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Israel Russell

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Israel Russell

Birth	:	10 Mar 1812 Loudoun County, Virginia, USA
Death	:	13 Aug 1886 Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA
Burial	:	Loudoun Heights Cemetery, Loudoun Heights, Loudoun County, USA
Description	:	When the Heath family chose to migrate out of the Harper's Ferry area, Israel Russell's mother Ann Nancy (Heath) Russell chose to stay behind because she had married a wealthy widower and Charlestown merchant, James Joseph Russell. Israel Russell was one of 12 children born in this 2nd marriage. Sixth in birth order, he was named after his mother's brother, Israel Heath. Israel Russell was taken hostage in the John Brown Harper's Ferry Raid, along with relatives Jacob Allstadt and his son John Thomas Allstadt (father and brother of his elder brother Joseph L Russell's wife). Israel Heath... Read More	When the Heath family chose to migrate out of the Harper's Ferry area, Israel Russell's mother Ann Nancy (Heath) Russell chose to stay behind because she had married a wealthy widower and Charlestown merchant, James Joseph Russell. Israel Russell was one of 12 children born in this 2nd marriage. Sixth in birth order, he was named after his mother's brother, Israel Heath. Israel Russell was taken hostage in the John Brown Harper's Ferry Raid, along with relatives Jacob Allstadt and his son John Thomas Allstadt (father and brother of his elder brother Joseph L Russell's wife). Israel Heath was Justice of the Peace for Harper's Ferry, VA and a Harper's Ferry merchant for his entire life. His grandfather was Col. W.M. Russell an officer in the Revolutionary war. Excerpt from letter written Oct 19, 1859 (noting their names as hostage.) Col. Robert E. Lee's Report Concerning the Attack at Harper's Ferry - October 19, 1859 Colonel Lee to the Adjutant General HEADQUARTERS HARPER'S FERRY COLONEL: I have the honor to report, for the information of the Secretary of War, that on arriving here on the night of the 17th instant, in obedience to Special Orders No. 194 of that date from your office, I learn that a party of insurgents, 11 p. m. on the 16th, had seized the watchmen stationed at the armory, arsenal, rifle factory, and bridge across the Potomac, and taken possession of those points. They then dispatched six men, under one of their party, called Captain Aaron C. Stevens, to arrest the principal citizens in the neighborhood and incite the negroes to join in the insurrection. The party took Colonel L.W. Washington from his bed about 1 a. m. on the 17th, and brought him, with four of his servants, to this place. Mr. J.H. Allstadt and six of his servants were in the same manner seized about 3 a. m., and arms placed in the hands of the Negroes. Upon their return here, John E. Cook, one of the party sent to Mr. Washington's, was dispatched to Maryland, with Mr. Washington's wagon, two of his servants, and three of Mr. Allstadt's, for arms and ammunition, &c. .As day advanced, and the citizens of Harper's Ferry commenced their usual avocations, they were separately captured, to the number of forty, as well as I could learn, and confined in one room of the fire engine house of the armory, which seems early to have been selected as a point of defense. About 11 a. m. the volunteer companies from Virginia began to arrive, and the Jefferson Guards and volunteers from Charlestown, under Captain J.W. Rowen, I understood, were first on the ground. The Hamtramck Guards, Captain V.M. Butler; the Shepherdstown troop, Captain Jacob Rienahart; and Captain Alburtis's company from Martinsburg arrived in the afternoon. These companies, under the direction of Colonels R.W. Baylor and John T. Gibson, forced the insurgents to abandon their positions at the bridge and in the village, and to withdraw within the armory enclosure, where they fortified themselves in the fire-engine house, and carried ten of their prisoners for the purpose of insuring their safety and facilitating their escape, whom they termed hostages, and whose names are Colonel L.W. Washington, of Jefferson county, Virginia; Mr. J.H. Allstadt, of Jefferson County, Va.; Mr. ISRAEL RUSSELL, justice of the peace, Harper's Ferry; Mr. John Donahue, clerk of Baltimore and Ohio railroad; Mr. Terence Byrne, of Maryland; Mr. George D. Shope, of Frederick, Maryland; Mr. Benjamin Mills, master armorer, Harper's Ferry arsenal; Mr. A.M. Ball, master machinist, Harper's Ferry arsenal; Mr. J.E.P. Dangerfield, paymaster's clerk, Harper's Ferry arsenal; Mr. J. Burd, armorer, Harper's Ferry arsenal. After sunset more troops arrived. Captain B.B. Washington's company from Winchester and three companies from Fredericktown, Md., under Colonel Shriver. Later in the evening the companies from Baltimore, under General Charles C. Edgerton, second light brigade, and a detachment of marines, commanded by Lieutenant J. Green accompanied by Major Russell, of that corps, reached Sandy Hook, about one and a half mile east of Harper's Ferry. At this point I came up with these last-named troops, and leaving General Edgerton and his command on the Maryland side of the river for the night, caused the marines to proceed to Harper's Ferry, and placed them within the armory grounds to prevent the possibility of the escape of the insurgents. Having taken measures to halt, in Baltimore, the artillery companies ordered from Fort Monroe, I made preparations to attack the insurgents at daylight. But for the fear of sacrificing the lives of some of the gentlemen held by them as prisoners in a midnight assault, I should have ordered the attack at once. My note: The other 'Russell' at the incident at Harper's Ferry was: Major William W. Russell, Paymaster of the Corps, was detailed to assist him; but Russell, a staff officer, could not exercise command over the force. Colonel Harris felt that the presence of a more mature person--Greene, after all, had only a dozen years' service to his credit---might prevent unnecessary bloodshed. Working with the major, Greene saw to it that each of his 86 men had drawn musket, ball cartridges. **************************** Shepherdstown Register, Aug 20 1886 Death -- Mr. Israel Russell, a well known citizen of Harper's Ferry, died at that place on Friday last, at the age of 74 years. Mr. Russell was an old merchant of Harper's Ferry, but retired from business some months ago on account of failing health. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Dallas Tucker from his late residence, and the interment in Loudoun Co VA, his native place. His wife survives him, a sister of Bishop Abraham Littlejohn, of the Episcopal Church, New York. He also leaves two children, a son and a daughter, the former Dr. Charles F. Russell being a well-known physician of Sharpsburg. ***************************** MR. ISRAEL RUSSELL died at Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, after a lingering illness of five months on Friday, August 13, 1886 in the seventy-fourth year of his age, of osteosarcoma of the jaw. He was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, March 10, 1812 and moved to Harper's Ferry when a boy of seventeen, at which place he was for many years engaged in mercantile pursuits. Mr. Russell was prominently identified with the best interests of his adopted town during a long active life, and was noted for kindly and charitable instincts. On the nineteenth of October, 1859, he was one of John Brown's prisoners in the famous fort at Harper's Ferry. Mr. Russell married a daughter of Col. John Littlejohn, of New York State, and sister of Bishop Littlejohn, of Long Island. He leaves a widow, one son, Dr. Charles F. Russell, of Sharpsburg, and one daughter. Source: Torch and Light (Hagerstown, MD) August 19, 1886 Israel Russell was then about fifty years of age. He was for many years a magistrate of Jefferson county, and was very much respected. He died a few years ago from a disease of the jaw, caused by the extraction of a defective tooth. It is strange that men will often escape unhurt from the most appalling dangers to succumb to apparently trivial ailments or casualties. (pg 93 The Strange Story of Harper's Ferry by Joseph Barry). Nomination for Harper's Ferry Historic District, Jefferson Co: Armory Dwelling No. 16, Wager Lot 20: This extant dwelling fronts on High Street. The house was built by Israel Russell in 1839-41. The 3 1/2 story stone house measures 34 by 23 1/2 feet, has a slate roof and cellar.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Israel Russell's memorial?
Israel Russell's memorial is located at: Loudoun Heights Cemetery, Loudoun Heights, Loudoun County, USA.
When did Israel Russell death?
Israel Russell death on 13 Aug 1886 in Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA

