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Author: ELLinSpain
Surnames: russell
Classification: obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties...
Message Board Post:
I found this while poking around and its just toooooooo nice not to share:
TRIBUTE TO THE FRANK RUSSELL AND HIS FAMILY
3 April 2003
This family is/was very special to Frederick Karl White and his family.
Mr. and Mrs Frank Russell, were the best of neighbors to the Ray White family while they
lived on the farm, 2 1/2 miles east of Albany, Delaware Twp., Delaware Co., Indiana.
Fred White, and his bothers, and sister would go to the Russell home quiet often during
the week, to play, work and, just enjoy the "Russell" family. Frank and Fay
Russell, always treated by the "Ray White" family as one of their own; always
helping with the farming and other things the "White" family would be
endeavering in, at the time. Fred, his brothers, and sister, alwayst considered,
"Frank and Fay Russell" as their grand-parents, even knowing that they
wern't. The "Russell's", had horses and always let, the
"White" children ride them. The children also played many hours having fun, in
the "Russell" barn, on that farm, and in the "Russell" pond, where all
the children went swimming many times. At Christmas time, the two families would get
together often, to celabrate the holiday season.
Frank Russell (as we knew him), had a beautiful brick home, set in the woods on a small
hill. there was a windening long drive from the road to the house coming in from the east.
The entrance to the drive had two large brick posts on either side of the drive, with a
lovely iron gate.
There was a nice sized barn, located down from the house on the north side with a small
bridge going to the barn. In the winter time, the children would play on that hill with
their sleds. Sliding fron the top of the hill at the house, to the small bridge at the
bottom of the hill.
During, the summer time, the "White" boys, and the "Russell" boys,
would gather at the huge pond locacted to the west side of the Bridge, to go swimming
(skinning dipping), many times. Sometimes when the children were real little even, the
girls would go swimming also. Each time the children had a great time swimming; jumping
off of a raft, which seemed to be always in the middle of the pond.
I (Fred), remember one time, going swimming in the pond and all of us children being
frightened of a snake in the water, and climbing onto the raft to get away from that
snake. All, of us children seemed to think that
the snake would come up on that raft after us. But it did'nt, Thank goodness!
There was also, good times playing in the "Russell" barn; feeding the horses and
other animals, and also Watching, Frank, and Byron, milking the cows, while waiting on
Byron to do something with us kids. As a little boy (Fred White), I remembers getting on a
goat down, near the barn and pond; trying to ride that goat. I, remember getting bucked
off of that mean goat, and landing in a pile of stuff, a person would'nt want to step
in, or mention. In the winter time, the huge pond would become frozen over with ice, and
all of us children, would then go ice skating, or sledding on the sides of hills of the
pond onto the ice. We would build a huge bon fire to keep warm on the shore of that pond,
and gather around to drink warm cider, or
hot chocolate. Gee; that was fun for all of us!
I remember as teen-agers, going back to the old gravel pit, which was on that farm, and
also going sledding down those huge hills, and being pulled up by a white work horse,
which Byron Russell would have there, to help pull the sleds to the top of the hill, after
going down on our sleds. Boy, what Great memories. Many times, Frank Russell, and the
"Russell" boys, would have to break
the ice in the winter time, in the pond to feed their cattle, goats, pigs, and horses.
They would tell us "White" children often, how they would have to cut the ice in
chunks, and take those, ice pieces to the house to put
them in the Ice Box in the kitchen. Many times, the boys from the "White" family
would be there sometimes, to help bring in the Ice from the pond to the house.
On a few occasions in the winter time; Byron Russell, Frank, and Mrs Russell, after
hitching up a team of horses (or horse), to a huge red sleigh, and putting bells on the
horses harnesses, would bring the sleigh, and the horses to the "White" farm, to
go to Albany to do some shopping. I (Fred White), remember as a little boy, being so
excited to climb into that sleigh, with Frank, Mrs. Russell, Byron, Mom, Dick, and
Rebecca, and go to for a ride. How fun, it was to cover up under huge quilts to keep warm,
while we rode to town. We would sing, laugh, and just have the most
fun. Ssometimes just listening to the bells and the sounds of winter, in that sleigh; the
horses, and the sounds that the sleigh would make just going through the snow on the road
was such an experience. I, remember, during the fall of the year, as a pre-teen; going
down to
the Russell home, and hanging bright shinning, silver looking, buckets, on the Maple
trees, to catch the sap, as it came from the trees, so, to make surgar maple Frank would
sit for hours stirring a pot of that sap
to make the syrup, out back of the garage. My brothers, would go with Byron Russell in the
fall of the year to the
river sometimes, located beyond the boundry of the farm to gather sassafras roots. They
would tell me, of the swampy area down by the river, where they were told, that the place
was where an ancient indian burier ground was. My brother (Dick) would show me arrow heads
which he
found down there, and around that area. Today, my Brother has a large collection of arrow
heads etc., that he has collected over the years.
I have many memories of the Frank Russell family and its members. So many, that time and
space in this story cannot be elaborated on. I just know that my life has been blessed
with these memories and fun times with the Byron, and the Russell family at their home in
the woods. The homestead still exists, and is now owned by another family. Byron
Russell, now lives in a home, located north of this farm. Byron, has been a joy and great
friend to know. A short comment about him. He has been Santa Clause, to our family for
many years, and many other families around
the community. He, is a great man of integritry, of love, and service for all who knows
him.
signed: Frederick Karl White - Utah
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