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“David Culbertson Russell was Born in Lawrence Co Ind. on June 3rd 1846 at the age of 9 years his Parents moved to North Salem Hendricks Co Ind. He grew to manhood on the farm. on April 30th 1864 he was mustered in to the army at Indianapolis Ind in Co. H. 132 Regt Ind. Volunteer Inftry. was mustered out at Indianapolis on Sept 7th 1864. Came to Iowa in Aug 1869 made his home at Minburn Dallas Co untill Mch 1870 when he came to Mitchellville In. Since which time he has lived in this Vicinity. He united with the Christian Church at North Salem Ind in Aug 1860 and has held to that Fellowship ever Since. Was Married to Mary E. Jones at Mitchellville Ia on May 9th 1872” [Loose paper.]

1850 U.S. Census, Spice Valley Township, Lawrence County, Indiana:
Page 361
Enumerated 15 August 1850
Dwelling 520, Household 520
Russell, Francis, 37, male, farmer, $960 in real estate, born in Kentucky
Russell, Emily J., 30, male [sic], born in Kentucky
Russell, Sarah F., 7, female, born in Kentucky
Russell, David, 4, male, born in Indiana
Russell, Martha E., 2, female, born in Indiana
Russell, William, 2/12, male, born in Indiana
Russell, Joseph, 21, male, farmer, $3,600 in real estate, born in Kentucky

1860 U.S. Census, Eel River Township, Hendricks County, Indiana:
Page 172
Enumerated 2 August 1860
Dwelling 1220, Household 1220
Russell, Francis, 47, male, farmer and cooper, $1,600 in real estate, $492 in personal estate, born in Kentucky
Russell, Emily, 40, female, born in Kentucky
Russell, Sarah F., 16, female, born in Kentucky
Russell, David, 14, male, born in Indiana, in school
Russell, William, 10, male, born in Indiana, in school
Russell, Charles, 7, male, born in Indiana, in school
Russell, Jacob, 3, male, born in Indiana
Russell, Christiana, 7/12, female, born in Indiana

1870 U.S. Census, Washington Township, Jasper County, Iowa, Colfax Post Office:
Page 10
Dwelling 71, Household 69
Russell, Francis, 56, male, white, farmer, value of personal estate $2,940, born in Kentucky, U.S. citizen over 21
Russell, Emily, 50, white, female, keeping house, born in Kentucky
Russell, David, 24, male, white, on a farm, born in Indiana, U.S. citizen over 21
Russell, Wiliam, 20, male, white, on a farm, born in Indiana
Russell, Charles, 17, male, white, on a farm, born in Indiana
Russell, Jacob, 12, male, white, born in Indiana
Russell, Christian, 10, female, white, born in Indiana
Russell, Libbie, 8, female, white, born in Indiana

On 9 May 1872, David C. Russell and Mary E. Jones were married at Mitchelville, Polk County, Iowa. [Marriage certificate.]

1880 U.S. Census, Mitchellville, Polk County, Iowa
Page 10, Enumeration District 118
Second Street
Dwelling 100, Family 101
Russell, David C., white, male, 33, married, laborer, born in Indiana, both parents born in Kentucky
Russell, Mary E., white, female, 28, wife, married, dress maker, born in Indiana, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in North Carolina
Russell, Harry, white, male, 4, son, single, born in Iowa, both parents born in Indiana

1900 U.S. Census, Beaver Township, Mitchellville, Polk County, Iowa
Sheet 4B, Enumeration District 60
Fourth Street
Dwelling 96, Family 96
Russell, David C, head, white, male, born June 1846, 53, married for 27 years, born in Indiana, both parents born in Kentucky, clothing salesman, 0 months not employed, can read and write, speaks English, owns home free of mortgage
Russell, Mary E, wife, white, female, born October 1851, 48, married for 27 years, mother of 5 children of whom 2 are living, born in Indiana, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in South Carolina, can read and write, speaks English
Russell, Morris A, son, white, male, born August 1895, 4, single, born in Iowa, both parents born in Indiana

1910 U.S. Census, Beaver Township, Mitchellville, Polk County, Iowa
Sheet 2A, Enumeration District 63
Fourth Street
Dwelling 39, Household 34
Russell, David C., head, male, white, 64, married once for 38 years, born in Indiana, both parents born in Kentucky, speaks English, salesman for clothing store, wage worker, not out of work on April 15th, not out of work in 1909, rents house
Russell, Mary E., wife, female, white, 59, married once for 38 years, born in Indiana, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in North Carolina, speaks English, no occupation, can read and write
Russell, Maurice, son, male, white, 15, single, born in Iowa, both parents born in Indiana, speaks English, no occupation, can read and write, in school

