James Russell (1812-1885) and Margaret Fitzpatrick (1817-1892)

 

James Russell was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and died in Monroe County, Indiana.  Margaret Fitzpatrick was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, and died in New Albany, Indiana.  They married in 1839.

 

Children of James and Margaret:

  • Ellen Russell (1840-?) died young
  • William Russell (1842-?) died young
  • Ellen Russell (1843-1916) married William H. Douglas (1833-1896)
  • Mary Russell (1845-?) died young
  • Margaret Russell (1848-1910) married John Hilbert (1841-1929)
  • Mary Russell (1849-?) died young
  • Cathren Russell (1851-?) died young
  • Alice Isabelle Russell (1853-1885) married John Ronan (1850-1887)
  • Elizabeth Jean Russell (1859-1869)

 

US Census records:

  • 1860, Perry Township, Monroe County, Indiana; James, Margaret, four children, and 60-year-old Patrick Fitzpatrick (who was born in Ireland) in the household; James's occupation is stone mason.
  • 1870, Perry Township, Monroe County, Indiana; James and Margaret reside with their daughter Ellen and son-in-law William H. Douglas; James's occupation is stone mason.
  • 1880, Perry Township, Monroe County, Indiana; James and Margaret are listed; James's occupation is stone mason.

 

James came to America in 1827, landing in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and then in 1835, he sailed to Boston.  Margaret came to America in 1837.  James and Margaret probably met and were married in New England, and lived there until they moved their family to Monroe County, Indiana, in 1850.
James's obituary in the Bloomington Courier, May 16, 1885: "James Russell, an old and well-known citizen, died at his home near Clear Creek station, on last Wednesday morning, of pneumonia.  On the Saturday previous he was at work planting corn, and apparently, in good health.  Deceased was in the 73rd year of his age, and was a man of the strictest integrity."
 

Margaret's obituary in the Bloomington Republican Progress, September 28, 1892: "Russell, (Mrs.) The wife of James Russell. Died at New Albany on Tuesday of last week following a painful illness. She formerly resided on what is now known as the Douglass farm in Perry Township. She died at the home of her son-in-law, Mr. Hilbert."  (The "Douglass farm" refers to the home of daughter Ellen and son-in-law William H. Douglas.)

 

James and Margaret are buried in the Spencer Addition of the Rose Hill Cemetery, West 4th Street and Elm, Bloomington, Indiana, next to the graves of Ellen and William H. Douglas and Alice and John Ronan.