Russell, IA

Russell is a neat and flourishing town. Situated on part of Sections five and six thus locating it in the northwest corner of said Washington T.P.  The original town was platted by Henry S. Russell of Mass who was trustee for the owners of the land on the 8^th day of October 1867 and contained two hundred and nine lots. On March the 3^rd 1869 the same gentleman platted part of the NE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section Six and the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 5 into various sized lots nineteen in all and this he called Smiths addition to Russell. The town was named in honor of this Mr. Russell. On the 9^th day of May 1877 Hon. Warren S Dungan of Chariton being owner of the land lying west and south of Russell surveyed and platted it into lots and called it Dungans addition. This addition contained seventy-eight lots varying somewhat in size. The first house built on the site of Russell was put up by a Mr. Jessie Lewis and was used as a temporary depot by the Railroad Co. Dennis Foley and M. L. Plotts erected the next two buildings. The first merchant to locate in Russell was Mr. H.  W. Elliott in the spring of 1869. His store bldg and stock of mdse was at that date like Bill Nyes first year's salary all OK but not enough of it.  H. W. has continued to sell goods here in R from that time to the present and has been remarkable successful as evidenced by the property and stock of General mdse of which he is now the absolute owner. The first church bldg erected was by the Episcopal denomination, Mrs. E. Fulkerson being the prime mover and largest contributor.

Per the 2010 Census, Russell, IA had a population of 554.