Family Members:

Parent

James Joseph Russell

(1754 - 1831)

Ann Nancy Heath Russell

(1781 - 1865)

Spouse

Siblings

Samuel Russell

(1814 - 1839)

Ruth A Russell Littlejohn

(1815 - 1841)

(1817 - 1844)

(1819 - unknow)

(1823 - unknow)

(1777 - 1822)

(1783 - 1873)

(1792 - 1864)

Children

Lieut Charles Fenton Mercer Russell

(1839 - 1931)

Eleanor Gertrude Russell

(1843 - 1850)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Lincoln
Lincoln, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1333313, -77.6552811

2. Mount Olive Baptist Church Cemetery
Lincoln, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1398468, -77.6644135

3. Old Bethesda Methodist Cemetery
Unison, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1315200, -77.6545900

4. Old Welbourne Cemetery
Unison, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2920500, -77.7317900

5. Rock Hill Cemetery
Unison, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2957878, -77.7196045

6. South Fork Meeting House Cemetery
Unison, Loudoun County, USA

7. Adams Cemetery
Gilberts Corner, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2900543, -77.7141190

8. Bayly Cemetery
Gilberts Corner, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2675018, -77.7261124

9. North Fork Baptist Church Cemetery
North Fork, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0181960, -77.5154020

10. Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery
Stumptown, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9742393, -77.6429749

11. Carter Family Cemetery
Willisville, Loudoun County, USA

12. Willisville Cemetery
Willisville, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9147870, -77.5620760

13. Harmony United Methodist Church Cemetery
Hamilton, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1333313, -77.6552811

14. Lakeview Cemetery
Hamilton, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1398468, -77.6644135

15. Pleasant Valley Cemetery
Hamilton, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1315200, -77.6545900

16. Derry Cemetery
Neersville, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2920500, -77.7317900

17. Ebenezer United Methodist Episcopal Church Cemeter
Neersville, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2957878, -77.7196045

18. Old Abel Cemetery
Neersville, Loudoun County, USA

19. Old Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Cemetery
Neersville, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2900543, -77.7141190

20. Saint Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery
Neersville, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2675018, -77.7261124

21. Hillside Cemetery at Broad Run Church
Ryan, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0181960, -77.5154020

22. Aldie Presbyterian Cemetery
Aldie, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9742393, -77.6429749

23. Aldie Battlefield, American Battlefield Trust
Aldie, Loudoun County, USA

24. Foley Family Cemetery
Aldie, Loudoun County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9147870, -77.5620760