.
By Neil Kasiak
Collection Overview
Title: John Hooe Russel Papers, 1870-1942
Extent: 2.24 Cubic Feet
Date Acquired: 05/30/2002
Abstract
The John Hooe Russel Papers consist primarily of correspondence and financial materials from Russel's mercantile businesses and his administrative involvement in the Huntington National Bank of Huntington, West Virginia. There are also other documents and publications that represent late 19th Century ephemera. The Correspondence Series contains personal letters between the Col. and Mrs. Caperton and the Russels, both John Hooe and Minerva Phelps, Russel's second wife and mother to Albert Lacy Russel, as well as, other letters from Russel acquaintances and family members.
Scope and Contents of the Materials
John Hooe Russel was a successful 19th Century business man and banker who married into the Phelps family of Madison County, KY not once but twice. The John Hooe Russel Papers consist of the surviving financial materials from Russel's mercantile venture with I. Erkskine Miller of Stauton, VA, and his involvement with the Huntington National Bank. The papers also include a large volume of correspondence from his personal life and other business ventures. After a three year stint in business with Miller waned, Russel moved back to Huntsville where he continued to run a grocery. In 1873 he migrated to Huntington, WV to continue his trade by opening the first Huntington grocery store. In 1875 Russel, Col. Peter Buffington and a few other investors opened the Huntington National Bank, which acted as the town's sole bank for some time. Russel also became heavily involved in real estate in the Huntington region. He eventually became the acting President of the Huntington National Bank, a position that he held until his death on 6 Jan 1903.
The John Hooe Russel Papers contain a variety of materials from his professional and home life. They also contain private correspondence from his first marriage to Nettie Phelps of Madison County Kentucky, and his second marriage to Minerva Phelps of the same. Nettie and Minerva were cousins by birth; their respective fathers being brothers. After the premature death of Nettie in November 1896 and their only son a few months later, Russel continued to maintain a close relationship with his in-laws. The connection to his widow's family (Samuel Phelps) culminated in a second marriage to a Phelps descendant, Minerva (daughter of Thomas Phelps), on 8 May 1901. They remained in Huntington until Russel's death, which left behind a distraught widow and son, Albert Lacy Russel. The Correspondence Series also contains extensive materials from Russel family members and other friends and acquaintances. Even though the collection seems incomplete, it does provide excellent context for the professional lifestyle and interests of a prominent late 19th Century Southern capitalist, banker and business man.
His papers should be considered in conjunction with the Caperton/Burnam Family Papers and other collections that were compiled by other Kentucky and West Virginia elites. In particular, An Accumulation of Family Evidence, a three volume set written by Katherine Phelps Caperton (See Caperton/Burnam Family Papers), contains a great deal of information about Russel's life and ancestry.
Collection Historical Note
Brigadier-General John Hooe Russel was born 15 Jun 1842 and he died on 6 Jan 1903. Russel married Nettie Phelps, the daughter of Samuel Phelps, in 1893. Nettie Phelps Russel passed away from illness in 1896, leaving behind a frail John Hooe Russel Jr. who followed his mother's fate some six months later. After Nettie's death, Russel continued to maintain cordial correspondence with his former Phelps in-laws. His close connections with Richmond and the Phelps family led to a 1901 marriage to Minerva Phelps, daughter of Thomas Phelps. Their only son, Albert Lacy Russel, was born in Feb 1902.
John Hooe Russel led an interesting and relatively successful life in post-Civil War America. As the story goes, Russel buried a $3,000 horde of gold on his family plantation shortly before the Civil War was in full swing [see Men of West Virginia Vol. I, (Biographical Publishing Co. Chicago, IL 1903), p. 44-5]. He came back for the gold after the war only to find his family plantation devastated by the conflict and his sister being his only surviving family member. Russel invested his horde in a successful Texas based mercantile business with I. Erkskine Miller of Staunton, VA. After three years in business with Miller, Russel moved back to his hometown where he remained for a short while. Miller and Russel would later commit to moving out west, until they met up with General Echols of Louisville, KY, Miller's father-in-law. Under Gen. Echols' advise the business partners moved to Huntington, WV, where they would have a heavy hand in establishing the town during its formative years. A group of investors, which included Col. Peter Buffington, Russel and other prominent men, eventually opened the Huntsville National Bank in 1873. By 1875, Russel had become the acting Bank President, which not only marked a high point in Russel's professional career but the appointment also made him the youngest bank president (to date) in the United States.
