Edward Lancin Russell

1865-1891

 

Edward’s mother died when he was but four years of age. His mother’s sister, Aunt Harriet Ellen Rarrick, cared for him and his two older sisters, who then married his father and became his stepmother.

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Edward kept a personal ledger (begun at age 17 on Dec 42, 1882, at So Buttes, Ca) which records bits and pieces of his life to within 2 months of his death in 1891, which adds valuable information.

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Of interest is one trip made from California to Oregon in 1886. This was the summer that his father auctioned his farm equipment and animals and headed north to Oregon. It is not known whether or not this is that same trip or not, but might very well be. At the age of 21, Edward was “32 days on the road at an expense of $96.25 and with 11 head of horses. He was enroute to Oregon, from So Buttes, California and passed through the following towns or settlements: “Gridley, Chico, Red Bluff, NMillville, Kentudks, Burro Vallie, Fall City, Big Vallie, Lookout, Happy Camp, Dry Lake, Tule Lake, Link Ville, Ashlinx, Grants Pass, Rosburg, Oakland, Yoncalla.”

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During the nine-year period recorded in his ledger, he worked for C.O. Lybecker, Mr Moon, A.P. Russell, J.P. Manfield, W.P. Nesom, C.C. Eperson, J.W. Harris, E.B. Lybecker, A. Britton on the Key Ranch, McDugal, Lochnar and Dever. He hauled wood, pastured horses, worked in Maze (maize) and charged per maze horse, using up to six horses a day. He borrowed, loaned and rented. “Cattle let to A.P. Russell…7 calves ($10.00, 8 calves ($8.00), 2 two year-olds, 14 cows… 1 full.”

Edward stayed with his sister, Amelia in Spokane, Washington in 1887 while he worked. Then, in July he went back to see his parents and sister Etta in California who was getting married. While he was still at Amelia’s, Ed got a letter from Ettie. Amelia writes about it, “his girl was about to get married but he didn’t seem to care if she did.” It didn’t indicate if she was talking about his sister or a girlfriend.

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Edward commenced work for A. Brittan in Sept 1888, yet he made a notation of commencing the harvest June 5, 1888. He plowed 51 days, harrowed, hauled barley, plowed another 13.5 days and began hauling ha May 10th, 1889, on the Key Ranch. In 1889, Edward harvested ($144.50, hauled wheat ($5.00), hayed ($30), did ranch work ($202.40) and made an additional $21.75 working for Joe Mayfield. While working for Mr. Brittan, he took a number of draws on his wages and recorded the following expenses: two blankets ($6), washing (90c), watch ($12.00), washing (80c), whiskey ($2), whiskey ($4), shoes ($1.25), washing ($.75), shoes ($1.25), overalls ($1.00), razor (50c), shoes ($1.00), whiskey ($2), washing (35c), washing 50c)

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He worked for McDugal beginning on June 20,1890, and worked on through the summer and fall, earning $29.10 haying, $35.25 harvesting and $118.50 after the harvest. He borrowed $25 and took $72.60 in draws; he spent $1.75 for a watch, $19.60 for a gun, $3 for boots, 40c for socks, $2.50 for a coat and $1.10 for a book. Edward worked for Lochonar (Laugnenour) from May to July of 1891 and began to work for Mr. Dever on July 27, 1891.

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He had gone to visit relatives and after returning to Oregon the last time he went to Davenport, Wash to purchase land and make a home.  One and a half months later, he was taken sick with typhoid fever and died within a few days. His sister, Ella Lybecker, was with him at the time of his death. He was a promising young man and his many friends earned with regret of his sad death. His age was 26 years, 5 months and 5 days. A single man, family tradition states that Edward died on what was to have been his wedding day. No application for license or intent was found in Lincoln County at the time of this writing. An obituary appearing in the Sutter County Farmer, Oct 2, 1891, indicates that he went to Washington to settle down, so would tend to confirm the tradition.

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From Dianne’s writings and newspaper articles and Edward’s ledger, compiled and edited by JoAnne Douglass Leppo