Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1906-09-20
SEPTEMBER 90 1906
institution he tooE

of the honors whid OFG Lib
teemed was the recognition by the
republicans of the state in selecting
him as the presidential elector to
bear the electoral vote of this state
to the electoral college which .:declar-
ed the election ..of President Koose-
velt. Mr.. Russell had been a life long
republican and was present at the
birth of the party and has often pre-
sided at important conventions OF the
party of which he was such devoted
member. While staunch party man,
he never held public Office.
He was a man Of friendships, full of
the widest charity and most generous
impulses and many kindly acts mark
his private life. He was engaged in
many important business enterprises,
and assisted in the promotion Of
many others in which he was not
actively identified. While at his
death he was not rich in the worlds
goods, he was endowed with a fine
character and left a record for high
minded efforts that will long remain
in the memories of his felloW citizens
aud those who knew him we'll. That
the evening of his life should have
been so pleasant is matter for con-
graduation to his many old friends
that the closing days should be "the
teeming, quietest, .-happiest days of
all, the brooding and the blissful
halcyon days."
A sketch of his life is Of interest
to review even by those who know 1t
best. Benjamin Stillman Russell was
OF New England lineage, and was
born IN Erie, Pa, in 1892, and was
"a years of age. He came to the ter
ritory of Dakota in 1879 and has re-
sided here since. lis early educa-
tion was lin a primative country
school where books were few. but he
evidently profted by the early in
struction, for he had no other school
training. In 1886 he went to Phila-
delphia for employment in a whole
sale hardware store, where..he served
four years. He afterward secured a
position as teller and bookkeeper In
bank at Harrisburg. Pa, where he
remained until 1850, when he moved
to Towanda and started bank of bis
own. In 1861, physical disability pre-
vented him from enilsting In the
army at the. outbreak Of the civil
war, but he lent ..all the active aid
possible 60 the government. He was
fiscal agent for the sale OF securities
of the government. He removed to
Philadelphia in 1868, where he re-
mained until 1871, when he moved to
Duluth, a partner In business house
of E.W. Clark & Co. and director OF
the present st. Paul and Duluth
railroad. In 1873 Mr.Russell was ap
pointed by Gov. Austin as one of the
commissioners to settle the dispute
between Minnesota and Wisconsin
over the entrance to the bay of Su-
perior. His. associates on the com
mission included Gov. Washburn,
Senator Sawyer, T. O. Howe, Jerry
Rusk, Senators Ramsey and Window,
and the. mayor of Duluth, Sidney
Luce, all of whom are now dead, the
late Gov. Ramsey being the next
to the last to pass away.
Mr.. Russell saw the coming move
ment OF population in the northwest
and In 1879 came to Dakota territory,
having secured control of a large
body of land. He made Spiritwood
his headquarters for a time. and af-
terwards removed to Jamestown.
where he has since resided. Mr.. Rus:
sell was a Whig in early days, and a
supporter Of David Wilmot of the
Wilmot proviso fame. He voted for
John G. Fremont III 1856. In l847 he
married Mary Gaskell Of Philadelphia,
who died In 1891. They had nine
children, five Of whom survived the
death Of their mother.
Mr.. Russell was % man Of many
scholarly requirements, had q most
remarkable memory and was widely
read il history, both sacred and pro-
fame. S3.j5 rs
Socially he was a most congenial
and pleasant companion, and will be