There are two distinct stories that involve Russel that have left a lasting impression. The first event took place in 5 Sep 1875, when the "James Gang" robbed the Huntington National Bank for roughly $10,000. Russel, after returning from a lunch break, apparently raised a possee and joined in the pursuit of the robbers into Kentucky. His efforts would remain unrewarded for sometime, however, two robbers were later apprehended, and a bulk of the stolen money and a pair of Russel's dueling pistols were recovered. Russel's reputation for being both a successful banker and man of honor grew after the robbery ordeal.
Another chain of events in 1893, well known by those in the banking industry during the time, highlight the reputation that Russel maintained throughout his life. The situation surrounded his involvement with a Cincinnati bank that the Huntington National Bank maintained an extensive depository relationship with while in operation. Russel apparently had insider information about the impending closure of The Fidelity National Bank of Cincinnati, OH. Upon discovering the troubling news Russel immediately had a draft drawn for the money owed to the Huntington Bank and raced to Ohio to resolve the situation. Once he arrived it became clear that the pending closure was fact and Russel shrewdly negotiated for full payment of the substantial debts owed. The following day the bank closed, all other depositors lost their wealth, and E. L. Harper, the Fidelity Bank Manager was in prison on criminal speculation charges.
Administrative Information
Repository:
Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives
Acquisition Source:
Burnam, Caperton & Rollins
Processing Information:
The John Hooe Russel Papers were found within the Caperton/Burnam Family Papers. They were consequently separated and arranged as an individual collection during reprocessing in 2014.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Calling Cards],
[
Series 2: Correspondence],
[
Series 3: Financials],
[
Series 4: Legal],
[
Series 5: Miscellaneous],
[
Series 6: Ephemera/Memorabilia],
[Series 7: Photographs],
[
Series 8: Oversized],
[
All]
- Series 7: Photographs
- Box 6
- Barcode: 31234014046484
- Folder 1
- Item 1: John Hooe Russel with Unidentified Men, 1872
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 2: John Hooe Russel
- Creator: Fenner
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 3: Albert Lacy Russel
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 4x6
- Item 4: Albert Lacy Russel
- 1 Year Old
- Creator: Erskine
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 5: Minerva Phelps Russel, Albert Lacy Russel, 1903
- Creator: Schlegel
-
Physical Description: 6x8
- Item 6: Albert Lacy Russel
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 8x10
- Item 7: Albert Lacy Russel
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 8x10
- Item 8: Albert Lacy Russel
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 8X10
- Item 9: Albert Lacy Russel
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 8x10
- Item 10: Albert Lacy Russel
- Creator: Barhrach
-
Physical Description: 8x10
- Item 11: Mr. & Mrs. Frank E. Jennings, Albert Lacy Russel, 1907
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 12: Mr. & Mrs. Frank E. Jennings, Albert Lacy Russel, 1907
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 13: Caroline Collier, 1933
- Fiance of Albert Lacy Russel
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 6x8
- Item 14: Mallie Russel
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Folder 2
- Item 15: Mary Phelps
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 3x3
- Item 16: Mary Phelps
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 3x4
- Item 17: Catherine Bowman
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 18: Four Generations, 1894
- Pictured are: Minerva Park Cobb, Sallie Cobb Phelps, Katherine Phelps Capterton, Mary James Caperton
- Creator: Johnstone
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 19: ? Wallace, 1895
- Creator: Matthews
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 20: Lindsay Harrison?, 1895
- Creator: Proctor & Tully
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 21: Mary Bowman, 1893
- Creator: Stuber
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 22: Stella Campbell Beane
- Creator: Johns
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 23: Mary Hughes
