William B. Russell, farmer; P. O. Troy; was born in Pennsylvania, February 3, 1809; is a son of John and Hannah (Hough) Russell, who were born in Pennsylvania; the grandfather, Elijah, was also a native of Pennsylvania, his ancestors coming from Ireland; the mother's ancestry were from Cheshire, England, and came over in the ships Endeavor and Friendship in 1683. The father, John, came to Ohio in 1831 and located in Staunton township, on the farm now owned by James Gardner, where he lived about twenty five years; then moved to Elkhart, Indiana, where he lived and died; they were parents of three children, viz., William B., John H., now deceased, and Newton, also deceased; Mr. Russell came with his father to Ohio, being then 22 years of age. He remained with his father till June 19, 1833, when he was united in marriage with Martha Hamlet, daughter of Benjamin and Chloe (Kimball) Hamlet; he being born in Kentucky and coming to this county about the same time with the Knoops, Gerards, etc., who were the earliest pioneers of the county; by this union, they had four children - Hiram, dying in infancy; Mahala, now Mrs. James Post; Hannah, and William Riley; he lost his wife by death in 1840. August 19, 1843, he was married to Amanda (Simms) Ralston, daughter of Joseph and Mary Ann Simms, who were natives of Virginia; by this union, they have four children, viz., Melissa, now Mrs. James Love; Sarah, Laura Bell, and John, dying in infancy. Mr. Russell, after his first marriage, located upon the farm where he has ever since resided, making a continued residence of forty-seven years. When he came to the farm, there were about 25 acres partly cleared standing in a "deadening," with a log house and barn on it; here he has labored and toiled, enduring the hardships and deprivations of early settlers, till now "he sits under his own vine and fig tree," having a fine farm of 149 acres, of which 110 acres are in good cultivation and the balance all under fence, with comfortable brick house, good barn and other buildings. Mr. Russell is, politically, a staunch Republican.