Surnames: Russell, Reifsnider, Gordon, Vanderbilt

----Source: NEILLSVILLE TIMES (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 06/20/1907

Russell, John & Mary (50th - 2 APR 1907)

In Waupun village, on Tuesday, April 2nd, 1857, John Harman Russell and Mary A. Reifsnider were united in marriage by the Baptist minister, Rev. Williams. Both are native Americans. After the groom’s grandsire died, on board his own whale ship, his parents left New York City and finally moved to Wisconsin territory in June 1846 and settled in the young village of Waupun, in which place the county line is a center street between Fond du Lac and Dodge Co.

Mrs. Russell treasures the large old family Bible, which contains the family record of her mother’s grandmother, Vanderbilt, and well remembers her mother telling the children about her uncle Cornelius Vanderbilt’s farm, and about his colored servants, on the farm and also house servants, calling them by name. They also highly prize the handsome ivory tooth of a great whale, secured by the sea captain after assisting in the whale’s capture.

After living some years in Madison and Milwaukee, the Russells moved to Clark County, into the beautiful woods of the Town of Fremont, late in the year 1876.

Seven of their eight children are living, six are married, and all have left the parent’s roof. Of their grandchildren, one is married. The septuagenarians still live in Clark County, and moved to Neillsville last year. One dear sister of Mrs. Russell, Mrs. Gordon of Marion City, Kansas, is the only living witness of the whole wedding party.