- 2 months, 2 weeks old
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 24: Arthur Simpson
- Creator: Collins
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 25: Fred Welden, 1896
- Creator: Notman
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 26: Minerva Parks Phelps, 1894
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 27: Inez De Lashmutt, 1893
- Creator: G. Waldon Smith
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 28: Bessie Heldon, 1896
- Creator: Notman
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 29: William James Yager, 1897
- Creator: Johnston
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 30: M. DeLacy Dunlop, 1890
- Creator: Partridge
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 31: East View of Mount Vernon Mansion
- Creator: Luke C. Dillon
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 32: Collage of Photos
- Pictured are: H.B. Thoreau, Library, Statue-Minute Man, Cedars-Concord River, Home of R.W. Emerson, Wayside-Hawthorne's Home, Emeron's Study, Ralph W. Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Old North Bridge-Concord River, Monuments-Battle Ground, A. Bronson Alcott, School of Philosophy, Louisa M. Alcott, Main Street-Concord, Old Mause
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Folder 3
- Item 33: Four Generations
- Pictured are: Great-Grandma Knox, Grandma Dickinson, Maude D. Snow, Martha D. Snow
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 4x4
- Item 34: Mary Dunlop Bowman, Catherine Dunlop Bowman, 1896
- Creator: Ground Floor Gallery
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 35: Mary James Caperton, 1900
- Creator: Schlegel
-
Physical Description: 6x8
- Item 36: Cousin Georgia
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 6x8
- Item 37: Catherine Jennings, 1913
- 3 1/2 Years Old
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 3x8
- Item 38: Minerva P. Jennings, 1926
- Creator: Elsner
-
Physical Description: 6x8
- Item 39: Maude D. Snow, Martha D. Snow, 1892
- Creator: Elmer Chickering
-
Physical Description: 6x8
- Item 40: Malinda Insley Bush, 1911
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 8x10
- Item 41: Frank Jennings
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 8x10
- Item 42: Group of People, Probably Wellesley Students, 1891
- Pictured are: ?, Miss Stewart, Miss Spalding, Miss Mothershead, Miss Mason, Miss Ray, Miss Squires, Miss Stevens, Miss Anry, Miss Palmer, Miss Kyle, Miss Danielson, Miss Kindall, Miss Prescott, Miss Sibley, Miss Reid, Miss Wardnel
- Creator: Partridge
-
Physical Description: 8x10
- Item 43: Art Club of Wellesley College, 1891
- Pictured are: Miss Adams, Miss Sterling, Miss Spalding, Miss Keller, Miss Baldwin, Miss Nindgett, Miss Brackett. Miss Bowllen, Miss Breckinridge, Miss Helmer, Miss Lum, Miss Stewart, Miss Mover, Miss Cowles, Miss Peterson, Miss Flagg, Miss Clarke, Miss Leile, Miss Newcomb, Miss Stone, Miss Mason, Miss Phelps, Miss Whitney, Miss Oswald, Miss Hewett, Miss Bardwell, Miss Kennedy, Miss Crouch, Miss Bragg, Miss Conover, Miss Putnam, Miss Martin, Miss Evans, Miss Luther, Miss DIckenson, Miss Ferguson
- Creator: Alex L. Pack
-
Physical Description: 8x10
- Item 44: J.W. Phelps
- Creator: Proctor
-
Physical Description: 8x10
- Folder 4
- Item 45: Unidentified Woman
- Creator: Schlegel
-
Physical Description: 3x4
- Item 46: Two Unidentified Women
- Creator: Schlegel
-
Physical Description: 3x4
- Item 47: Unidentified Woman
- Creator: Choate
-
Physical Description: 4x6
- Item 48: Unidentified Man, 1895
- Creator: Schlegel
-
Physical Description: 4x6
- Item 49: Unidentified Man
- Creator: Schlegel
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 50: Unidentified Man, 1894
- Creator: Schlegel
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 51: Unidentified Man, 1890
- Creator: Schlegel
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 52: Unidentified Man, 1889
- Creator: Schlegel
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 53: Unidentified Child
- Creator: Schlegel
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 54: Unidentified Man
- Creator: Schlegel
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 55: Unidentified Child
- Creator: Fox
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 56: Unidentified Woman
- Creator: Gunter
