09 September 2010

Bridgewater Twp - Hiram Russell


Hiram Russell

By Pamela Pattison Lash

He had a wandering spirit, so much so that he and his family moved many times before finally settling on the west coast.  He was an early settler of Bridgewater Twp and lived to be 81 years old.

Hiram Russell, born on 16 July 1815 in Phelps, Ontario Co, NY, was the son of John and Rachel Van Ornum Russell.  The family moved to Perry Twp, Richland Co, OH c1819; several years later the family settled in Richfield Twp, Henry Co, OH c1823. Hiram traveled farther west to this area and married Annie Marie Goodwin in Steuben Co, IN on 9 Nov 1837.  On 20 Aug 1838 Hiram purchased 120 acres in Steuben Co, IN. Annie was born on 17 June 1818 in Litchfield Co, CT, parentage unknown, but Aaron Burr Goodwin (see his detailing) took her in as an orphan and brought her to what was called Bridgewater Twp. The couple had the following children (first two were born and died in Williams Co): Mary J (27 Oct 1838 – 13 Oct 1841)), Silas H (12 Sept 1840-5 July 1841), Lucy R, Phoebe E, Sylvia Jane, Sarah Lavina, Amelia A, James H, and Monroe.  According to the 1840 Bridgewater Twp, Williams Co, OH federal census p215 Hiram was enumerated as male (20-30) along with a female of his same age, and one male under 5 plus one female under 5. 

By 1842 the couple lived in Steuben Co, IN and then they moved to Dubuque Co, IA c1848-1850.   He purchased 120 acres in Dubuque Co on 1 Mar 1848. Hiram’s parents both died in Steuben Co, IN c1849. According to the 1850 Dubuque Co, IA federal census p65A the Russell family was listed as Hiram 35 NY shoemaker, Annie (Annis Maria) 31 MA, Lucy 8 IA, Phebe 6 IA, Sylvia Jane 3 IA, Sarah Lavina 1 IA, and Henry Martin 17 NY; one of Hiram’s brothers, Anthony W. Russell, was their neighbor. They moved back to Steuben c1851 but by 1854 they lived in Weber Co, UT.  Once again they moved to Eugene, Lake Co, OR c1858.

In 1860 they lived in Crescent City, Smiths River Valley, Del Norte Co, CA; census records show Hiram was a grazier.  By the 1870 Cedar River, King Co, WA Territory federal census p96A Hiram was listed as a farmer along with his wife and son, Monroe. Annie died in Seattle, King Co, WA on 7 Aug 1874 while Hiram lived much longer, passing away in Cedar River, WA on 19 May 1897 from bronchitis. He may have married a Margaret Jenkins, 27 June 1877 in King Co. From the 1880 King Co, WA federal census p277B one finds Hiram has a new wife, Mary Ann, born c1841 in Washington Territory; he was 65 and Mary was 39.  The couple was also enumerated in the Washington State Censuses of 1880, 1881 and 1892.

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