5&@H11 ed and grew until the winter Of
1862 when with bis parents he
moved to PontOtOc in this state, re-
naming there for two years, when
his parents moved again and located on farm one
mile and half from Verona, Miss. On this farm
the lad grew to manhood, his daily work being that
Of the ordinary farm boy, except when he at
school.
When the Civil war came on be left home and
loved and joined the Confederate army, to bat
tie for home and the rights of those he adOred. He
was assigned to the command Of Col W. f.
Tucker Of OkoOna, and was for year and a half
color bearer OF Col. fuckers regiment.
After the war he returned to the farm, made
with his own hands couple crops Of cotton, and
then in 1868 moved to TupelO, where he entered the
store OF Mr.. Norton as clerk.
In 1871 he went to Texas and remained there one
year, returning IN 1872 to Verona where he opened
q law Office where he enjoyed good practice
until 1876 when April 1st, he was chosen as
General Counsel Of the Mobile and Ohio railroad
COMPANY, with headquarters at Mobile.
That was 80 years ago, when men selected
Tor big places OF trust and honor their individual
rs is often the case in the present day.
This gentleman was Edward Lafayette Russell,
than whom no Southern man is better or more favor
ably known today, as COL E. L. Russell, lately pro
NOTED to first vice president OF the Mobile and Ohio
Railroad, with all the powers Of President Of the
road and its immense business.
From the time I'D RUSSELL as we all still claim
The right to call him, became identified with this
n
ntirng energies in the interest Of the road became
manifest, and so happy was he in his organism, so
clean and open in his contact with the public and
with the thousands OF men under him, that he soon
became the popular and trusted friend of both en-
plOyer and employee From General Counsel he
vas finally elevated to the Presidency under the old
management which position he held until the road
passed into the hands Of the Great Southern system
Hour years ago, when he was retained as General
Counsel again, at a salary equal to that be had
rawn as President OF the road.
AL kaOw what have been the complications OF
hat transfer. Legal questions as we'll as locality
sontensiOns came thick and fast, but in every in
tance COL Russell has demonstrated his ability to
eet every issue presented and in such manner as to
protect the great business be heads as we'll as to
armonize al differences threatened By communities
long the line.
Nor is this all he has demonstrated. The man
gers Of the great Southern System found n him
uch inexhaustble abilities that he has often been
alled IL counsel on matters affecting the entire sys
pa, in addition to bis duties on our own home road.
nd IN every instance be has won new laurels for
imaali.
As merit surely wins its own reward, though the
usiness of the Mobile and Ohio railroad had prao-
caly been doubled during the past four years, the
cl apparent that Col Russell vas the man to be
e head Of it, and the owners have not failed to see
is interest By installing him aa the actlve head.
EOt only is this recognition appreciated BY the
RhoOd friends Of Col. RUSSELL but also By the peO-
d The entire South, who have watched bis steady
vance, and recognized him as one Of the great
len this section hes produced since the var.
Sd popular and 50 universally trustworthy has
81. Russell proven himself, that the most an
onistic elements to corporations throughout the
aalh have made an exception IN his case and been
Etllng At al times to trust him implicitly Though
novn aa > railroad lawyer and maenate, there is
ot > man IN the South but would be pleased to see
aim hohored with any position Of trust. II be is
bot elected By Alabama to the United States senate
tie next session Of the legislature Il viii be Be.
cause be vii refuse 70 have bis name used il that
c0nuecion, because be cannot afford TO sacrifice bic
personal business for political position.
Statesmen ere not 81 found n high political po-
II