John W. Russell, the subject of this sketch, is a farmer by occupation, and was born in Mason County, Ky., September 10, 1848, and is the son of Jonathan and Sarah (Hite) Russell. The father was born in Amherst County, Va., October 11, 1818, and the mother was a native of Rockbridge County, Va., born in 1816. They were married in 1840. The marriage resulted in the birth of the following children: Nancy E., James A., John W., Samuel H., Elisha and Sarah. The parents came to Indiana in the spring of 1856, and settled in Marion County, and about 1858, came to Johnson County. The subject of this sketch has been reared on a farm, and educated in the country schools. He is a carpenter by trade, which occupation he has followed more or less throughout life. He has also been engaged in farming. His father has followed farming for an occupation, and now lives with our subject, who began life with no capital other than willing hands. He now owns and cultivates twenty-eight acres of land in Section 3, Township 3, and Range 3 east. In 1874, he married Sarah Barger, the daughter of George W. and Sarah Frances Barger. Mrs. Russell was born in Rush County, Ind., in 1848, April 28. The following children have resulted from the above marriage: Emma and Frankie. Mr. and Mrs. Russell, and their father and mother, are members of the church—the former two of the United Brethren, and the latter two of the Methodist Episcopal Church.