The Denison Press
Friday, June 4, 1943
pg. 1

DRIVER FIRST DENISON AUTO DIES TUESDAY
Benjamin H. Russell, 72, driver of Denison's first automobile, died at his home here Tuesday following a long illness.  He had lived at 916 Gandy for 41 years.
Mr. Russell, with a friend, J.H. Sproles, jointly owned the first automobile brought to Denison, and friend will recall hearing him tell how it took him more than a week to make the trip from Denison to Greenville.  At Whitewright, the mud was so bad he had to ship the car by train for a part of the way.  It required the better part of a day to make it to Sherman with the crude machine and bad roads of those early days.  It was at Greenville that he wooed and won his wife, the former Miss Beulah Speakes.  They were married November 20, 1907.
Mr. Russell was one of Denison's greatest boosters and had friends by the hundreds.  He led a very active life and worked faithfully as a church and lodge member in his better days physically.
Funeral services were held at St. Luke's church with Rev. Raymond S. Ottenameyer officiating.  Interment was at Fairview.  He was a member of St. Luke's, also a vestryman emeritus for life.  He was a life member of the Elks and was a member
of the Denison Rod and Gun Club.  Requium communion services were held Thursday morning.
Born November 27, 1870 at Keytersville, Kentucky, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Elm Russell.  He retired assistant chief clerk of the railway mail service some years back.
Surviving are his widow; a daughter, Mrs. Marvin Shadel, Huntsville, Alabama; 2 granddaughters, Susan Russell Shadel and Jane Speaks Shadel, Huntsville, Alabama.  A brother, Elmore H. Russell, lives at Amarillo, and a sister, Mrs. George H. Brooks lives at Clermont, Florida.