J. Ward Russell
Encyclopedia
J. Ward Russell was Mayor
of Glens Falls, New York
, an attorney
, School Board member and a career civil servant.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
.
Additionally, he had been a member of the Board of Health, president of the Warren County Bar Association, administor of the Warren County Rationing Board during World War II
, appeals agent for the Warrensburg Draft Board, member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, president of the New York State Association of School Board as well as president of the Glens Falls Masonic Club.
In 1902, J. Ward opened a law office. Then, after 10 years of activity in the Democratic Party
, he won election to the Board of Education in 1912. He offered his legal services to the Board resulting in the Board never needing a lawyer to help with legal opinions thereby saving the city money.
In 1919, while serving as the president of the school board, then Mayor W. Irving Griffing appointed J. Ward to the board of health. He was appointed to the same board again in 1923 by then Mayor Charles W. Cool.
In 1925 he resigned from the Board of Health to become the city attorney at the request of the then Mayor Orville C. Smith. J. Ward held this position for the next six years. In 1930, upon the death of Judge George Raley, J. Ward was honored by then Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt
with the appointment as the city judge and surrogate to fill out Raley's unexpired term.
In 1932, Roosevelt again honored Russell with an appointment to the Hudson River Regulating Board. Russell was interviewed for this appointment just a few months prior to Roosevelt being nominated for president at the Democratic National Convention
. Russell served as president for several years including the time of the opening of the Sacandaga River
Reservoir. It was during J. Ward Russell's service that the reservoir was constructed.
During World War II, Russell was appointed administrator of the Warrensburg County Rationing
Board and held that responsibility throughout the war.
In 1953, at age 73, Russell accepted his party's endorsement for Mayor and won the office. In 1955, a party split denied him reelection, although the Democrats polled more votes together than did the Republican opponents. But, in 1957, Russell was back as a candidate and won the election handily and served another 4 year term as the city's mayor.
and eventually bought land in Potter, NY. Bloomfield was a sheep farmer.
He moved to Glens Falls at an early age and graduated from Glens Falls High School in 1898. He went to work for Ashley and Williams law firm before attending Albany Law School
. He graduated there in 1901.
In 1906, J. Ward married Gertrude Whipple (November 12, 1881 - December 12, 1926) from Glens Falls, New York
. She was the daughter of Charles and Ida May (Murrey) Whipple. J. Ward and Gertrude had one daughter Julie, who was born May 4, 1907 in Glens Falls and who graduated from Wellesley College.
J. Ward Russell lived on Williams street in Glens Falls. During the Great Depression
, the Russell's put a sign on their house to homeless/hungry people that this was a place they could get food.
Russell's wife Gertrude died in 1926. In need of a house keeper, J. Ward's nephew Bloomfield Russell and his wife Estelle Dearstyne Russell (sister-in-law to notable architect Robert Rheinlander
) came to live with him with Estelle keeping house. Then in about 1931, J. Ward married Etta Brayton, a first cousin. They never had any children. Etta owned and operated a tea room and was highly interested in healthy living and eating well before it was fashionable. Subsequently, Bloomfield and Estelle along with their two daughters Patricia Jane Russell Burgin (1926–2007) and Natalie Merle Russell Findlay (1931 - ) moved from J. Ward Russell's home. J. Ward made arrangements for Bloomfield and Estelle to meet Roosevelt when he was in Glens Falls and Estelle shook Roosevelt's hand when she was pregnant with Natalie.
J. Ward was also a Freemason .
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls is a city in Warren County, New York, United States. Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,700 at the 2010 census...
, an attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, School Board member and a career civil servant.
Career
J. Ward Russell compiled one of the longest records of public service in the history of the city of Glens Falls. He was a two term Mayor of the city, served as a member of the Board of education for over 40 years and 12 as its Chairman. Additionally, he was the city's attorney, city judge, county judge and surrogate and for many years was a member and president of the Hudson River Regulating Board. He was appointed to this board by then GovernorGovernor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
.
Additionally, he had been a member of the Board of Health, president of the Warren County Bar Association, administor of the Warren County Rationing Board during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, appeals agent for the Warrensburg Draft Board, member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, president of the New York State Association of School Board as well as president of the Glens Falls Masonic Club.
