BIOGRAPHY - JOHN RUSSELL
John J. Russell, who is now living retired in Roberts, was formerly actively and successfully connected with the agricultural interests of Ford county. He was born in this county on the 20th of December, 1868, his parents being Patrick and Mary Russell, further mention of whom is made in the sketch of Patrick Gallahue on another page of this work.
John J. Russell acquired his education in the district schools of Ford county and remained under the parental roof until he had attained the age of twenty-six years. He then started out in life on his own account as an agriculturist and the success which attended him in his farming operations enabled him to retire from active business life in 1904, and he now lives in Roberts in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He is still the owner of eighty acres of rich and productive land on section 23, Lyman township, being recognized throughout the community as a substantial and enterprising citizen.
In 1886 Mr. Russell was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary T. Dingnan, a native of Iroquois county, Illinois, and a daughter of Michael and Mary Dingnan, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to America at an early day. Their family numbered six children, as follows: Mrs. Russell; Esther M., deceased; Lawrence F., who makes his home in Montana; Michael M. and Anna A., both at home; and Katherine H., who has also passed away. Mr. Dingnan departed this life in 1881 but the mother still survives him and resides on the old homestead in Iroquois county, Illinois.
In his political views Mr. Russell is a democrat and has served as assessor of Lyman township. Fraternally he is connected with Woodmen lodge. No. 2039, at Roberts, Illinois, and both he and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church. A native son of the county, he has witnessed its development from a pioneer region into a rich agricultural district and has, moreover, taken an active part in the arduous toil which was necessary to bring about this wonderful transformation.
Extracted 17 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 2, pages 842-843.
