Jessica and Jean, My GGGrandfather was Ferdinand Russell born Aug 16, 1835 in New York State. He married Sarah Armstrong on Dec 31, 1857 in Clinton Co IA. His death certificate says his father was a Robert Russell but all of family history and the census records I have been able to find list him living with a Joseph Russell who married a Jane Penn also in Clinton Co on April 5, 1853. My records have Joseph (Robert?) as being born in England. Is there any connection with either of your Russells??? Thanks. Chris -----Original Message----- From: Jessica Utts <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Thursday, February 07, 2002 12:30 PM Subject: Re: Russell & Pier >Jean, > >I can't answer your question but I can tell you that Gideon Alonzo Russell >was one of the descendants of Gideon Howland, who was wealthy and famous >for leaving an odd will. He left his money to be divided among his >descendants, but only after being used by his neice Hetty Green during her >lifetime. It was big news in the early 1900s when Hetty died, and there >was a recent article in the New Yorker about this. She is in the Guinness >Book of World Records = greatest miser! > >I have a copy of the Massachusetts Magazine, April-July 1917, which lists >all 439 of Gideon Howland's heirs, who got a piece of the inheritance >then. Gideon Alonzo Russell is there with the following (he was my >step-great-grandmother's brother, somehow all of the material on this >got passed along to me!): > >------------------------------------- >16. Gideon Alonzo Russell (son of Gideon Russell), (born 1828, died 1915) >lived at Lyons, Ia, where he was a manufacturer of sash, doors and blinds >and became wealthy. He was twice married, his second wife, Emeline W. >Kellogg, still living. Three children died without issue, one died leaving >children and three are still living and inherit: > >185. Fannie J. (Russell) Furman (born 1863); married Alonzo Furman and >lives at Lyons, IA. Her children: >569. Russell Furman, Spirit Lake, IA >570. Alfred K. Furman, Lyons, IA >571. Gertrude E., Lyons, IA > >186. Fred A. Russell, (born 1866), Mamaroneck, NY >187. Lynn K. Russell (born 1876), Clinton, IA >188. Gertrued E. (Russell) Alban (born 1878); married Frank W. Alban and >lives at Marshalltown, IA; no children. >--------------------- > >I know that doesn't answer your question, but at least it does confirm >your hypothesis that Emeline was the 2nd wife. Given the fame of the >Howland/Russell family, you may be able to find more on the Internet. > >Jessica Utts > > > >==== IACLINTO Mailing List ==== >Whenever there's a will, you'll see an heir loom. > >============================== >To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >