Patrick Russell

Patrick Russell was born at Templemore, County Tipperary, Ireland, March 18, 1833 and died at the home of his son Joseph, near Roberts, Illinois, August 2, 1920, aged 87 years, 4 months and 17 days.
When a mere boy of 18 years of age Mr. Russell left his native land and came to America. He first came to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was employed in a hotel for four years. He then went farther west to Chicago and for four more years he was employed in the Tremont House in that city. He had then reached the age of twenty-six and began to feel that he could have a home of his own. The prospect that looked best to him was a farm down near where the Illinois Central was selling land, wild unbroken land, but prospects for a home. In March 1859 he came to the farm which he purchased now in Lyman Township, Ford County, then in Stockton Township, Vermillion county. This farm has been his home ever since, sixty-one years. While he had lived on this farm he has lived in three townships and two counties, as this was a part of Brenton township for some time after the formation of Ford County.
Three months after Mr. Russell settled here he returned to Chicago and married Miss Guifoyle and brought her to help make a home on the prairie. To this union were born four sons and three daughters. Two sons and one daughter died in infancy and one daughter, Miss Maggie, died about ten years ago. His wife died in 1893. the living children are John J. and Joseph P. of Roberts and Mrs. Patrick Gallihue of Piper City. He also leaves a number of grandchildren here and at Piper City, and other relatives in Chicago and Cincinnati, also a large number of friends who join the family in sorrow at this death. While working at the Tremont House Mr. Russell formed the acquaintance of a man by the name of Patrick Brady. A few years later they met at Onarga and learned that both had moved out in this part of Illinois. Their friendship lasted until Mr. Brady's death a short time ago and they visited each other frequently, both having lived to ripe old age.
Mr. Russell was a man of ability, good judgement and jovial companion. He was a good father and an accommodating neighbor. He was devoted to his church and was faithful in its support. Having lived for sixty-one years on the same farm one would think that he had lived among the same neighbors all these years, but he has seen the whole neighborhood change several times. Only he and a faithful few have lived all these years in this neighborhood. For several years the farm has been in charge of his son but during all this time it has been his home as well.
The funeral service was held at the Catholic church in Roberts, Wednesday morning, August 4th, at ten o'clock, Rev. Father Quinlisk of Lee, Illinois, Father S?lva of Piper city and Father McMullen, pastor of the church here, officiating. The pall bearers were grandsons of the deceased.
Among those present from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. Barry, Mr. and Mrs. Ryan, Mrs. Quinn and daughter Miss Rosemary, Mrs. Julia Hart, Miss Laura Enright, Miss Mary Guilfoyle, and Messers. Mike O'Brien, Martin O'Brien, Frank Enright, and Stephen Guilfoyle of Chicago; Miss Nellie Maher of Omaha; John Fitzgerald and son Ray and daughter Miss Mollie of Clinton; John McNamara and daughters Misses Marie and Mildred of Cullom; John McGreal, Miss Sadie McGreal and Mrs. Lyons of Fairbury; Mrs. Suyder of Champaign and many others from the surrounding towns.

--Roberts Herald.  11 August 1920.