Isaac Russell
Isaac Russell was born at Windy Haugh in Alston, Cumberland, England April 13, 1807. He was the youngest of thirteen children of which there were six sons and seven daughters. According to family records his ancestors were relatives of William the Conqueror and received large concessions from Him.
Some of the characteristics of this family were that they had a stern sense of justice, and had a willingness to die rather than relinquish their own convictions of right, and of integrity and fidelity to their friends in time of need, as evinced in the life and martyr's death of Lord William Russell.
In the year of 1817 when Isaac was 10 his parents moved the family from England to Toroto, Canada. He married Mary Walton on June 24, 1829 who had also come from England. Isaac and Mary came in contact with the Church through Mary's sister-in-law, a widow, who had offered Parley P. Pratt a place in her home to preach his message of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
After Isaac heard the message, he arose and said, "This is the gospel I have been looking for and that I can live and die by." He and Mary were baptized and confirmed, and Isaac was set apart as an Elder with authority to preach the gospel at water's edge. He became a powerful preacher as he traveled with Heber C. Kimball and others, as a missionary, to England.
Before he left he had purchased some property in Kirtland and made arrangements for his family to move there. He passed way in Richmond, Missouri Sept. 25, 1844.
