Alletta M. Crawford Russell

Alletta M. Crawford, the daughter of Calvin C. and Elizabeth (Moses) Crawford, was born at Waldo, Marion County, Ohio on August 25, 1847. She accompanied her family to farms in Illinois and then back to Ohio during her childhood. Alletta came to Liberty Township, Henry County, Ohio in 1863-1864. At Liberty Township, she married William Henry Russell on October 25, 1876.

William Henry Russell was the son of William and Eliza (Ingraham) Russell. He was born on July 6, 1844 at Perrysburg, Wood County, Ohio. His father was engaged in the general merchandise business at Perrysburg and he was at one time the sheriff of Wood County. From 1849 until 1864 William Russell was a junior partner in the firm of Smith & Russell at Texas, Ohio. After the Civil War, William Henry Russell's father bought the homestead farm which was northwest of Liberty Center.

The early married life of William Henry and Alletta Russell was spent on farms in Liberty Township, Henry County, Ohio, Ladora, Iowa and at Broken Bow, Custer County, Nebraska. Later Henry returned to Liberty Center where he was a farmer, merchant and drayman. 'They affiliated with the Methodist Church there.

William Henry Russell had served as a member of Co. B, 38th Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. He served all through the war with considerable distinction and took part in many of the important battles of the war. In his later life he received a pension for his service to his country and Henry was a member of the G.A.R.

William Henry died at the Toledo State Hospital at Toledo, Ohio on July 8, 1923 and he was buried in Young's Cemetery at Liberty Center.

In her later years Alletta Russell lived in a house on the corner of Maple and Damascus Streets in Liberty Center. The house was given to her by her sister Dorcas Martin. This site is now occupied by the Redwood Dairy Bar. Alletta died at Liberty Center on March 21, 1934 and she was buried beside her husband in Young's Cemetery.

W.H. and Alletta Russell were the parents of two daughters. Lillian M. Russell was born at Liberty Center on May 31, 1880. She was a teacher in the schools of Henry County when she married Herbert L. Beilharz on Dec. 23, 1901 at Toledo, Ohio. Lillian Beilherz died at Swanton, Ohio on Nov. 7, 1965.

Dorcas A. Russell was born on September 10, 1884 at Broken Bow, Nebraska. Before her marriage she was the postmistress of Liberty Center. She married Albert L. Stevens on Feb. 17, 1918 at Wauseon, Ohio. Albert Stevens was the son of Charles W. and Mary J. Stevens. His father was a veteran of the Civil War. Albert Stevens was born at Fulton County, Ohio on February 6, 1880 and he was brought to Liberty Township during his childhood. After receiving an education in the Liberty Center schools, Albert engaged in the employment of Ward Young as a clerk at the age of 18. Ward Young ran a general store at Liberty Center. In 1907 Albert Stevens joined the wholesale firm of Burnham, Stoepel and Company of Detroit, Michigan. As a traveling salesman of dry goods and notions he visited all over northwestern Ohio. He followed this occupatino for about twenty years when he took off a year for rest and recuperation. Albert then was employed by the Emerson Cap Company until his failing health caused his early retirement. Albert Stevens died at Liberty Center on June 30, 1931 at the age of 51 years.

After her husband's death, Dorcas lived at Toledo and then at several locations in southern Michigan where she worked as a housekeeper and companion. Dorcas later returned to her home in Liberty Center until her health failed. She died at a McClure, Ohio nursing home on June 25, 1974. Albert and Dorcas Stevens are buried in Young's Cemetery. Dorcas was a member of the Methodist Church.

Submitted by: Robert Barnes