Russell - Harvey
Source: Cockrell, Ewing. History of Johnson County, Missouri. Topeka: Historical Pub. Co., 1918, p. 867.
Harvey Russell,
proprietor of the Willowdale Stock Farm" and one of Johnson County's
most noble pioneers is at the age of 83, as active and alert physically
and mentally as men 25 years his junior. He was born Oct 22, 1834 in
Montgomery County, Kentucky son of Joseph and Elizabeth Penn Russell,
the former, a native of Loudon County, VA and the latter, a native of
Kentucky, a distance relative of the renowned William Penn, the founder
of PA. In 1856, the Russell family moved from Ky to Missouri, where they
settled near Pleasant Hill. Joseph Russell was a teacher by profession.
To Joseph and Elizabeth Penn Russell were born 7 childen: Dr. Joseph
Penn who for 40 years was engaged in the practice of medicine at
Waveland, Indiana; Dr. John T, a professor in Eminence College,
Eminence, Kentucky; Mrs. Charlotte Berry; Mrs. Katherine Penn; Mrs.
Emily Gillespie; Harvey, the subject of this review and Mrs. eLizabeth
Wherritt. Both father and mother have long since been deceased. In
private schools in Kentucky, Harvey Russell received his early
education. He was later a student for two years in Waveland Academy at
Waveland, Indiana, Montgomery county. Mr. Russell's first business
venture was at Pleasant Hill, where he and W.H.H. Gustin were in
partnership in the mercantile business for 24 years, the partnership
being dissolved in 1897, when Mr. Russell sold his interest in the
establishment to Mr. Gustin. The store is still being conducted in
Pleasant Hill, now under the firm name of Gustin & Son, their place
of business today the same as when Harvey Russell and Gustin were
partners more than a score of years ago. Leaving Pleasant Hill, Mr.
Russell came to Warrensburg, where he purchased 509 acres of land
located on Blackwater near Greendoor, Missouri. The tract of land has a
splendid drainage ditch crossing it and on this farm, which is widely
known as the Willowdale Stock Farm, Mr. Russell was for many years
engaged in raising Hereford cattle. A tenant, Mr. Miller, has occupied
the place for the past 13 years and he is engaged in general farming
there. Each winter, for 8 years past, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Russell have
spent in Miami, Florida, where they own a beautiful home Mr. Russell
enjoys fishing in the ocean at that place and in the winter of 1915
landed a 42-pound fish, rivaling the celerated Isaac Walton himself. Aug
29, 1907, Harvey Russell was united in marriage with Margaret Zoll, the
daughter of William and Sarah Martha Alderson Zoll, both of whom were
natives of Virginia. William Zoll came to Missouri in 1857 and located
at Lexington, where he remained six months. From Lexington he moved to
Warrensburg and the Zoll family resided on Gay Street which was not then
a part of the city of Warrensburg. Mr. Zoll purchased the BW Grover
farm and also 23 acres of land, the latter located ont he present
streets of Broad & Zoll. A part of the 23 acres, 3 3/4 acres now
comprise the present lovely woodland home, known as "The Pines," where
Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Russell reside when at home in Warrensburg. The
handsome and modern residence is surrounded by numerous, tall, stately
pine trees, which were planted by William Zoll more than 40 years. This
was the Zoll homestead. William Zoll was one of Warrensburg's most
prominent citizens and a leading man in civic affairs. During the Civil
War, he was public administrator. He and Sen. Francis M. Cockrell were
very dear and intimate friends and in spite of the fact that in the
civil War the two men were on opposing sides the friendship endured the
test of the bitter strife of the 60s and lasted throughout the life of
Wm .Zoll. The two friends were made Elers Emeritus of the Cumberland
Presbyt. Church of Warrensburg at the same time, when the union of the
Cumberland and Presbyterian Churches of Warrensburg occured. William
Zoll and Edward Kelley established the Zoll & Kelley Nursery
business in thisc ity more than 20 years. Later, Wm. Zoll purchased Mr.
K's interest and the firm became known as Zoll & Son. William and
Sarah Martha (Alderson) Zoll celebrated their golden wedding anniversary
at the Pines in 1898 and 9 of the 10 chldren born to them were present.
Their chilren were: Allen A., whose death occurred in 1876; Charles H,
formerly county engineer and surveyor of Johnson Co at present residing
inMiami; Margaret who is the wife of Harvey Russell of this review; Mrs.
FLora Z. Briggs of Atchison, Ks; Mrs. Sallie Cllaway of waverly,
Missouri; Mrs. Mary Z. Doyle of Albany, Missouri, William Jr. who was
killed in 1899 in a wrecvk on the Missouri Pacific RR, being employed as
engineer by the company; George a, who resides at Fayetteville, Ark;
Dr. Frank C who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Reddick,
Florida and Robert L. of Miami, Florida. At the time of Mr. Zoll's death
in 1908 he was the oldest Mason in years of membership in Johnson
County. His death occurred at age 93 caused by a stroke of apoplexy 3
years previous. Prior to that, Wm. Zoll was keenly alert mentally and
physically very strong. He was well posted on all current events and
exceptionally well informed on political subjets, in which he always
took an active interst. Mrs. Zoll had preceded her husband in death many
years, her death occurred at age 71. Both father and mother were laid
to rest in the Cemetery at Warrensburg. Harvey Russell keeps abreast of
the times and has read extensively on current topics. He is a very
entertaining and gifted conversationalist. Possessing a remarkable
physical constitution, he is the equal, if not the superior of men more
than a score of years younger than hye. Since he was 82 he has mastered
the intricate machinery of an 8-cylinder Scripps Both car, and he is his
own chauffeur. Mr. and Mrs. Russell never speak of their "lost youth"
or represnt the period of youth as the end of happiness. Mr. Russell
states emphatically tha the is enjoying life more today than at any
other period in his career. He believes that, as Joseph H. Choate once
said in an after dinner speech when he was 78 , "The happiest years of
life are those between 70 and 90, and I advise you to hurry up and get
there as soon as you can." A visit at the Russell home, at the beautiful
Pines will convince anyone that it is a fallacy to lament one's lost
youth. Both Mr. and Mrs. Russell are giving johnson County a wonderful
example of how to grow old - not gracefully but triumphantly.