Rep. William Fiero Russell (D-NY)

RUSSELL, William Fiero, a Representative from New York; born in Saugerties, Ulster County, N.Y., January 14, 1812; completed preparatory studies; engaged in mercantile pursuits and banking; founder and president of the Saugerties Bank; served as postmaster of Saugerties from October 19, 1836, to January 25, 1841; member of the State assembly in 1851; elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1857-March 3, 1859); appointed as naval agent for the port of New York City in 1859; resumed the banking business; died in Saugerties, N.Y., April 29, 1896; interment in Mountain View Cemetery

History of Ulster County, New York: with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Woodstock, NY: Overlook Press, 1977.

[Reprint of the 1880 ed. published by Everts & Peck, Philadelphia]

v.2, p 72-73

WILLIAM F. RUSSELL

William F. Russell, third son of Hon. Jeremiah Russell, was born at Trumpbour's Corners on the 14th day of January, 1812. When two years of age his father moved to what is now the incorporated village of Saugerties.

The subject of this sketch when of suitable age attended the district school of the place, which at that time afforded but few advantages in the way of obtaining an education. At the age of thirteen he entered his father's store in the capacity of clerk. The business of his father having grown to large dimensions, and with it plenty of work for his small corps of clerks, the new clerk found himself so constantly employed he had no opportunity of acquiring an education other than was afforded in the stirring business scenes he passed through daily, and the association with the numerous patrons of the store and active business habits offered. The constant association and coming in contact with all classes from day to day, in the varied business of his father, gave the son a good opportunity to acquire a knowledge of human nature and to brighten up his business faculties. That he improved his opportunities well has been shown in a remarkable degree in his mature years. He continued in the employment of his father until his majority, when he, in connection with brother-in-law, Col. E. J. McCarthy, purchased the stock of goods and goodwill of the business from his father on a credit of four years without a dollar in cash to pay on the purchase.

On the 3d day of March, 1833, the new firm of Russell & McCarthy hung their banner on the outer wall. They put new life and energy into the business, and taking the tide at its flood moved on the highway to fortune. The increasing care and labor incident proved too much for the uninitiated brother-in-law, and in 1836 he sold out his interest and located on the south side of the Esopus. Knowing no such word as fail, the survivor of the firm prosecuted the business with renewed energy and with marked success. To his enormous business in 1837 he added the purchase and sale of bluestone, that business being then in its infancy, and which has so largely added to the wealth and importance of the town of Saugerties, and which has at the present time reached such fabulous dimensions in Ulster County. In 1840 he again associated with him E. J. McCarthy, and continued the firm of Russell & McCarthy until 1849. During the later period the firm dealt very extensively in bluestone. In 1849 he sold out to E. J. McCarthy, and closed his career as a merchant. He was appointed postmaster about 1833, and held the position until 1840. His successor, Aaron Burr Dewitt, held the position but a short time, and in turn was succeeded by E. J. McCarthy, Esq., who held the position for several years.

Having been nurtured in the Democratic faith, and being a person of decided convictions, he took a prominent part in the politics of the day, his first vote being cast for "Old Hickory"; in 1832. As early as 1840 he was chosen a delegate to the Young Men's Democratic State Convention held at Utica. Being thus brought into association with many leading magnates of the party, and taken into their councils, he became prominently identified with his party. In 1851 he was elected to the Assembly. While in the Legislature he was elected a member of a joint committee of the State and Assembly to examine and investigate the accounts of the comptroller, State treasurer, and auditor of the canal department, and the securities and condition of the banking department of the State of New York, a trust of great importance, and which was bestowed by his friends during his absence. Since that period there has scarcely been a time when he has not been honored with some responsible position. In 1856 he was elected to the Thirty-fifth Congress, was appointed navy agent for the port of New York in 1859, and in 1860 he, in company with a number of leading gentlemen, established "The Saugerties Bank," now The Saugerties National Bank, of which he was chosen president, and has filled the position continuously since its organization.

While the deliberations of the convention for revision of the constitution of the State of New York were in progress, in 1874, at Albany, a vacancy occurred in this district by the death of Hon. William Cassidy, of Albany. In casting about for a suitable person to fill said vacancy the place was tendered to Hon. William F. Russell by telegraph, but in consequence of the great pressure of business on his hands, he most respectfully declined the high honor so magnanimously tendered. He has been chosen to represent his party in county, State, judicial, and national conventions very many times, and as a member of the State central committee, etc.

Having attained a high reputation as a prompt, energetic, and thorough business man, and having discharged all trusts confided to his care with great fidelity, his personal and political friends, Hon. T. R. Westbrook, justice of the Supreme Court, and Hon. Augustus Schoonmaker, Jr., attorney-general of the State of New York, on the 29th day of March, 1878, tendered him, unasked and unsolicited, the receivership of the Six-Penny Savings-Bank in the city of New York. Owing to the great pressure of business on his hands, he very reluctantly accepted the trust, the duties of which are now being industriously discharged. With nearly thirty-three thousand depositors, and deposits in excess of one million eight hundred thousand dollars, the duties require executive ability of a high order. Entering with his usual industry upon the duties of his trust, at the end of four months he was paying the depositors a dividend of fifty per cent; a second dividend of fifteen per cent. soon followed, and he hopes to pay the third and final dividend during the summer of 1880. The duties of his trust have been discharged with great rapidity and to the entire satisfaction of the depositors and the public.

Having resided in the village of Saugerties nearly all his life he has been intimately connected with its growth an prosperity; he has witnessed its increase of population from one hundred to over four thousand. He has by a life of industry and frugality accumulated a large amount of property in town and village, and much that has tended to improve and adorn the latter can be directly traced to his efforts and liberality. In 1868 he purchased the property on the corner of Main and Market Streets, the site of the old store in which he for many years prosecuted the mercantile business. In 1873 the building was razed to the ground and on its site he erected the "Russell block," which, for beauty of proportion, style of finish, and durability, will compare favorably with the best block of buildings in the county of Ulster.

On the 9th day of October, 1833, William F. Russell married Miss Margaret Garey Keeney, of Norwich, Conn. Side by side they still travel the highway of life, and with fair prospects of being able to celebrate their golden wedding on the 9th day of October, 1883. They have no children.

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