Yolo County Biographies


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F. J. Russell
 
Few men have so early in life exhibited the conservative judgment and executive 
ability which have characterized the successful efforts of Mr. Russell, one of 
Yolo county�s most prosperous ranchers and business men, who is devoting his 
attention to his valuable orchard and farm of one hundred and forty acres near 
Capay.
 
A native of California, Mr. Russell was born near Madison, Yolo county, January 
17, 1875, the son of Samuel P. and Mary J. (Wilson) Russell, who were born, 
respectively in Kentucky and Moniteau county, Mo.  By way of Panama the father 
came to California in 1851 and became a farmer near Madison, and here he still 
resides.  The son, F. J. Russell, received a thorough education in the schools 
in that locality and later attended Heald�s Business Business College, San 
Francisco.  Upon graduating from the business course in 1895 he returned to the 
home place, where he assisted his father for a time, subsequently working with 
his uncle, William Russell, also with R. B. Nissen of Capay.  In 1899 he rented 
from his father a farm of four hundred acres in Capay valley, where he remained 
during the succeeding ten years, his success encouraging him to engage in 
agriculture upon a larger scale. Upon relinquishing this farm he took over a 
tract belonging to Capay Lodge No. 230, I. O. O. F., and ran that in connection 
with eight hundred acres adjoining which he leased from the Pacific Improvement 
Club of San Francisco.  A large portion of the last-mentioned land was devoted 
to grain.  Besides the land mentioned he also leased six hundred acres owned by 
W. R. Laugenour, upon which he conducted a dairy of twenty cows.  In 1910 he 
purchased twenty acres of alfalfa land one mile from Woodland, upon which he 
erected a comfortable home and other buildings, and here established a dairy 
supplied by thirty cows, his dairy ranking among the most sanitary and 
up-to-date of any in the county.  In October, 1911, he sold his holdings and 
purchased his present place of one hundred and forty acres three miles above 
Capay.  Twenty acres of this are in almonds and the rest of the land is devoted 
to general farming.  
 
Mr. Russell began his domestic life in 1899, his marriage Cadanassa uniting him 
with Miss Pearl Armstrong, who was born on the old homestead there.  Her father, 
R. O. Armstrong, came from Andrew county, Mo., to California across the plains 
with ox-teams in 1856 with his parents.  He was thus one of the pioneers of 
Cadanassa, and in the Capay valley he married Margaret J. Alexander, who was 
born in California, the daughter of Vincent Alexander, who crossed the plains to 
this state in 1849.  Mr. and Mrs. Russell have three children, Lyle Dale, 
Thornton C. and Alice Isabel.
 
A member of Woodland Lodge No. 603, L. O. O. M., Mr. Russell is also a member of 
Capay Lodge No. 230, I. O. O. F., of which he is vice grand, and is also a 
member of Woodland Camp No. 186, W. O. W.  He maintains a keen interest in the 
betterment of social conditions and lends his support to all public enterprises 
relating to the development of the community, his generous principles and kindly 
personality having won the unqualified esteem of his fellow citizens. 
 
Transcribed by Bea Barton
 
Source:  �History of Yolo County, California� by Tom Gregory.  Published by the 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1913, pages 575 � 576.