Gilbert, Frank T. "Historic Sketches of Walla Walla, Whitman, Columbia and Garfield Counties, Washington Territory; and Umatilla County, Oregon." Portland, OR: Print & Lithographing House of A. G. Walling, 1882. p. a34. CHARLES RUSSELL was one of the first settlers in the Walla Walla valley. The missionaries were here before him, so were the Hudson's Bay Company's servants, Canadians, and prior to the war of 1855-6, the Americans had attempted a settlement here and had been driven away by the Indians. When the soldiers came to chastise those Indians, Mr. Russell came with them as Wagon Master, and has been here continuously since. He is a native of Boston, Mass., where he was born September 18, 1828. His father was a doctor; but the boy saw no luring light in the future of a professional life, and longed for the free open sea and to look upon the scenes of other lands and countries, where his youthful imagination pictured castles of hope and a life of excitement and adventure. At ten years of age he left home and went to sea, and in 1846 enlisted in the Marine Service and sailed on the sloop of war Dale for the Pacific CoaSt. He participated in the war that gave California to the United States, and finally was discharged from service in New York in 1850. He then came again to California, by the Isthmus route, where he soon entered into the U. S. Quartermaster department, and was connected therewith most of the time up to 1855, with General Allen. In 1855 Lieutenant Robert Williamson in command, accompanied by Lieutenants George Crook, Horatio Gibson, Phil. Sheridan, and Abbott, visited Oregon for the purpose of finding a railroad route through the Cascade range of mountains, and Mr. Russell accompanied them in charge of the pack train. In November of that year the party disorganized at the Dalles, and Mr. Russell took charge of transportation in the Yakima expedition under Major Raines, after the Indians ; and later came in charge of transportation to Walla Walla, under Colonel Steptoe, where he arrived in August, 1856. From that time until 1859 he was in charge of transportation for the Government, under the Quartermaster, in this section of country, having from 50 to 120 citizens in his employ most of the time. Under his supervision all the war parties were fitted out, including the ill-fated Steptoe reconnaissance, and the famed raid of Colonel Wright. Farming was introduced into the country by him, while acting for the Government ; as is more particularly noted under the head of "Agriculture." In making this statement we do not forget that Dr. Whitman had tilled the bottom land around his mission years before, and that the Canadians had raised little patches of grain and herbs. He has been an active man, and his operations have become a part of Walla Walla's history, and will be found woven into various places in this book. To avoid repetition they are not recorded in this connection. The farm where he now lives consists of 720 acres, lying along the creek bearing his name, and there is no finer locality between the two great ranges of mountains. It is all fenced and mostly cultivated, and has sufficient orchard for all except market proposes. It is situated three miles in an air line east of Walla Walla city. The soil is black bottom land and very productive. In 1881 Mr. Russell raised 9,500 bushels of oats, 5,000 bushels of wheat, 1,000 bushels of barley, and 500 tons of hay upon his farm. In 1860, November 21, he was married to Miss Annie Sheets, daughter of John Sheets, of Walla Walla, and their children's names and ages are as follows : Charles, born September 12, 1861 ; Mary, born January 2, 1863, died March 12, 1863 ; William, born May 20, 1864 ; Harry, June 8, 1866 ; Davinia, August 26, 1868 ; Nellie, December 31, 1872. * * * * Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in February 2007 by Diana Smith. Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.