ELBERT ROBERT RUSSELL

1908-2005

 

Elbert grew up as an only child t o Robert and Alma (known to family as Alma Rob). He finished his junior year in high school, then went on with his life. When he was twenty-two years old, he was logging according to the federal census. Later, he started working at truck service. He worked his way up to parts manager.

 

Elbert married Erna in 1928. They were both nineteen years old. Erna’s father was from Germany and her mother was born in Switzerland. She was born in Minnesota after they arrived in America. When Erna was six years old, they moved to Chico on a peach and almond farm. Chico is where she met Elbert. Erna finished her junior year in high school, and then had to help out at the farm and got a job as a switchboard operator at Chico Telephone Company.

  

Elbert and Erna had two daughters, Yvonne (1930) and Donna (1933). Elbert and Erna divorced. Elbert kept Yvonne and went to his mother’s house and Erna kept the 3 month old baby, Donna. He soon remarried to Alice Eiszele March 1934.

  

Erna remarried also, to Glen Wagner in March of 1935 and they moved to the Jay Wagner Almond Ranch. They had a child together, Glenda (1937). Glen raised Donna as his own daughter. Glen died in a car accident in 1963. Erna died in 1999.

 

It seems that these second marriages for both of them were very good as they lived the rest of their lives with their spouses.

  

Elbert’s father died in 1932. His mother, Alma, lived next door to Elbert and she lived there until she died in 1958. Elbert was always there to look after her.

  

On the 1940 federal survey, Elbert was the assistant manager operations at the garage where he worked. He made $1900, which was excellent pay for that time.

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Elbert and Alice had two sons; Robert (1942) and John (1944). Elbert and Rainous Todd were first cousins and lived in the same area, so they visited each other a lot. Elbert’s father was Robert. Rainous’ mother was Etta. They were brother and sister. They both were born in Sutter. Robert was nine years old when he moved to Oregon with his parents. His older sister, Etta was already married and moved at the same time to Washington. But they both ended up going back to California and lived close.  

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Sometimes, Thomas would stay at his Uncle Elbert’s house. Alma was always included in family gatherings. Alice died in 1987 at  seventy-two years old.  Elbert died in 2005 at ninety-six years old.

 

Alice and Elbert were married for fifty-three years.