In 1902, J. Ward opened a law office. Then, after 10 years of activity in the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he won election to the Board of Education in 1912. He offered his legal services to the Board resulting in the Board never needing a lawyer to help with legal opinions thereby saving the city money.
In 1919, while serving as the president of the school board, then Mayor W. Irving Griffing appointed J. Ward to the board of health. He was appointed to the same board again in 1923 by then Mayor Charles W. Cool.
In 1925 he resigned from the Board of Health to become the city attorney at the request of the then Mayor Orville C. Smith. J. Ward held this position for the next six years. In 1930, upon the death of Judge George Raley, J. Ward was honored by then Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
with the appointment as the city judge and surrogate to fill out Raley's unexpired term.
In 1932, Roosevelt again honored Russell with an appointment to the Hudson River Regulating Board. Russell was interviewed for this appointment just a few months prior to Roosevelt being nominated for president at the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
. Russell served as president for several years including the time of the opening of the Sacandaga River
Sacandaga River
The Sacandaga River is a river in the northern part of New York in the United States. Its name comes from the Native American Sa-chen-da'-ga, meaning "overflowed lands"....
Reservoir. It was during J. Ward Russell's service that the reservoir was constructed.
During World War II, Russell was appointed administrator of the Warrensburg County Rationing
Rationing
Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services. Rationing controls the size of the ration, one's allotted portion of the resources being distributed on a particular day or at a particular time.- In economics :...
Board and held that responsibility throughout the war.
In 1953, at age 73, Russell accepted his party's endorsement for Mayor and won the office. In 1955, a party split denied him reelection, although the Democrats polled more votes together than did the Republican opponents. But, in 1957, Russell was back as a candidate and won the election handily and served another 4 year term as the city's mayor.
Personal life
Russell (was born in Potter Township in Yates County, NY. He was the third child and second son of Bloomfield Webb Russell (1837 - ) and Sylvia (Brayton) Russell. Bloomfield and Sylvia lived in Shaftsbury, VermontShaftsbury, Vermont
Shaftsbury is a town in Bennington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,767 at the 2000 census. The town was chartered on August 20, 1761...
and eventually bought land in Potter, NY. Bloomfield was a sheep farmer.
He moved to Glens Falls at an early age and graduated from Glens Falls High School in 1898. He went to work for Ashley and Williams law firm before attending Albany Law School
Albany Law School
Albany Law School is an ABA accredited law school based in Albany, New York. It was founded in 1851 by Amos Dean , Amasa Parker, Ira Harris and others....
. He graduated there in 1901.
In 1906, J. Ward married Gertrude Whipple (November 12, 1881 - December 12, 1926) from Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls is a city in Warren County, New York, United States. Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,700 at the 2010 census...
. She was the daughter of Charles and Ida May (Murrey) Whipple. J. Ward and Gertrude had one daughter Julie, who was born May 4, 1907 in Glens Falls and who graduated from Wellesley College.
J. Ward Russell lived on Williams street in Glens Falls. During the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, the Russell's put a sign on their house to homeless/hungry people that this was a place they could get food.
Russell's wife Gertrude died in 1926. In need of a house keeper, J. Ward's nephew Bloomfield Russell and his wife Estelle Dearstyne Russell (sister-in-law to notable architect Robert Rheinlander
Robert Rheinlander
Robert H. Rheinlander was an American architect, contractor and structural engineer from Glens Falls, New York.CareerRobert Rheinlander was based in Glens Falls, New York and designed and or built many well known and large buildings in the northern New York State area...
) came to live with him with Estelle keeping house. Then in about 1931, J. Ward married Etta Brayton, a first cousin. They never had any children. Etta owned and operated a tea room and was highly interested in healthy living and eating well before it was fashionable. Subsequently, Bloomfield and Estelle along with their two daughters Patricia Jane Russell Burgin (1926–2007) and Natalie Merle Russell Findlay (1931 - ) moved from J. Ward Russell's home. J. Ward made arrangements for Bloomfield and Estelle to meet Roosevelt when he was in Glens Falls and Estelle shook Roosevelt's hand when she was pregnant with Natalie.
J. Ward was also a Freemason .