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Russell County, the 81st county in Kentucky, was established in 1825, out of parts of Adair, Wayne, and Cumberland Counties and was named after Colonel William Russell. The historian Collins wrote the following in 1873 about Russell County: "It is a small county, situated in the south middle section of the state and lies on both sides of the Cumberland River; is bounded north and northeast by Casey, east by Pulaski, southeast by Wayne, south by Clinton and west
and northwest by Cumberland and Adair Counties. The beautiful level bottom lands on the Cumberland are very fertile, but the surface of the county is generally hilly and broken, good streams of water abound and two woolen factories were established before 1847 and many other factories might be advantageously established. In the year 1870, Russell County had a population of 2,125 and the towns of the county seat were described as small."
Colonel William Russell, for whom the county was named, was born in Culpepper County, Virginia in 1758. In 1774, when he was only 15, he joined an expedition under Daniel Boone against the indians and was in such excursions repeatedly until 1780. Later he became a lieutenant and was engaged in such famous battles as the revolt in King's Mountain, Whitsell's Mills, and Guilford Courthouse and an expedition against the Cherokee Indians. After the Revolutionary War, he came as a
Captain to Fayette County, Kentucky and served under General Charles Scott, Colonel James Wilkinson, and General Anthony Wayne against the Indians. During these years, he played a gallant and distinguished role. In 1808, President Madison appointed him to the command of the frontiers against Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. He helped to plan the successful campaign against the Peoria Indians. When peace ensued, he retired to his farm is Fayette County. In 1824, he was
made candidate for Governor, but he was defeated. In the following year, 1825, he suffered an illness from which he never recovered. |
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