CARDINGTON OHIO HERITAGE - Key Persons

Abraham Virgil was my great-grandfather. He was born June 15, 1860. Following is information I have right now. As you can see, it is very confusing. In his obituary, it says he was the son of Martin and Jane Russell and was born near East Norton. Some genealogy papers I have (I don't know who did them) say he was born in Lincoln Township to Loren Russell and Jane Weaver Russell. This sounds more likely to me. Lonita Russell did descendants of Loren Russell. In her notes it says: Have a copy of his death certificate. Noted on death certificate. Death and additional information. Father and mother unknown. Abraham was an orphan. Also known as Virgil J. Russell. I have noticed in the notes and papers I have it looks like they called him V. J. I am going to try to find out more and will change this if I find anything. Abraham Virgil Russell, son of Martin and Jane Russell, was born near East Norton, June 15, 1860 and departed this life on the morning of December 1, 1927, aged 67 years 4 months and 15 days. He married for his life companion, Louisa Godfrey, who preceded him in death one year and eight weeks to the day. To this union seven children were born: Lennie, Lonnie, Charles, Clara, Cora, Dora and Ruby. The latter passing away during the epidemic of influenza. He is also survived by one sister, a niece, two nephews, ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. V. J. Russell passed to his reward Thursday morning after months of intense suffering. Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon from the home of his daughter with interment in Glendale by the side of his wife who died a year ago or more. His daughter, Ruby, also rests in Glendale. We would like to say that Mr. Russell had many good points, has done many kindly deeds and the writer recalls many of them. He had a "big" heart when it came to doing for others. He was gifted naturally as a mechanic and could do almost any kind of work he was called on to do. The death of Mrs. Russell and the breaking up of his home was a sad blow to him and his sickness dates from that time. Many beautiful floral tokens from friends testified to the fact he was well known and remembered and during his sickness many people called on him and sent things to cheer him. In this obituary it says he is survived by a sister. Below is a picture I have.

Edward Montalban James, son of L. W. and Martha Joy James, was born April 6, 1859, in the house where his life ended, Feb. 6, 1914. He was married June 17, 1880, to Miss Ollie Smith, who with one son, Lockworth James, and one daughter, Mrs. Nellie Russell, is left to mourn the loss of one of the best of husbands and fathers. The first fifteen years of his married life were spent on a farm near South Woodbury, where in 1880 he gave his heart to God and his hand to the church, His membership in the Woodbury M. E. church was retained until his removal to Cardington, nineteen years ago. His unusual kindness to others, his tenderness of heart, his patient endurance of trials, his devotion to his invalid wife and mother, are proof positive of his Christian spirit. Besides his immediate family, an aged mother, a sister (Mrs. Ollie Stovenour), a brother (A. W. James), and a little granddaughter (Hazel Russell), tenderly loved and his constant companion, grieve at the loss of a truly good man. Without a moment's warning he was called from earth to the life beyond. He had often said that he was willing to go at any time, and though he was glad to live for his family, perhaps death came as he would have had it. Though the shock of his loss is almost more than his loved ones can bear, we know that he has at last found rest.

Jane Weaver Russell were my Great-Great-Grandparents. I know very little about them. They were married on July 12, 1851. They had a son, Abraham Virgil (Virgil John). In V. J.'s obituary it says he had a surviving sister. A clipping I have says: Loren Russell, aged 89 years, died at the Infirmary last Saturday, June 20 th. Mr. Russell was a native of New York and was brought to the Infirmary from Bennington Township in 1881. He was buried on Monday, June 22 in the Sunfish burying ground.

Jean Campbell Winchell started this site, and here in her own words, she explains why she is putting so much time and effort into the project.

