I may show my age when I say this, but I remember a style of music called funk. Perhaps some of you remember the song, “Play That Funky Music” sung by Wild Cherry. That genre of music was made famous by James Brown. Today, you will read about another James, one who married a woman named Funke.
Today’s birthday boy is James William Russell, who was born on July 22, 1865. That makes today his 160th birthday. James was the son of Elam and Narcissa (Clodfelter) Russell. James’s father was a rather well-known person who served as a Missouri state congressman. In the list shown below of Missouri state congressmen, we find the name of Elam Russell. Elam’s father was named James, so I think the James Russell on this list may have been Elam’s father. The years listed in the last column documents the years that person was elected.
Based on the fact that James’s father, Elam, is buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Fruitland, I think James may have been baptized at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church. When the 1870 census was taken, we find James at the age of 5. He is called William in this entry. The Russell family was living in the Randol Township in Cape Girardeau County where James’s father was farming.
In the 1880 census, James is found as a teenager. He was helping his father on his farm. The year, 1880, was one of the years that Elam Russell was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives. I will also point out that Elam’s Findagrave.com site calls him Judge Elam Russell.
A later document in a listing of Physicians Death records says that James Russell attended St. Louis Medical College graduating in 1887.
Let’s now take a quick look at the first wife of James Russell. Her name was Cannie Williams, who was born on November 6, 1865. Cannie was the daughter of Francis and Jennie (Flinn) Williams and was reportedly born in Fruitland. Cannie is found in the 1870 census at the age of 4. Her father was a farmer in the Byrd Township of Cape Girardeau County.
Next, we find Cannie in the 1880 census. The Williams family had gotten considerably larger.
James Russell married Cannie Williams on December 23 or December 24, 1889. The Missouri marriage license below says the pastor who performed this wedding was a Presbyterian minister. I think this wedding likely took place at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian in Fruitland. The date for the wedding on this document in December 23rd.
We can also view this marriage certificate for this couple. On this form, you can definitely read that the minister was at the Presbyterian church in Fruitland. The date for the wedding on this document is December 24th.
If we could view the 1890 census, we may have been able to find James and Cannie, depending on the month the census was compiled. Cannie Russell died in 1890 at the age of 23. A Perry County death record says she died on May 25, 1890 in Longtown. Her husband was the doctor who was called her physician on this form.
Cannie is buried in the York Chapel Cemetery in Longtown.
Dr. James Russell would get married again. His second wife was Emilie (or Amelia) Funke, who was born on September 17, 1868. Amelia (as her name appears on her gravestone) was the daughter of Herman and Elizabeth (Ochs) Funke. She was likely baptized at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg, where several of her siblings were baptized, but our German Family Tree gives us no indication about where she was baptized. Amelia is found in the 1870 census at the age of 2. Her father was a carpenter in the Cinque Hommes Township. Even though that census page does not indicate it, I think the Funke’s lived in Longtown.
Amelia is found in the 1880 census at the age of 11. This time the census entry indicates the Funke’s were living in the Village of Longtown.
Dr. James Russell married Amelia Funke on May 16, 1892. The Missouri marriage license for this pair says they were married at the M.E. Church in Longtown. That would have been York Chapel Methodist Church.
We can also take a look at this marriage certificate for this wedding.
James and Amelia had 4 children, and I have every reason to believe that they were all baptized at York Chapel. One of their children, a son named Paul, who was born in 1897 and died in 1899, has his death record in the books of Zion Lutheran Church in Longtown and is buried in their cemetery. I believe that Dr. James Russell remained a member of York Chapel, and his wife, Amelia, remained a member of Zion Lutheran Church during their lives. In the 1900 census, we find the Russell’s living in Longtown with 2 children, where James was a physician.
Next, we find the Russell’s in the 1910 census. There were 3 children in their household. James was still a physician living in Longtown.
The last census in which we find Dr. Russell was the one taken in 1920. Just 2 daughters remained in their household. This time, James was called a medical doctor.
Dr. James Russell moved his doctor’s office into Perryville shortly after this census was taken. Then, in 1923, James died at the age of 58. We can view his death certificate below.
An obituary for Dr. Russell appeared in the Perry County Republican. It speaks very well of the doctor’s reputation in the community and among his medical colleagues. You will read that his funeral service took place at York Chapel. The 2 images below may need to be clicked to read them completely.
Amelia is found as a widow in the 1930 census. She was still living in Longtown with 2 single daughters. None of them had occupations.
The final census entry in which we find Amelia is the one taken in 1940. We find the same 3 individuals in the household. Her daughter, Vivian, was a bookkeeper for a food store in Longtown.
Amelia Russell died in 1945 at the age of 76. We can view her death certificate here.
An obituary for Amelia was published in the Perry County Sun. Amelia’s funeral service took place at Zion Lutheran Church in Longtown.
Dr. James and Amelia Russell are buried together in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Longtown.
Dr. James Russell’s story gives evidence that just being a doctor doesn’t keep family members from dying early deaths. His first wife’s early death, his son’s early death, and even his own death indicate this fact.