H. G. Russell.—The noble pioneer men and women who endured the hardships and vicissitudes of early life on the plains, and laid the foundation for later industrial development and social betterment are rapidly disappearing. H. G. Russell whose name introduces this sketch is a notable member of that band of noble pioneers who has passed to the great beyond. He was born in Athens county, Ohio, in 1834, and died at his home in Augusta in March, 1913. He is survived by his venerable wife, Mrs. Sarah Russell, who is a typical representative of the best type of American womanhood. She was born in Tazewell county, Illinois, in 1841, and now resides in Augusta, Kans.

Mr. and Mrs. Russell came to Butler county, Kansas, in 1870, and settled on Four Mile Creek. They bought 160 acres of land upon which they built a small frame house and later as their means permitted built a more pretentious residence and made substantial improvements. They had sold 40 acres of their land prior to and that year disposed of the balance of their farm properties and bought property in Augusta,

where Mrs. Russell now resides. They lived on the old homestead for forty years and formed many attachments for the old place, but in deciding to move to Augusta they took into consideration the many added comforts and conveniences, which they found more suitable to them in their declining years.

To Mr. and Mrs. Russell have been born five children, four of whom are living: Warren is a carpenter and lives in Illinois; Mrs. James Belford lives in Wichita; Mrs. Clara Harrison died in 1905 at Wichita; Charles, Macon, Ill., and Mrs. Bertha Cook lives near La Junta, Colo.

Mrs. Russell has many interesting recollections of early day life in Butler county. She has experienced all the various freaks of nature and surprises of the elements that were in store for the early settlers of Kansas. She relates an incident of when a cyclone blew away their barn, and uprooted their orchard and performed the various pranks known only to cyclones. She was here in 1874 when the grasshoppers swept down in great clouds on the unsuspecting early settlers and destroyed everything in sight. She says that all they had left after the visit of the grasshoppers was one mess of roasting ears. Mr. Russell at that time was one of the distributing agents for the Aid Society who were providing for the destitute, but he managed to get along and refused to accept any aid for himself.

Mrs. Russell is one of the interesting old ladies of Butler county and may she live long to recount her pioneer experiences for many years to come.

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