, California
History and Geneaology Research

EDMUND RUSSELL- AMANDA LEWIS-MARIPOSA COUNTY PIONEER BIOGRAPHY



EDMUND RUSSELL was born in  Franklin county, Tennessee, July 8, 1833, a 
 son of Edmund and Henrietta (Sargent) Russell. The father was a native 
 of Knoxville, Tennessee, and served as county Clerk of Franklin county 
 from the time he reached his majority until he was forty-one years of 
 age; he was also engaged in the mercantile business for several years. 
 Edmund Russell, Jr., was reared to the life of a farmer, and at the 
 early age of sixteen years assumed the responsibility of caring for 
 himself. In 1843 his parents removed to Arkansas, and in 1852 he made 
 the journey across the plains to California by the southern route, 
 arriving in San Diego county, October 10; William Johnson was captain of 
 the company of which he was a member, and there were seventy men in the 
 band besides the women and children. In Los Angeles county Mr. Russell 
 and his brother purchased a quarter section of land which they improved, 
 but in 1855 they were compelled to relinquish it on account of a Spanish 
 grant. Not discouraged by this misfortune, our subject then bought land 
 near Azusa, his purchase being the second made in that place; two years 
 later he traded the tract for cattle, which he drove to Merced county, 
 where he  and his brother bought the old Stokes farm at sheriff's sale; later on 
 they bought the 320 acres adjoining it, and also the old Allen ranch. In 
 1866 they dissolved partnership Mr. Russell now has a fine farm of near 
 400 acres, which is devoted to the raising of wheat; he has carried on 
 his agricultural pursuits with marked ability, and ranks with the most 
 intelligent husbandmen of the county.
 
 He was united in marriage in 1867, to Amanda M. Lewis, a native of 
 Texas, and a daughter of Jacob and Eliza Lewis, well-known pioneers of 
 Mariposa county. To them have been born nine children: Elijah T., 
 William M. (deceased), Orin L., Mary H., John E., Elizabeth A., Amanda 
 E., Grayson L. and Amy F. Mr. Russell is a loyal friend to education, 
 and has served as School Trustee ; a number of terms; he was also 
 Supervisor from 1865 to 1867. He is a stanch advocate of the 
 principles of temperance, and it is to  men of this true and reliable 
 type that the prosperity of the State of California is due.
 
 Facsimile Reproduction
 Memorial and Biographical History
 Merced, Stanislaus, Calaveras,
 Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties California

submitted by Carol Lackey

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UD- 2015