Semi-weekly herald., 1908-10-08
Death of J. L. Russell
(From Mondays Daily.)

as well as panied Sunday to learn that
Judge James L. Russell had passed
away, the end coming about 5:45 Sun
day morning, it being the general i'm
preston of everyone that the judge
was on the road to complete recovery,
feeling also shared by the family,
but death came suddenly and today
the community is mourning the loss
of one of its pioneer citizens.
Judge Russell first went to bed on
Friday, September 18th. although he
was ailing some the previous Sun
day His illness was not considered
dangerous for some days. Four days
later, September 90, the Judge was
taken to the hospital and that night
his condition became critical and his
sons were notified, Ben coming down
from Silverton Wednesday morning on
motor car, arriving about in the
morning, while Glen was in Denver
and arrived Thursday eevning. by
which time the judge became easier
and his condition improved steadily
and all last week the family felt that
he was on the road to complete re-
covery. Friday night, however, the
! judge vomited a good deal of the
time but on Saturday expressed him
self as feeling much better. Saturday
night the family-those In the city
retired as usual, leaving the nurses
to care for the judge. About midnight
the attending nurse thought she OBJ
served change which continued to
become more pronounced and between
and 4 the doctor thought best to
and daughters. Mrs. Gray and Mrs,
Lund, were soon at the bedside, but
by the time they arrived the Judge had
become unconscious and without voice
his eyes followed one of the daughters
around the room, short time before
their arrival the judge rep1arking to
the nurse that he guessed he would
turn over and go to sleep" With the
devoted wife and two girls around the
bedside the Judge passed away at
5:45. At the time the sons were alb
sent, Ben being in Silverton, and he
received notice just In time to take
the morning train, arriving at 9, while
Clem was at the ranch and drove in.
reaching Durango about noon. 1t was
indeed a shock to the boys to receive
the death message as they were con
fdent their father was going to re.
cover. Not only was the sudden death
a shock to the family but to a host
OF friends and the people of Durango.
Judge Russell was born in Jeffer.
son county, Ohio. June 10, 1S45, being
63 years of age. He was educated
at the normal institute at Hopedall
Ohio, and admitted to the bar at Ere
donia, Kas.. in 1879, where he served
two years as clerk OF the district
court. June Z. 1871, he was married to
Miss Suvian Bryan at Fredopta. and
this good woman has been his con.
stant mate through life, the fruits of
their marriage being two sons and
three daughters, all grown up: They
are: Clement L. Russell. married. re.
siding in Durango; Benjamin <B. Rus.
sell of Silverton; Stella Russell now
Mrs. F. II. Gray; Alvina, now Mrs. A..
h. Lund, living in Durango, and Mona
now Mrs. II. c. Seibert. residing in st.
Louis. Judge Russells father, James
Russell. died October 3, 1907, aged 81
years and / month. Two brothers and
sister survive him-E. S. Russell. M.
d. surgeon on the Pennsylvania rail
road at Alliance, o.; Bingley Russell,
farmer resiring near Salineville. q
and Alice SALESMAN of Salineville.
The judge and his wife moved from
fredonia to Elizabethtown, N. NJ. in
July, 1876, then in 1877 to Animas
City, La Plata county. where he prac
ticed law and was town attorney of
Animas City in 1879. The Judge moved
10 Durango In 1881 and has been n
"oaS itslueHt since. In the early
years he formed partnership with
Milton j. McCloskey, and later he was
senior member of the law firm Of
Russell & Ritter. In 1894 Mr.. Russell,
was elected judge of the Sixth judicial
district, being reelected In 1900. serv.
ing twelve years, and at the time of
MS death was the senior member of
the law firm Of Russell 4 Reese. Ont
side OF portion of the time I'm 1s77-7S
when he was engaged in freigbtine
INTO Silverton. Mr.. Russell devoted
MS entire time to the practice of law
and district Judge.
Jddge Russell was a man of strong
likes and dislikes. He loved his friends
and there was nothing too good for
them. He was companionable and
whole-souled. In the practice of law
he went upon the principle that right