Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-07-12
An Oxford County Boy.

An UX10r0 county BOY.
The following letter to a comrade in
South Paris was written by BENZ. +.
Russell, formerly of Greenwood in this
county. Mr.. Russell was q member of
Co. G, 10th Maine Regiment:
STEELvILLE, Mo-, APRIL II, 1904.
My Dear Comrade:
was very glad to receive your letter,
and know you we're still on this side.
hear very infrequently from any of the
comrades, and strange to say have never
met one of them since the close of the
war. / was pleased to hear of SO many
of them, and know Of their welfare. l
do not know as you know much of my
life since we parted so long ago. serv-
ed term in the Sd Massachusetts, Cav
airy and came home to Boston, and in
time learned the printers trade. In
1870 came to Missouri and settled in
Texas County, working first on a paper
at Houston, and finally starting paper
myself at Salem in Dent County. In
1875 came to Steelville, in Crawford
County, and purchased the Crawford
Mirror, which still own: l was mar
ried in 1880. In 1893 was first elected to
the legislature. In 1895 was reelected
and the house that year being Republic
can, l was chosen speaker. The next
fall / was elected Sergeant at Arms of
the National House of Representatives
and served four years. Two years ago
was nominated for Congress, and made
the closest race of any Republican in the
state, cutting down the Democratic ma
jority from 1900 in 1890 to 10l6 but fail
ing of election. My district elected me
this spring delegate to the national con-
ventiOn, and l had the honor of presid-
| ing over the largest Republican state
convention ever held in the state, few
weeks ago. l will send you copy of
my paper with my speech on that occa-
sion. 1t is likely that will be chair
man of the Republican State Committee,
as the leading Republicans of the state
are urging me to accept that position.
am undecided whether / will accept or
not.
In business way have no fault to
| find with my success. own fine river
bottom farm, one mile from my home in
this town, where have 100 acres in cul-
tivation. / hold the farm at $4,000. /
have brick block in town, with print
| ing office, power press, etc. The upper
story is rented as lodge room for the
Knights of Pythias, Modern. Woodmen
and other societies. also rent two
rooms for law Offices. My home is a
three story house, with Is rooms. My
house is supplied with water from an
artesian we'll and steel wind mill, that
carries water 10 all stories. We have
furnace heat, and / own a private tele-
phone line with seven stations, including
farm house, one mile away, printing
office, dwelling, grocery store, mOther-in-
laws, and other conveniences. have
ten-acre orchard with all kinds of fine
fruits, berries, vines and the like. My
health is excellent. l can mount a
horse as easily as when boy, and ride
to the farm on almost every day of the
year. have eight cows at the farm, a
good span of horses, a fine pair of mules,
a nice herd of cattle, 40 hogs, bees, fine
chickens, turkeys, etc. To give you
some idea of how the western farmers
live: l killed for nv own use last fall
seven fat hogs of which we eat the hams
and shoulders. We never salt the meat
| in brine as we used to do in the east, but
dry salt and smoke.
/ took the second premium at the
county fair last fall for best general dis
| play of farm products.
feel as if / had made this rather too
personal, but l think of nothing else
that would be likely to interest you as
every one here are strangers to you.
suppose you know that both my
brothers, Nelson who was in Co. g., and
/ ,1,o -, ha cd
several years ago, from disease contract
cd in the army. was with Nelson when
he died and reached Eben few hours
after his death. His death was sudden
and unexpected from heart failure.
have often thought that would like
to attend the reunion of the regiment,
but it is a long way from Missouri to
Maine, and my life has been and still is
very busy one. have been consider
ably interested in politics and every
election year | am on the stump for
several months.
| My wife and were back to Maine in
1883, and visited the old homestead.
The changes were so great and SO sad to
me that l determined to never come
again, but l was back to Lewiston with
the body of Nelson Dingley, when was
Sergeant-at-Arms. These are the only
times have been in Maine since left
there so long ago.
l often think of the old comrades, and
long to see them again, but fear that
wish will never be gratified till we are
all gone over to the great majority. :.
doubt not you often see some of the
old comrades. When you do so give
them my kindest regards, and tell them
how glad would be to see them.
will be sixty in October next, and realize
that soon we will all be gone hence.
Very sincerely and affectionately,
| BEN. F. RUSSELL.