Rev. Cecil Allen Russell

Rev. Cecil A. Russell was a minister in the Wesleyan Methodist Church. He served as a runner in the US Army during World War I in Alsace-Lorraine, France, because he knew how to find his way around in the woods. His company was gassed with agent orange and, thinking he was dead, he was left behind. When he awoke, he made his way back to his company. The Army sent a letter to his mother letting her know that a second son had died in action. However, his wife (Grace) had just received a letter from him and compared the dates only to discover Cecil had written her after the Army said he died. Come to find out, there was another Cecil A. Russell in his Division and someone had failed to check the dog tags. After Cecil graduated from Houghton College in 1927, he and Grace were married in Haskinville, Steuben Co., NY. In later years, Cecil worked making minnow traps at the Cuba Specialty in Houghton, NY. He wrote one small book, Heritage from the Lord, about his family.

    Cecil had a wonderful base voice, and sang in the church choir.  He grew a large garden and the family canned the vegetables in the fall, and made pickles and green tomato mincemeat. His mother lived across the street and had apple trees and chickens.  Cecil would go fishing in the summer in the Genesee River.  

    In later years, after the children had all left home, they moved from Houghton to Gillett, PA, and lived next door to their oldest daughter, Anna Belle.