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 57: Unidentified Man, 1889
- Creator: Speelman
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 58: Unidentified Man, 1889
- Creator: Johns
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 59: Unidentified Woman
- Creator: Earp
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 60: Unidentified Woman and Child
- Creator: Schlegel
-
Physical Description: 6x8
- Item 61: Unidentified Child
- Creator: Schlegel
-
Physical Description: 6x8
- Item 62: Unidentified Woman
- Creator: Lacray
-
Physical Description: 5x8
- Item 63: Unidentified Child
- Creator: Schlegel
-
Physical Description: 8x10
- Item 64: Unidentified Woman
- Creator: Schlegel
-
Physical Description: 8x10
- Folder 5
- Item 65: Four Unidentified Women, 1892
- Creator: Partridge
-
Physical Description: 3x4
- Item 66: Unidentified Woman
- Creator: Partridge
-
Physical Description: 4x5
- Item 67: Unidentified Woman
- Creator: Foltz
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 68: Unidentified Woman
- Creator: Foltz
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 69: Unidentified Child
- Creator: Bellsmith
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 70: Unidentified Man
- Creator: Chandler
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 71: Unidentified Man, 1894
- Creator: Thomson
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 72: Unidentified Man, 1894
- Creator: Thomson
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 73: Unidentified Man
- Creator: Wilson
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 74: Unidentified Man, 1894
- Creator: Dolce Hermanos
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 75: Two Unidentified Men, 1894
- Creator: Proctor
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 76: Unidentified Man, 1891
- Creator: Notman
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 77: Unidentified Woman, 1890
- Creator: Partridge
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 78: Unidentified Woman
- Creator: Partridge
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 79: Unidentified Woman
- Creator: Partridge
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 80: Unidentified Woman
- Creator: Partridge
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 81: Unidentified Woman
- Creator: Partridge
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 82: Unidentified Woman
- Creator: Harris & Ewing
-
Physical Description: 5x8
- Item 83: Unidentified Home
- Creator: Partridge
-
Physical Description: 6x8
- Item 84: Unidentified Child
- Creator: Collins
-
Physical Description: 5x8
- Item 85: Unidentified Man
- Creator: Proctor
-
Physical Description: 6x8
- Item 86: Unidentified Man, 1907
- Creator: Havens
-
Physical Description: 6x8
- Item 87: Unidentified Woman
- Creator: Rasmussen
-
Physical Description: 8x10
- Folder 6
- Item 88: Bonnie Dune- The Avalon in Home Waters, 1923
- Appraisal Information: boats
-
Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 3x5
- Item 89: Bonnie Dune- A Trip to the Jetty furnishes an afternoon's fun, 1923
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 3x5
- Item 90: Bonnie Dune- A Skillful Turn, 1923
- Appraisal Information: water skiing
-
Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 3x5
- Item 91: Bonnie Dune- The Winner 1923, 1923
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 3x5
- Item 92: Bonnie Dune- Assembly in the Library, 1923
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 3x5
- Item 93: Bonnie Dune- Good Coaching Gets Results, 1923
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 3x5
- Item 94: Bonnie Dune- Real Camping, 1923
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 3x5
- Item 95: Bonnie Dune- Bringing home the new flag pole, refreshments as you go, 1923
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 3x5
- Item 96: Bonnie Dune- Waiting for gas, Out to Sea, 1923
- Appraisal Information: boats
-
Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 3x5
- Item 97: Bonnie Dune- Both masters of their art, 1923
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 3x5
- Item 98: Bonnie Dune- The Diamonds have a trip all their own, and rest a bit on the way, 1923
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 3x5
- Item 99: Bonnie Dune- We eat and sleep out of doors, 1923
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 3x5
- Folder 7
