Edward A. Russell, my fourth great-grandfather, lived only a couple of years after he turned 30. He is a Civil War veteran, who probably died around the end of the war. I have discovered some more information about Edward, that goes against what is commonly on family trees.

Edward’s parents were Sarah Shaw and Peyton Russell. They lived in Maury County, Tennessee. Edward was 19 and living with his parents on the 1850 census in District 17.  Given census records, he was born in either 1831 or 1832.

On November 19, 1851, he married Jemima Owens, daughter of Mary Polly Randall and Reuben Owens. She was eight years his senior. Their marriage must have been short, because Jemima is not on the 1860 census or any thereafter. Best guess is that Jemima passed away in 1857 or before because…

On September 17, 1857, he married Jemima’s younger sister, Martha Ann Owens. Martha was closer to his age, only a year younger.

Now on the 1860 census, we have the Russell family living in Dickson County, near Danielsville. Edward and Martha are listed with two daughters: SF born in 1855 and ML born in about 1859. Since the couple didn’t wed until late 1857, I doubt SF was Martha’s daughter. SF is likely Jemima’s daughter. The family trees I’ve seen credit her to Martha, although that probably is not true.

I had hopes to figure out who “SF” was, and thanks to Ancestry DNA, I’ve solved the mystery.

As for Edward, on May 10, 1861, he enlisted in the Civil War, fighting in the confederacy as part of the First Tennessee Infantry, Maney’s / Feild’s, Company G, Brown Guards. The Brown Guards were mainly men from Maury and Hardin counties.

Edward is on a roll for September and October 1861 listed as “sick at Hot Springs”. He disappears until a roll for May and June 1862 states he rejoined at Corinth, Mississippi for two more years “or the war”. His role was “detached as teamster”. In his civil war packet, I found clothing receipts and other rolls. He’s getting paid as a wagon driver. The last time he’s mentioned is on the January and February 1864 roll. I haven’t been able to track him down after that.

Maybe Edward made it home after the war, but since the paper trail ends here, I am guessing he didn’t.

His widow, Martha, married Andrew Crutcher on December 27, 1868 in Robertson County, Tennessee. Martha never did have any more children, only my third great-grandmother, Nancy Louisa Russell. (She was falsely called ML on the 1860 census.)

In 1870, Martha, Andrew, and Nancy “Louisa” are living in Cedar Hill, District 6, Robertson County. Louisa is incorrectly listed with the last name Crutcher. Martha’s step-daughter, “SF”, is not living with the family.

In 1880, Louisa, her husband, George Washington Bennett, and children are living with Martha and Andrew in Cedar Hill. The 1880 census was the last census Martha and Andrew appeared on.

Louisa lived to be 72 years old and passed away in Nashville, Tennessee in 1931, having reared a large family. I am descended from her son James Alonzo Bennett.

If you are related to this family, please email me at downhomegenealogy@gmail.com.

Last Updated 1/24/2018