AMELIA AUGUSTA RUSSELL HARRIS

1863-1889

 

Amelia Augusta Russell, daughter of Sarah Etta Rarrick and Augustus Palmer Russell, was born in Sutter County, California January 24, 1863 according to family and Bible records. She was listed in the 1870 Federal Census of Sutter County as “Lomelia” (sic) the 6 year old daughter of A.P. Russell. The 1880 Federal Census lists her as Amelia, 17 in the household of Augustus Russell in Sutter Township, Sutter County, California.

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In 1883, she married James William Harris. Their first son was Alpha, born in 1883. Their second son was Henry in 1885. In 1886, Amelia’s sister, Ella and her husband and two children visited their family. While there, all the children of both families were stricken with scarlet fever, which resulted in the death of little Henry. The others were dangerously ill, but recovered. This was a difficult time for their little family, but they then they had a daughter, Ella May in 1889.

 

By the time Alpha was 15 years old, he was working in the mines with his father. We read bits of information of her life from some letters to her parents (1887-1889). Amelia said that James had gotten hurt on the job and was so worried he wouldn’t make it. He couldn’t be moved, so Alpha stayed with him there. In another letter, she talks about Clara (her mother’s half-sister) who lives close by and how Della is starting school. Ella visits her also. She doesn’t live too far away. Ed, Ella’s son is fifteen and stays with them at times, working through the summers. She also tells of the Sunday School that is finally up and running and good preaching.

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Alpha then died at the age of fifteen years old in 1898. No record of cause of death is found at this time. Amelia died the following year, leaving ten year old Ella May with her father. James left Ella May with Amelia’s sister, Ella. We find later that Ella May died in Deaconess Home, Washington at age 17 years old.

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Two years after Amelia died, James married Martha Letsom and had three more children. A son, Waldo, died at one year old, a daughter, Mable, who died at 18 years old, the second daughter, Lithia, lived to a good age. These last children of James’ are not blood relatives to the Russells, but would’ve been half-brothers & sisters.