On 25 March 1913, David Culbertson Russell wrote to his son and daughter-in-law, Dr. & Mrs. H. J. Russell:
M.-Ville Ia 3-25-13
Dear [illegible]
While it snows now at 1-30 PM I will “Pen” you a few lines. It is not cold nor windy today but is snowing some all day so far. Mama went to Des Moines this morning at 9-23 and will probably put in the day She wanted to do a little shopping and maybe go out to Joes for a little while She is pretty lame since Sunday. She went to Church and as she “stepped” up on the walk leading up to the church she tripped and fell striking on both of her knees and it nearly put her out of commission She is some better today or she could not have gone to D-M. She has had a bad cold for 2 or 3 weeks But is getting better of it -- and think when spring opens up She will be all O.K. again. Fred & Delia were up over Sunday. They expected to go home on early train yesterday morning but failed to make connection so then were going at 1 Oclk but the train did not go so Fred took a car and went to D-M thinking he might go on to Omaha but finally decided to not do so and telephoned Delia to go home on 302 at 5 oclk the train he went on so they went at that time. The excitement heere over the awful havoc wrought in Omaha and Council Bluffs and all over was intense. We were very anxious to learn whether Cora’s folks were stricken or not but have not heard anything however by all newspaper reports we think they were not in the line of the storm. hope you have definite information from them and that they are all Safe. it must have been awful indeed. Asa Mormon lives there and was in the path of the tornado his home being on 35th Street and the greatest distruction was wrought from 24 to 40 streets it seems Charles Mormon went to D-M. on the 10:43 car expecting to cath #17 out from there for Omaha. up to last evening Mr Mormon had heard nothing free him Mrs Mormon was at Asa’s visiting and they are fearful that they are possibly injured I hope they hear from them today and that all will be well with the folks -- we could imagine how intensely eager Cora would be to know that her folks were all safe and I hope you know by this time -- possibly you could get word by wire or phone from Council Bluffs but out here we could get nothing. did it storm at Sioux City on that evening I tell you it looked “suspicious” around here we expected a storm here but got throug [sic] without any serious disturbance although it seems that every body had an “eye out” while it thundered and lightened and roared and threatened. Well I “pass” Maurice broke his ring where it had been “Joined together” when it was made to fit him he was playing “catch” and the ball came to him in such a way as to strike and break the ring. he has it in the shop but it is not fixed yet he thinks it will be all right when it is soldered again. Cora Mama says tell you her Easter hat got “froze” too -- well it was not a very[?] suitable day here on which to display Easter finery. but we had a good Bible school attendance and a fine audience for church with some good selections of songs and a grand Sermon. So they report I was not there was not well and had to go home at the beginning of S.S 119 present in spite of a bad day got “Harrys Picture” last night and Maurice says he thinks Harry marked the best looking one in the bunch for himself Mama says she would have known it if it had not been marked. I am not sure that I would have known it -- but I must close while it still snows and the time sure goes. Our chicks give us from 21 to 27 eggs a day now and they are worth 18¢ wish you were close enough to have some of them they are fine have sold 75 Doz to date -- write often. with lots of love
Yours David Culbertson Russell &c
Addressed to:
Dr. & Mrs H. J. Russell
2910 Nebraska Street
Sioux City
Iowa

On 23 May 1913, David Culbertson Russell wrote to his son, Dr. Harry Jones Russell:
Mitchellville Ia 5/23/13
Dear Children
On this beautiful “sunlight” morning I feel inspired to drop you a line -- the weather has been so bad & gloomy we have felt no inclination to write or even think if in my [any?] condition but today is more cheerful but quite cold down to about 40 to 45 this morning I think the “cold snap” will let up now and we will get some good weather -- gardens doing fine & we are using radishes, onions and lettuce from our garden. The Peas & Beans are almost in bloom and looking fine Our last hatch of chicks came off on the 15th they are the “Plymouth Rock” Variety -- and run all over the Place -- we let them run but keep the hens shut up. We had a hatch of 69 out of 85 Eggs -- the “test out” at the end of 1 week was 15 eggs which were “infertile” which left 85 to bank on we set 100 we think that is pretty good. Our hens are laying so well and are attracting so much attention that we are getting several calls for eggs to set but with only 1 cock with 34 hens we cant recommend the eggs as fit to bank on so dont sell them. But Mrs Beriah Battles telephoned your mother on yesterday that she wanted a setting any way so we will sell them to her at the regular market price
Well we are all going along at the same old gate Mama & Maurice are “doing fine” I am simply no good. have had a pretty fair nights rest since Harry was here but generally am beating the air for more wind which I seem unable to get last night was a hard night for me did not rest any time worth while If I dont get headed up grade pretty soon am going to see some other Dr I still have a “harvest hand” appetite and eat plenty of good Wholesome foot but am loosing strength & flesh every day -- I am in the hopes that I can get out in the sun today some and maybe it will invigorate me some.
I had a letter from Aunt Tena Owens of Pomona Cal. and also from Aunt Libbie at Indianapolis. they both wrote such sweet spirited letters that it did me good am sorry I cant see them once in a while.
Fred and Delia were up on Sunday went back Monday they are getting on nicely although Delia is not strong at all. they alway [sic] remember you folks and wish they could see you often.
Well Tonight is the big night for the high school Graduation exercises and the final touches on their “last lap” in school work Maurice is very proud of his “achievement” they will no doubt have a nice time am sorry I cant go but am afraid it would be to strenuous for me. They had a fine sermon on Sunday night by Dr Martin a synopsis of which you will see in the Index which I will send today. The class address on last night by Supt. Degoe[?] was fine but I could not be there -- but I must close for I’m getting so nervous I can scarecly write. Kindly overlook mistakes in this “ramble” -- How are your tomato plants? the cutworms are at ours and doing some damage I close with best wishes and lots of love to you both write often
Papa
To: Dr Harry Jones Russell
2910 Nebraska Street
Sioux City
Iowa

“Father Died July 17 1913” [Sheet inserted into Jones-Russell Family Bible.]