My Genealogy Hound

Garner M. Russell, farmer, was born in Dickson County, Tenn., in the month of March, 1818. His father, Jesse Russell, was born in Eastern Tennessee, and was the nephew of old Capt. Bill Russell, who served under Gen. Jackson in the Seminole War. The Captain had a wide reputation as an Indian fighter, and served with distinction in that war, dying at the age of eighty years. His father was a lieutenant in the War of 1812, participating in the battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815. Garner M. Russell’s mother, Mary Hudson, was reared in Mecklenburg County, Va., and came to Tennessee in the year 1808. In 1836, eighteen years after the birth of Garner, the parents came to Arkansas, settling in what was then Clark County, having to cut their roads through the forests. The settlement was about ten miles east of the site of the present town of Arkadelphia. Here Mr. Russell took up a tract of land—one fourth section—living on it for a period of ten years, when he died. Before the death of his father, Garner went to Texas to visit a sister. He remained in this State at a Spanish settlement for about seven months, when he returned to his father’s home. After remaining but three months, at home, he hired out as overseer for James Rambo, whose farm was on the Ouachita River, fourteen miles west of Malvern, on the old military ground. Here he remained for three years, at a salary of $300 per year. Soon after this, he hired to Dr. Richard Barnum, with whom he remained for two years, when he sold out to George Eaton, from North Carolina. To the latter, Mr. Russell hired for eight years, receiving the salary of $400 per year. He was next employed as overseer for Andrew Creduffs. While here, at the age of thirty-five, he was married to Virginia Ryland, and soon after moved to Hot Spring County, where he bought land on the Ouachita River. He began with very little improvements, but, adding to and clearing his property, he now owns 700 acres, about 200 of which are under cultivation. He runs a steam gin and grist mill in connection with farming, and is considered one of the prosperous men of the county. By his marriage he became the father of eight children, four of whom are now living: Attie (born in Dallas County, in October, 1860), Parker M. (born in 1864), John Thomas (born in 1867) and William Theopolis (born in 1870). Mr. Russell has always been a Democrat, casting his first vote for Jackson in 1838. During the war he was postmaster at Midway. He united with the Methodist Church in 1842, remaining with that church for seven years; then he turned to the Church of God, and has since been a consistent member and a liberal donor to all worthy church enterprises. He is a good neighbor and a loyal citizen, and, withal, is honored among his fellow-men.