Louisa Godfrey Russell, daughter of Martin and Jane Godfrey, was born in Hancock County, Ohio, March 1, 1852, and passed away October 1, 1926, aged 75 years and 7 months, at her home, where she was stricken with paralysis over four years ago. Her parents departed this life when she was two weeks old and she, with her sister, was given a home with Sarah and Jonas Alspach, until she was united in marriage with Virgil John Russell, August 14, 1880. To this union were born seven children: Lennie Sanford and Lonnie Danford, Charles Oran, Sarah Dora and Cora Naomi, Clara Geneva and Ruby Lorena, who preceded her death on October 18, 1918, aged 27 years. Her sisters Elizabeth Stewart and Saloma Jane Henry, and brother, John Godfrey, have all preceded her in death. She leaves to mourn, her husband, six children, nine grandchildren, one great grandchild and a host of friends. When a young girl she became a member of the United Brethren church and remained a Christian up to the time of her death. She was a patient sufferer, bearing her affliction with never a murmur. Life was happiness itself to her and was spent in loving kindness to others. Rev. Orr, who came here to conduct the funeral services for Mrs. V. J. Russell, was the same pastor, United Brethren, who married them many years ago. One incident in Mrs. Russell's death was when no longer able to talk she wrote a note bidding them "goodbye".

My great-grandmother. She was born in Hancock County, Ohio on March 1, 1852 to Martin and Jane Godfrey. Her parents passed away when she was two weeks old and she, with her sister, Saloma Jane, were given a home with Sarah and Jonas Alspach. She lived with them until she was united in marriage with Virgil John Russell, August 14, 1880. They had seven children.

I am Marlen Duane Steward, cousin to Jean, and after I saw the wonderful work Jean was doing, I volunteered to help her and add my side of the Cardington heritage to the site.

Martin and Jane were Louisa May Godfrey's parents and were my Great-Great- Grandparents. They lived in Hancock County, Ohio and that is where Louisa was born. Her parents died two weeks after she was born on March 1, 1852. They had three other children: Elizabeth Godfrey Steward, Saloma Jane Godfrey Henry and John Godfrey.

From a bible page and a marriage record: Virgil John Russell and Louisa Godfrey were joined in marriage August 14, 1880 (a.d. one thousand eight hundred eighty) by Reverend Orr, elder of Center Church. They had seven children. Mrs. V. J. Russell died at her home in Cardington Saturday. The funeral was held Monday afternoon at the home of her son, Chas. Russell, conducted by Rev Orr of Basil, who was pastor of the United Brethren church here and married Mr. and Mrs. Russell forty-six years ago.

They had three children. Eugene Lockworth was born August 14, 1882, Nellie Dell was born December 25, 1884 and Ellsworth W. was born August 6, 1889 but only lived one day. He died August 7, 1889. They lived and farmed at South Woodbury, Ohio. When his mother, Martha Ann Joy James, fell and broke her hip he sold the farm at South Woodbury and they moved in with his mother and father. That was probably about 1893. My mother, Hazel, left notes telling things she remembered about her Grandfather Monty and things she remembered about being at Grandma and Grandpa's (James). This is what she wrote: I remember big old iron cookstove in summer kitchen out to grandpa's. He took one of the lids off and popped corn in a wire popper over the hot coals. I loved to see the kernels pop, big and white. I remember being his pride and joy. He brought me my first dolly - a little tin head. Before I was six, out at grandpa's and grandma's I can remember - the tall and low windows where I stood to watch the kids go past to Goosehaven school. The striped sack of peppermint in top chest of drawers. Grandpa lying in hickory "lazy boy" rocker, me stroking his very dark (black?) hair or him pretending to snooze, us laughing. The yellow and red Post Toasties box. Olive Elizabeth was my grandma's mother so she was my great-grandmother. She was born on May 26, 1861 to Elizabeth Speck Smith and William Henry Smith. She was the youngest of twelve children, five sisters and six brothers. She was the daughter of Wm. and Elizabeth Smith and was born May 26, 1861, in Cardington Township, Morrow County. June 17, 1880, she was united in marriage with Edward Montalban James. To this union were born three children, one of whom and the husband having preceded her in death. The deceased is survived by one son, E. L. James, and one daughter, Mrs. Nellie D. Russell, with whom she made her home, and one granddaughter, Hazel E. Russell; two sisters, Mrs. I. A. (Julia Ann) Collins, of Kansas, and, Mrs. E. Y. (Emily Isabel "Belle") Kingman, of Cardington; and three brothers, J. (John) B. (Britton) Smith of Cleveland, L. (Leander) W. (William) Smith of Oregon and H. (Henry) C. (Clifford) Smith of Cardington, also survive. Her membership was retained with the Woodbury M. E. church until about a year ago when she affiliated with the M. E. church at Cardington. She was a faithful and devoted member of the Willing Workers Sunday school class and always took an active part whenever her health would permit.