William A. Russell | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts | |
In office March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1885 | |
Preceded by | Benjamin Butler |
Succeeded by | Charles Herbert Allen |
Constituency |
7th district (1879–83) 8th district (1883–85) |
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
In office 1869 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Wells River, Vermont | April 22, 1831
Died | January 10, 1899 Boston, Massachusetts | (aged 67)
Resting place | Bellevue Cemetery |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Haven Hall (m. 1859-1866, her death) Frances S. Hall (m. 1872-1899, his death) |
Children | 6 |
Occupation | Paper manufacturer |
Signature | |
William Augustus Russell (April 22, 1831 – January 10, 1899) was an American businessman and political figure. He was the first president of the International Paper Company and served for six years as a United States representative from Massachusetts.
Russell was born in Wells River, Vermont, the son of William Russell and Almira (Heath) Russell. [1] The family moved to Franklin, New Hampshire, where Russell was educated and graduated from Franklin Academy. [1] He later attended a private academy in Lawrence, Massachusetts. [1]
Russell worked at his father's papermaking business in Exeter, New Hampshire from 1848 to 1851. [1] He then created a papermaking partnership with his father, the Russell Paper Company, which they established in Lawrence in 1852. [1]
In addition to the Russell Paper Company, Russell was active in several other businesses throughout New England and as far west as Minnesota, which were subsidiaries of his own corporation. [1] These included president of: the Androscoggin Pulp Company ( Brunswick, Maine); Sebago Wood Board Company ( South Windham, Maine); Garvin Falls Power Company ( Concord, New Hampshire); Mount Tom Sulphite Pulp Company ( Mount Tom, Massachusetts); and Boston, New York, and Quebec Lumber Company. [1] [2]
From 1890 to 1891 he was president of the American Paper and Pulp Association, a trade association that engaged in lobbying for favorable government regulation of the papermaking industry and marketing initiatives to publicize their product. [1] He also served on the board of directors of the Fitchburg Railroad, and was a member of Lawrence's Commercial Club. [1]
A Republican, in 1867 Russell was elected to a term on Lawrence Board of Aldermen. [1] He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1868. [1] Russell served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1869. [1] He was a delegate to the 1876 Republican National Convention. [1]
In 1878, Russell was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. [1] He was reelected twice and served in the Forty-sixth, Forty-seventh, and Forty-eighth Congresses (March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1885). [1] In the House, Russell served initially on the Commerce Committee, where he was appointed to a subcommittee that sought ways to revitalize American manufacturing following the Panic of 1873, and recommended changes to tax laws as an incentive to economic growth. [1] He later served on the Ways & Means Committee, where he used his knowledge of business and industry to advocate for protective tariffs favorable to American companies. [1]
After leaving Congress, Russell returned to his business interests and resided in Boston. [1] In November 1898 he was one of two founders of the International Paper Company and he served as its first president. [1]
Russell had been in poor health for the last year of his life. [1] He died at of a stroke at his home in Boston on January 10, 1899. [1] Russell was buried at Bellevue Cemetery in Lawrence. [3]
In February 1859, Russell married Elizabeth Haven Hall (1837–1866) in Bedford, Massachusetts. [1] They were the parents of three children - Mary, Frances, and Grace. [1]
In 1872 he married Frances Spofford Hall (1843–1925), the sister of his first wife. [1] They were the parents of three children - William, Elizabeth, and Richard. [1]
Russell donated his Prospect Hill estate in Lawrence to the creation of a hospital. [4] The site became the grounds of Lawrence General Hospital. [4]