- Item 100: Unidentified Child
- Creator: Burgert
-
Physical Description: 2x3
- Item 101: Unidentified Group of People
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 3x3
- Item 102: Unidentified Home
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 3x5
- Item 103: Unidenfitied Woman
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 3x5
- Item 104: Unidentified Man, 1904
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 4x5
- Item 105: Unidentified Man
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 4x5
- Item 106: Unidentified Man
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 4x5
- Item 107: Unidentified Man
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 108: Unidentified Woman
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 109: Unidentified Man, 1895
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 110: Unidentified Grave Monument
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 5x7
- Item 111: Unidentified Group of Women and Children, 1905
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 5x5
- Item 112: Unidentified Woman
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 5x8
- Item 113: Unidentified Grave Monument
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 5x10
- Item 114: Unidentified Man and Woman
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 6x8
- Item 115: Unidentified Man on Donkey
- Appraisal Information: donkeys
-
Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 6x8
- Folder 8
- Item 116: Unidentified Child
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 3x5
- Item 117: Unidentified Woman
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 5x10
- Item 118: Dreaming Creek Heights, 1919
- Photograph of a painting
- Creator: Everheart
-
Physical Description: 6x8
- Item 119: Unidentified Group of People Sitting Along Creek
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 8x10
- Item 120: Unidentified Group of People On a Porch
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 8x10
- Item 121: Unidentified Man, 1886
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 8x10
- Item 122: Unidentified Man and Woman Sitting on Steps, 1896
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 8x10
- Item 123: Unidentified Group of People on a Porch
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 6x12
- Box 7
- Barcode: 31234013922131
- Folder 1: Oversize Photographs
- Item 124: Catherine Jennings
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 6x10
- Item 125: Catherine Jennings
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 8x12
- Item 126: Unidentified Girl
- Creator: Woodward
-
Physical Description: 8x10
- Item 127: Morrison Bright III, 1942
- Creator: A Metro
-
Physical Description: 10x12
- Item 128: Unidentified Couple, 1930
- Creator: McLaughey
-
Physical Description: 10x14
- Item 129: Albert Lacy Russel
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 10x14
- Item 130: Three Unidentified Girls
- Creator: J. Anthony Bill
-
Physical Description: 10x12
- Item 131: Frank Jennings, 1940
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 6x8
- Item 132: Mary Allen?, Anne? Frances Hooe Russel, 1937
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 6x8
- Item 133: John Hooe Russel Jr., 1895
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 8x10
- Item 134: Caroline Russel, Mallie Russel?, Anne Russel?
- Creator: Johnson
-
Physical Description: 10x12
- Item 135: Catherine Jennings
- Creator: Elliot's
-
Physical Description: 10x14
- Folder 2: Oversize Photographs
- Item 136: Home in West Virginia, 1903
- Creator: Erskine
-
Physical Description: 10x14
- Item 137: Home in West Virginia, 1894
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 10x14
- Item 138: Unidentified Home
- Creator: unknown
-
Physical Description: 10x14
- Folder 3: Oversize Photographs
- Item 139: John Hooe Russel and Nettie Phelps Wedding Party
- Creator: Schlegel
-
Physical Description: 8x14
- Item 140: Unidentified Group of People
- Creator: Prince
-
Physical Description: 10x14
- Item 141: Unidentified Group of People, 1891
- Creator: Prince
-
Physical Description: 10x14
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Calling Cards],
[
Series 2: Correspondence],
[
Series 3: Financials],
[
Series 4: Legal],
[
Series 5: Miscellaneous],
[
Series 6: Ephemera/Memorabilia],
[Series 7: Photographs],
[
Series 8: Oversized],
[
All]