FORGUS RUSSELL

The following bio was taken from page 380 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Claudia Schuster

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

James Russell came to America around 1771. At this time he received a land grant of three hundred acres on Jackson’s Creek in Fairfield County, South Carolina. His wife’s name was not given in any of the records. One child, and possibly others, were born in Northern Ireland. The names of his children were: James, William, Thomas, Robert, Jane, Letty, and Elly. James was a master stone mason and a planter, and also served with the South Carolina Regulators in the Revolutionary War. James gave a tract of land for the use of the Lebanon Presbyterian Church. As a stone mason, he helped build this church. The walls are still standing, and James is buried in the cemetery near these walls.

Thomas was born in 1775 and married Mary McDowell in Fairfield County about 1800. Thomas was a lieutenant in the War of 1812. His children were Forgus, born in 1802, Mary Ann, Susannah, Robert, Eliza, James Leticia and Thomas, who died as a child. Thomas and his family moved to Henry County, Georgia about 1828. Forgus Russell and his wife, Mary Ann Gladney, and her family, the Thomas Gladneys, moved along with Thomas. When Thomas arrived in Henry County, he gave land for the Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church and with the help of others built this church. In 1849, Forgus Russell was elected as one of the Justices of the Inferior Court of Henry County, Georgia.

In the early 1850’s, Forgus and his family moved to Texas. After a year or so in Texas, they became dissatisfied and returned to Jonesboro, Georgia, about thirty miles from his mother and brothers. It is said that he told them, "if you don’t come to see me, I am going back to Texas." He did return to Texas, traveling by wagon and carriage. The Russell women rode in the carriage along with an old Negro slave called "Aunt Phoebe." They pitched a circle tent each night, and on Saturday they stopped at noon to prepare food for Sunday, as no cooking was done on Sunday.

On arriving in Rusk County, the Russells settled in the Rocky Mount Community. Forgus was a stone mason and a farmer. He built many chimneys in the East Texas area as well as stone houses in Georgia. Forgus owned 305 acres of land and was a good provider. There was always plenty to eat, and Indians from Cherokee Territory often rode up to the gate, came in, and waited to be served.

The children of Forgus were Thomas, Creighton, Melinda, Robert, Ross, Carter, Crew, Ellen, Sloan McDowell, and Hutchinson. Ross had a twin who died at birth. Six sons served in the Confederate Army. The other one was ill and stayed at home and made shoes. Robert died in Meridian, Mississippi from an illness during the war.

In 1866, Sloan married Mary Elizabeth Crow. Sloan and Mary’s only three children-Mary, Ellen, and Lou-died within a month’s time in 1875. After this, three other girls and a boy were born to the couple. They were Sally, who married P.R. DeGuerin; Georgia, who married Victor Beasley; Lulu, who married George DeGuerin; and Robert, who married Mamie Peterson.

To Robert and Mamie there was born one son, Neal McDowell, who died at the age of twelve from a rheumatic heart condition. Other children were: Mary, who married W.W. Davidson; Margaret; Evelyn, who married H.M. Lindsey; Robbie Dell; and Georgia Nell, who married M.K. Betts, Jr. Robert and Mamie are now deceased but they have, in other parts of the United States, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Rob Russell bought a farm as a young man and developed one of the finest farms of the area. The Russells were Presbyterian and Rob served as an elder in the Rocky Mt. Presbyterian Church. He was also trustee of the Rocky Mt. School for many years. Rob and Mamie were determined that their children receive a good education, so they moved to Henderson in 1931 in order that they attend an accredited high school.

Submitted by Margaret Russell