H. W. Russell Socorro County, New Mexico

H. W. Russell, a mine operator at Magdalena, whose residence in the Territory dates from January, 1881, was born in Monroe County, Michigan, April 3, 1853. His preliminary education was supplemented by study in the University of Michigan for two years in the department of the School of Mines. On leaving home he had gone to Utah, where he was quite successful in his mining ventures, and it was subsequent to his return that he became a university student. He afterward went to Leadville, Colorado, where he worked in the mines from 1879 until coming to New Mexico, arriving in Socorro in January, 1881. Here he began silver mining, opening and superintending the Merritt mine. In 1882 he came to Magdalena, where he took up mining claims and employed a number of workmen on the Young America, south of Kelly, which is now producing lead, zinc, copper and gold in paying quantities, having produced to date ore to the value of about one hundred thousand dollars. The work of development has been carried on thus far to only a slight degree, so that there is a bright future before the mine. Mr. Russell was also- superintendent at Silver Monument mine in the Black Range for five years, from 1888 until 1893, and in 1887 was superintendent of a mine in old Mexico. In 1886 he was superintendent of the Graphic, opening it when it was owned by Governor Thornton and Messrs. Shelby and Mandesfield.

On the 16th of September, 1885, Mr. Russell was married in Magdalena to Miss Ada M. McClellan, and their children are Ora, Rolla and Aileen. Rolla was born September 18, 1800, a day after the last two white men were killed by Apaches at the mine of which Mr. Russell was superintendent. He served as a private with the Socorro Rangers in the Apache war and aided in driving the Indians from the country, so that no more horrors occurred as the result of their cruelty and depredations. Fraternally he is connected with San Marcial Lodge, No. 1, A. O. U. W., and in politics is a Democrat. He has intimate knowledge of the history of mining operations in his section of New Mexico, and in the work of development has contributed to the substantial progress and prosperity of the Territory.

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Source: History of New Mexico, Its Resources and People, Volume II, Pacific States Publishing Co., 1907.