ABRAHAM VIRGIL (OR VIRGIL JOHN) RUSSELL
LOREN AND JANE WEAVER RUSSELL
LOUISA JANE GODFREY RUSSELL
MARTIN AND JANE GODFREY
Abraham Virgil was my great-grandfather. He was born June 15, 1860. Following is information I have right now. As you can see, it is very confusing.
In his obituary, it says he was the son of Martin and Jane Russell and was born near East Norton.
Some genealogy papers I have (I don't know who did them) say he was born in Lincoln Township to Loren Russell and Jane Weaver Russell. This sounds more likely to me.
Lonita Russell did descendants of Loren Russell. In her notes it says: Have a copy of his death certificate. Noted on death certificate. Death and additional information. Father and mother unknown. Abraham was an orphan. Also known as Virgil J. Russell. I have noticed in the notes and papers I have it looks like they called him V. J. I am going to try to find out more and will change this if I find anything.
V. J. RUSSELL
On back of picture is written, a good snap of
V. J. Russell.
From a bible page and a marriage record: Virgil John Russell and Louisa Godfrey were joined in marriage August 14, 1880 (a.d. one thousand eight hundred eighty) by Reverend Orr, elder of Center Church. They had seven children.
Lorinzo Sanford (Lennie) - born 12-18-1881
Alonzo Danford (Lonnie) - born 12-18-1881
Charles Oran - born 6-27-1883
Sarah Dora - born 4-17-1885
Cora Naomi - born 4-17-1885
Clara Geneva - born 2-22-1887
Ruby Lorena Russell - born 5-10-1892
VIRGIL AND LOUISA RUSSELL AND CHILDREN
Back Row Left to Right : Dora, Cora, Charles, Lonnie and Lennie
Front Row Left to Right : Ruby, Virgil, Louisa and Clara
RUSSELL SISTERS AND BROTHERS
Back Row Left to Right : Clara, Charles, and Ruby
Front Row Left to Right : Twins Cora and Dora and Twins Lennie and Lonnie
LENNIE, LONNIE, CORA AND DORA RUSSELL
Lennie behind wheel and Lonnie. In back seat, Cora (behind Lennie) and Dora. Note right hand drive. Car is a Hupmobile. About 1912.
Following are clippings that my mother had.
A. V. (V .J.) RUSSELL
Well-Known Citizen
Dies After Long IIlness With Bright's Disease
After a year's fight with Bright's disease in its worst form, A. V. Russell, life-long Cardington citizen, succumbed early Thursday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ferd Foust, who tenderly cared for him several months doing all in her power to ease his pain.
Funeral services were held at the home Saturday afternoon conducted by Rev. W. S. Nicholson, pastor of the local M. E. church. One daughter, Mrs. Samuel Beath, of Fort Wayne, Ind. could not attend the services. Interment at Glendale by the side of his wife who passed away a year ago.
OBITUARY
Abraham Virgil Russell, son of Martin and Jane Russell, was born near East Norton, June 15, 1860 and departed this life on the morning of December 1, 1927, aged 67 years 4 months and 15 days. He married for his life companion, Louisa Godfrey, who preceded him in death one year and eight weeks to the day. To this union seven children were born: Lennie, Lonnie, Charles, Clara, Cora, Dora and Ruby. The latter passing away during the epidemic of influenza. He is also survived by one sister, a niece, two nephews, ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
V. J. Russell passed to his reward Thursday morning after months of intense suffering. Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon from the home of his daughter with interment in Glendale by the side of his wife who died a year ago or more. His daughter, Ruby, also rests in Glendale. We would like to say that Mr. Russell had many good points, has done many kindly deeds and the writer recalls many of them. He had a “big” heart when it came to doing for others. He was gifted naturally as a mechanic and could do almost any kind of work he was called on to do. The death of Mrs. Russell and the breaking up of his home was a sad blow to him and his sickness dates from that time. Many beautiful floral tokens from friends testified to the fact he was well known and remembered and during his sickness many people called on him and sent things to cheer him.
In this obituary it says he is survived by a sister. Below is a picture I have.
On the back of this picture someone wrote the following: Doras to (two?) Aunts Mrs. Clara Russell Knouff and sistor and A. V. Russells sistors to (too).
LOREN AND JANE WEAVER RUSSELL
Loren and Jane Weaver Russell were my Great-Great-Grandparents. I know very little about them. They were married on July 12, 1851. They had a son, Abraham Virgil (Virgil John). In V. J.'s obituary it says he had a surviving sister. A clipping I have says: Loren Russell, aged 89 years, died at the Infirmary last Saturday, June 20th. Mr. Russell was a native of New York and was brought to the Infirmary from Bennington Township in 1881. He was buried on Monday, June 22 in the Sunfish burying ground.
LOUISA JANE GODFREY RUSSELL
My great-grandmother. She was born in Hancock County, Ohio on March 1, 1852 to Martin and Jane Godfrey. Her parents passed away when she was two weeks old and she, with her sister, Saloma Jane, were given a home with Sarah and Jonas Alspach. She lived with them until she was united in marriage with Virgil John Russell, August 14, 1880. They had seven children.
LOUISA MAY GODFREY RUSSELL
LOUISA MAY GODFREY RUSSELL
Obituary from newspaper follows.
MRS. V. J. RUSSELL
Passes Away at Home in Cardington After Four Years' Illness
Mrs. V. J. Russell died at her home in Cardington Saturday. The funeral was held Monday afternoon at the home of her son, Chas. Russell, conducted by Rev Orr of Basil, who was pastor of the United Brethren church here and married Mr. and Mrs. Russell forty-six years ago.
OBITUARY
Louisa Godfrey Russell, daughter of Martin and Jane Godfrey, was born in Hancock County, Ohio, March 1, 1852, and passed away October 1, 1926, aged 75 years and 7 months, at her home, where she was stricken with paralysis over four years ago.
Her parents departed this life when she was two weeks old and she, with her sister, was given a home with Sarah and Jonas Alspach, until she was united in marriage with Virgil John Russell, August 14, 1880. To this union were born seven children: Lennie Sanford and Lonnie Danford, Charles Oran, Sarah Dora and Cora Naomi, Clara Geneva and Ruby Lorena, who preceded her death on October 18, 1918, aged 27 years. Her sisters Elizabeth Stewart and Saloma Jane Henry, and brother, John Godfrey, have all preceded her in death.
She leaves to mourn, her husband, six children, nine grandchildren, one great grandchild and a host of friends.
When a young girl she became a member of the United Brethren church and remained a Christian up to the time of her death.
She was a patient sufferer, bearing her affliction with never a murmur. Life was happiness itself to her and was spent in loving kindness to others.
Rev. Orr, who came here to conduct the funeral services for Mrs. V. J. Russell, was the same pastor, United Brethren, who married them many years ago. One incident in Mrs. Russell's death was when no longer able to talk she wrote a note bidding them "goodbye".
MARTIN AND JANE GODFREY
Martin and Jane were Louisa May Godfrey's parents and were my Great-Great- Grandparents. They lived in Hancock County, Ohio and that is where Louisa was born. Her parents died two weeks after she was born on March 1, 1852. They had three other children: Elizabeth Godfrey Steward, Saloma Jane Godfrey Henry and John Godfrey.
