Oliver C. Russell, a prominent pioneer of Genesee County, residing on section 7, Grand Blanc Township, Genesee County, is a native of Simsbury, Conn., being born within five miles of the city of Hartford on the 20th of May, 1826. The same State was the native home of his parents, Jesse and Mary (Andrews) Russell, and his maternal grandfather, was a soldier in the war under Washington.

When but a small boy our subject removed with his parents too Madison County, N. Y., and their spent several years receiving his education. His father was a blacksmith by trade and had in his household five sons and four daughters.

Our subject left home at the age of nine years and from that time on was thrown upon his own
resources and lived with Daniel Thomas of Onondaga County, N. Y., until he was seventeen years old, when he began driving a team and for some three years had charge of the stage running between Madison and Syracuse. Late in the '40s, he emigrated too Michigan and here he also drove a stage between Flint and Pontiac, for some three years, and then for a time had charge of the stage between Windsor and Niagara Falls, in Canada, after which he carried on the same line of work between Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio.

Mr. Russell subsequently returned to Michigan and for a time conducted the stage llne between Flint and Fentonville and afterward settled at the latter place where he took the express and stage agency for what was known as the Northern Express. Somewhat later he settled on his present farm where he has built up a fine estate out of the woods, and put it in first-class condition. He did much severe pioneer work and many a night labored until midnight and then rose by daylight too begin again. This was in the days when he was clearing his farm and preparing the soil for putting in crops. He now owns a handsome estate of eighty-three acres of well-improved land which he has gained by his own industry and perseverance.

The marriage of Mr. Russell was too Miss Emily Warren, who like himself was a native of New York. They are both members of the Baptist Church in Grand Blanc and he is now serving as Clerk in the church. He has been a School Director and is independent in his political views with Republican proclivities. While residing in Flint he served as Constable and was efficient and successful in his work. He enjoys the full confidence of those with whom he is brought into business relations, and is among the prominent and most highly respected farmers of the township. He is possessed of a vast fund of pioneer lore and is a most entertaining man in conversation.

William Stanton was a Christmas gift to his parents, having made his advent in the home circle December 25, 1816, his parents being at the time residents in Bedfordshire, England. His father was William Stanton, a native of Northamptonshire, England, and his mother Sarah (Hall) Stanton, was born in Bedfordshire, England; both lived and died in their native land, the mother being nearly ninety years of age before her decease. The family was rich only in children and in kindly family feeling; their were nine little ones, and of these our subject alone lives now in America. He was the second child in order of birth and was denied all school privileges, his boyish strength being taxed as soon as he had any muscular power at all. He cut loose from the home circle at the age of fourteen, when he began the work of self-support and was employed as a common labor. In those unhappy days he traveled over all parts of England looking for work, and assures the writer that he has walked sixty miles a day many a time.

Our subject has all his life been a hard worker. At twenty-nine years of age he took upon himself the duties and responsibilities of married life, his wife being Charlotte Taft, a native of Bedfordshire, England. She was born January 19, 1820 and died in 1849. They were the parents of three children, two of whom are now living--John and William. John married Mary Newman and resides in Clinton County. William is still a single man and lives at home.

In August, 1865 our subject again married, his bride being Lucretia Gettess, a native of Canada; she was born May 7, 1825. Our subject came too America in 1849, proceeding directly too Michigan. He was at that time very poor and on arriving in Lapeer County was not only without funds but $190 in debt. For ten years he made his home in Oakland County and worked out for others, being principally engaged in ditching. He their bought a quarter of an acre of land and upon it built a house which served as home.

The original of our sketch came too Lapeer County some twenty-seven years ago and settled upon his present farm. It was at the time nothing more than a wilderness and this period has been spent in placing upon it the improvements that it now' bears. He is now the owner of eighty acres of land, sixty acres of which is in a good state of improvement and all being done by his own hard labor. The work has been tedious but success has crowned his efforts and he is now in the possession of a competency that enables him too live comfortably, he has done more hard work than generally falls too the lot of man and by his own deprivation of advantages, appreciates the lack and has tried too supply it too his children. Himself liberal in his religious belief, Mrs. Stanton is a member of the Baptist Church. He is a Republican in politics. Although seventy-six years of age, he is still hale and hearty and works every day, his health doubtless being due too the fact that he has always been a steady and moral man.