His grandfather Russell was a native of New Hampshire, and came to his death by a tree falling on him. The founders of the family came to this country from England in 1640. His father, Isaac Russell, was born in Wilton, New Hampshire, in March, 1804, and was a large farmer and sheep grower, often having over a thousand head of sheep on his farm. He sheared them and sold the wool, realizing a very handsome sum from the industry. His wife, Nancy Teuksbury, was a daughter of David Teuksbury, also a native of New Hampshire, whose ancestors were among the early settlers who came from England to the New England states.
John C. Russell moved with his parents to Vermont, where they resided for eleven years. He there attended the Thetford Academy until he was nineteen years old, when he returned to the farm and assisted his father for another year. About this time the gold excitement of California broke out, and Mr. Russell became afflicted with the fever which caused such an exodus to the coast. Accordingly, in March, 1850, he set out for the golden Eldorado going by way of the isthmus of Panama and landing in San Francisco. He at once went into the placer diggings in search of gold, and for two years enduring hardships that would have caused any but a stout heart to quail. The provisions were short, and a glass of water and one wormy cracker did service for a meal. However, as he had gone so far to secure riches, he was determined to succeed in the undertaking, and remained two years in the placer diggings, and had quite a snug sum to show for his perseverance. He then returned to his old home in Vermont, bought a large tavern and also conducted a store and town hall in the same building. He continued in this business for a number of years, and then sold out and went to McGregor, Iowa, on the Mississippi river, where he bought one hundred and seventy acres of the fertile land of the prairie state, and set about its improvement. He laid out a part of his farm in town lots, calling the place Windsow. He gave a number of the lots to the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, but continued to make his home there until 1860, when he once more went westward, going to Pikes Peak and taking goods to conduct a store in the mining regions. He' went to Nevada City, where he carried on an extensive grocery business for six or more years. He was thoroughly conversant with the mining business and saw in this knowledge a chance to still further improve his own fortunes. Accordingly he returned east and engaged in the sale of mining properties for other parties. These sales ranged in amount from fifty thousand to two hundred thousand dollars, and his commissions amounted to a handsome sum. He then opened an office in the city of New York, where he handled mining stock and property. He is now retired from active business, but employs his time in looking after his various properties.
After buying his farm in Iowa, he returned to Vermont, where he was united in marriage to Miss Angeline Osgood, of East Randolph, that state, a daughter of Deacon William and Almyra Osgood. He took his bride to his western home, where they resided for ten or more years. After returning from the west Mr. Russell purchased his present residence, which was formerly known as the Bennett property. It is situated in the vicinity of White Plains and is a very desirable property, having an elegant residence and commanding a lovely view of the surrounding country. He has resided here since its purchase. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Russell were five in number, and four are now living, viz: Charles W., of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Henry Clay, who is with his father on the farm; Frederick M., who is chemist and assayer at Wallace, Idaho, for the Standard Silver Mining Company; and Cora M., a lecturer. Mr. Russell is a member of Nevada Lodge, No. 4, F. & A. M., and is a man whose rich and valued experience in life has sharpened a naturally bright intellect, making him a person of sound, discriminating judgment, and in social life an entertaining and interesting conversationalist.
PAULDING, PETER
Peter Paulding, the former postmaster of White Plains, New York, was born here May 27, 1860, and belongs to a family long resident of America, the Pauldings having come to this country from Holland about the year 1640. Several generations of them have been born and have passed their lives in the state of New York.
John Paulding, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Westchester county, New York, and his son Hiram, the father of Peter, is a native of Tarrytown, on the Hudson, born in 1837. In Tarrytown the latter was reared and educated, early in life turning his attention to the study of law. He was in due time admitted to the bar and for the past forty years has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession, during this time filling numerous positions of local prominence and trust. Few men in Westchester county have a wider acquaintance or are more favorably known than he. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Charles A. Purdy. He was a lawyer by profession and for a number of years practiced in Westchester county.
Peter Paulding, the direct subject of this review, received his education in the private and public schools of his native town and is a graduate of the White Plains high school, a member of the class of 1876. On leaving school he engaged in newspaper work as reporter for several journals, among which were the New York Sun and New York Herald, for fifteen years devoting the whole of his time and attention to this work. In 1889 he was appointed by the Park Board of New York city, superintendent of the Van Cortlandt Park. This position he filled about one year and then returned to newspaper work. February 27, 1893, he was appointed by President Cleveland to the position of postmaster of White Plains, and served till May 1, 1898.
Mr. Paulding is a man of family. He was married December 21, 1889, to Miss Marie L. Fowler, of Flushing, Long Island, daughter of Joseph B. and Frances (Bogart) Fowler, and they are the parents of two children, Gertrude and Hazel.
Mr. Paulding is a member of White Plains Lodge, No. 473, F. & A. M. ; the Andre Monument Association, organized in memory of the capture of Major Andre; and the A. O. U. W. of the United States. He was at one time chairman of the White Plains Democratic Club, of New York, of which he has been a member for a number of years.
VAIL JOHN
About the year 1740 John Vail, who was the first of the name to locate in Westchester county, came from Long Island on horseback and settled in Somers township on a large tract of land embracing several hundred acres. From this tract many farms have since been sold, while a part of it is still retained in the family. He married Hannah McKeel, and lived to the extreme age of one hundred and four years. They were the parents of four sons and several daughters: the sons were Isaac, Moses, John and James.
Isaac made his home in this township during his entire life. He was conceded to be one of the best farmers in the county, and he accumulated considerable property. He dealt in livestock, doing an extensive business, especially in sheep and cattle. He married Elizabeth Carpenter, who was born in Yorktown, this county, a daughter of Jacob Carpenter. They brought up nine children, — Jacob, Isaac, Daniel, Betsey, Hannah, Abraham, James, John and George.
The only surviving member of this family is John, the subject of this sketch. He was born August 23, 1812, and is now in his eighty-eighth years He has been a most active man of business and closely identified with all that has pertained to the building up of the community. He has been one of the progressive farmers, dealing largely in cattle also, and handling them in car lots. His farm comprises one hundred and thirty-five acres in this township, while he owns also a farm of seventy acres in Yorktown township, near Lake Mohansic. He has planted an orchard of forty acres, from which he obtains some of the most delicious fruit, and he manufactures vinegar of the best quality. He is a man of intellect and takes a deep interest in the workings of the Republican party, with which he has lately been identified.
He was married in 1841, to Miss Sarah Cornell, who was born in this county, February 15, 1821, a daughter of Abraham Cornell, and died in her sixty-third year. They were the parents of five children, namely: Hannah, the wife of Nathaniel Flewellyn, of Yorktown: Oliver J., a resident of the same place; William Edgar, who occupies the old farmstead; Elias, a farmer of this township; and Ida, the widow of Hal Palmer, of Yorktown Heights. For years Mr. Vail has been connected with the Methodist Episcopal church and is highly esteemed for his upright conduct as a citizen and a man.
VAIL
