David L. Russell (1835-1913), the first master of the Washington State Grange, served six years from September 10, 1889, to June 6, 1895. He was born in West Virginia June 20, 1835, moved to Missouri at six, then by ox team to the gold rush at Placerville, California, in 1849. He returned to Missouri 1852, married Nancy B. Bybee, was captain of a Missouri militia company two years during the Civil War, moved to San Francisco, via New York and Panama, with a wife and two children in 1864. He took a homestead near Battle Ground in Clark County Washington Territory, in 1866. Nancy died at 35 of appendicitis in 1873 leaving him with the three daughters and a son, all of whom survived him. In 1875, he married Elizabeth Durgan, who had three children previously. In 1882, he bought a dairy farm on the Columbia River near Washougal. He lived in Vancouver for several years and served on the city council. Russell served in the Territorial Legislature 1873-75 and for many years as justice of the peace at Washougal. He was a Methodist, Democrat and member of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) He died August 22, 1913, at 78. The 1924 State Grange session memorialized the passing of Elizabeth Russell. submitted by: Bobbie Keist McClenny, bobbie661 at comcast.net