The second way the Russell name enters the family tree is through Celia Russell Hunt Crain. Celia's grandmother was Celah Russell, a daughter of William James Russell Jr. William was a well-known Revolutionary War soldier from Virginia. He attempted to settle in Kentucky with a party including Daniel Boone and his family in the mid 1700s, but turned back when his son was killed by Indians during the Massacre at Powell Valley, along with one of Boone's sons. After this, William turned back and remained in Southwest Virginia. Through William Russell, there two famous names added to the tree. The first is Patrick Henry, of "Give me liberty or give me death" fame. After his first wife Tabitha Coates Adams Russell died, William married Elizabeth Henry Campbell, a sister to Patrick Henry. The second famous name this Russell line brings in is Henry Clay. A great-granddaughter of William's, Josephine Deborah Russell married both a grandson and son of Henry Clay. Josephine became well-known in Lexington by her own right, through the Thoroughbred breeding program she ran.
This map shows the location of the Russell home, Mount Brilliant, on the right. To see more family properties, look to the Family Houses Map page.
Documents
This gallery contains copies of a contract for the purchase of land between Josephine Russell Erwin Clay and George Nathaniel Pettit and his wife Miriam Lisle Pettit from August 1909. Both Josephine and the Pettit's are a part of the family tree. Josephine through her great-grandfather William James Russell and George and Miriam through his grandfather Nathaniel Pettit. Nathaniel married Rebecca Atchison, a daughter of Hamilton and Isabella Atchison.
This clipping advertises the sale of Mt. Brilliant farm, originally the home of William Russell, son of William Russell and brother to direct ancestor Celah Russell Wilson. The name was in honor of Patrick Henry, a brother of William Russell Jr.'s stepmother.The property passed from Russell hands, and later ended up in the Atchison/West family, when it was renamed Bellevue. After the farm passed from the Atchison/West hands, it was returned to it's orginal name.