P.J. Russell was known as the pioneer lawyer of Beltrami County.
Patrick Jerome Russell was born in Belle Plaine, June 6, 1862. He took a course at the St. Paul Business College and later entered the Sauk Center Academy. He was married to Cornelia Russell on June 26, 1890, at Drayton, N.D. In 1891 he was admitted to the bar in Crookston and practiced law in the courts of Minnesota for his entire career.
Mr. Russell came to Bemidji in 1899 and was an outstanding figure in the affairs of the city. Cornelia Russell purchased three lots at the corner of Dewey Avenue and Ninth street on Nov. 29, 1902 and an adjoining lot on Jan 19, 1903 and had a house built at 901 Dewey Avenue.
P.J. Russell was confined to his home as a result of a crushed foot sustained while chopping wood. “Mr. Russell did not crush his foot with the axe, (he is too much of an expert with this instrument) but rather with one of the large pieces of wood which he was cutting in two, which fell upon the member, causing a serious wound.” (Dec 27, 1904)
Cordelia Russell died at her home in Bemidji after a four year fight to ward off cancer. She died Sept 11, 1911. They had three sons, William, Charles, and Francis, who was born just a few months earlier.
On June 30, 1913, he married Anna B. (Chisholm) O’Connor in Bemidji. They had one daughter, Kathryn.
City Attorney Weds.
“A wedding of interest was solemnized this morning at 8 o’clock in the St. Phillips church when Mrs. Anna O’Connor became the bride of City Attorney P. J. Russell, Father Philippe officiating. The bride and groom were attended by Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Murphy, and the ceremony took place in the presence of a few of the immediate friends and relatives.
A wedding breakfast was served at the home of the bride’s daughter, Mrs. J. A. Younggren, at 9 o’clock. The guests included Mr. and Mrs. P.J. Russell, Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Murphy, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Brinkman, Eddie Brinkman, Miss Ruth Younggren, and F. N. Younggren of Minneapolis, Byron Russell, William Russell and Frances Marshall Russell, and Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Younggren.
Mr. Russell came here thirteen years ago. He was admitted to the Minnesota state bar in 1890. He is serving his ninth year as village and city attorney and has been a member of the state forestry board for three years under Governor Johnson’s administration. Mr. Russell is a staunch Democrat and has been mentioned for public office under the present Wilson Administration.
Mr. and Mrs. Russell left on the noon train for Duluth and other points, expecting to return to the city for the Fourth of July. Mr. Russell has been chosen as speaker of the day
at Kelliher for the Fourth.” (Bemidji Daily Pioneer, front page, July 30, 1913)
The Russell family lived at 901 Dewey from then until about 1935. He and Anna moved to 905 Lake Boulevard from about 1935 and he lived there until his death on Nov 2, 1945.