A scion of old Pennsylvania families active and serviceable in the history of the state from early colonial times the son of parents who left their family associations and the scenes and traditions of their native state and became early settlers in Ohio, where he was born on August 15, 1850 and passing his childhood there and on the prairies of Illinois and his youth and early manhood among the mountains of Colorado, George S. Russell of Ishawood in Bighorn County has had a varied experience and seen many phases of human life. When he was five years old his parents, Benjamin O. and Mary (Lytle) Russell who moved from Washington County, Pennsylvania to Ohio again moved with their young family to Whiteside County, Illinois and remained there two years. At the end of that time they took another flight toward the setting sun, locating in Gilpin County, Colorado where their son George was reared and partially educated. As he approached years of maturity he was entered at the Worcester (Mass.) Military Academy, and in that institution received the finishing courses of his education and soon after leaving its classic halls he began to learn the trade of a carpenter. When he had finished his apprenticeship he worked at his trade in Colorado until 1885. He then came o Wyoming and located at Lander, now the county seat of Fremont County. Here he found profitable employment at his special craft for in a new and growing country the mechanical branches of usefulness are always in great demand. He remained in Fremont County until 1897, carrying on a thriving farming industry in connection with his carpenter work, In that year he removed to Cody and in 1900 to his present residence on the South Fork of Stinking Water River, near the town of Ishawood. Here on a valuable homestead which he then took up he has since resided and carried on with vigor and success an expanding stock business keeping it up to an elevated standard and pushing its development with the energy and breadth of view characteristic of himself and his ancestry. In the same year he was elected county commissioner for a term of four years and is discharging his official duties at this writing (1903) with great credit to himself and advantage to the people and the county in general. He was married at Empire, Colorado in 1870 to Miss D. H. Kirkland, a native of the state. The have five children, Erald, Mary C., Lydia O., Bertha O., and Abby L. Mr. Russell is an active and esteemed member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World, taking an earnest and appreciative interest in the proceedings of both orders. His active and useful life has made him secure in the confidence and good will of his fellow citizens of the county, while his business capacity breadth of view public spirit and progressiveness has given a him a high place in public estimation as a forceful wise enterprising and safe public official and representative man if his community. A George Russel is living in 1880 Empire, Clear Creek, Colorado.
