American Acorns

People: R

Lewis Whittier Russell

1882–1964 · Male · died at 82

How to read this page

Sex is as recorded in the family tree. Age at death is worked out from the dates shown and may be a range or an approximation. It is left out when a date is missing or is only a “before”, “after” or “between” date, when the research has found a date Unconfirmed, when the two dates conflict, or when they would mean an age over 110.

Overview

Lewis Whittier Russell
Harlow S. Russell1837–1913FatherAbbie Helen Whittier1844–1916Mother
Lewis Whittier Russell1882–1964Lillace Alma Ames (Russell, Libbey)c. 1879–1947WifeMabel R. Davidson (Russell, Lessor)born 1883WifeAnnie L McIntyre (King, Russell)1864–1938Wife
Mary Gwendolyn Russell ( Foss )1904–2011DaughterNellie Mildred Russell1902–1948DaughterGertrude Faye Russell ( Foss )1907–2004DaughterMayola Russell (Bolduc, Gagne)1913–1999DaughterRoxie Abbie Russell ( Valliere )1911–1967Daughter

Explore this person's tree: ancestors Descendants

Stories and biography

About Lewis

Biography

Lewis Whittier Russell farmed in central Maine. His family records connect Cornville, Madison, Solon and Skowhegan, with a second marriage recorded in Vermont.

A Cornville boy

Lewis was born in Cornville, the son of Harlow S. Russell and Abbie Whittier. In 1900 he was a farm laborer in Madison, listed as 19, single and able to read and write. His sister Ada worked in a shoe factory; his younger brother Bert attended school (1964 obituary).

Confirmed About this evidence

His obituary gives April 2, 1882, as his birth date. The 1900 census and 1918 draft card give 1881, while other recorded ages vary further. The exact birth year remains unsettled. The household head is on the preceding census sheet.

Marriages and children

Lewis married Lillace Ames in 1901, according to the family genealogy and tree. Their three daughters, Mildred, May and Faye, were born between 1902 and 1907. Mildred later appears in records as Natalie or Nellie Oak.

Likely About this evidence

The 1901 marriage remains Likely.

On December 12, 1910, Lewis married Mabel R. Davidson in Walden, Vermont. The record describes him as a farm laborer born in Cornville and says he was divorced and marrying for the second time. The Rev. A. B. Enright of the Methodist church in Danville officiated. Lillace had married Elmer Libby five weeks earlier (Vermont marriage record; Lewiston Daily Sun, 8 November 1910).

Confirmed About this evidence

The 1910 Vermont record and Lillace's remarriage notice identify both as divorced, without a decree date, court or grounds. The tree assigns daughters born in 1911 and 1913 to Lewis and Mabel; their mother's identity remains Unconfirmed.

On October 21, 1916, Lewis married Annie L. McIntire in Skowhegan, with George Merriam officiating. The record describes Lewis as a Madison farmer and Annie as a resident of Solon (Maine marriage record).

Confirmed About this evidence

The 1916 record calls this the second marriage for both and identifies both as divorced. That marriage count conflicts with the earlier marriages described above. It does not name either person's former spouse or explain what happened to Mabel.

Farming in Solon and Madison

In September 1918, Lewis registered for the draft as a self-employed farmer with a Skowhegan rural address. He named Annie as his nearest relative. By 1920 they lived on the Skowhegan Road in Solon, where he operated a dairy farm. An eight-year-old daughter, Roxie, lived with them and attended school. In 1930, Lewis and Annie rented a farm in Madison, where he was self-employed (1930 census).

Confirmed About this evidence

The draft card and censuses establish his work and households. The faint tenure marks on the 1920 census do not clearly establish whether he owned or rented that farm.

Later life

Lewis farmed on the Lakewood Road until retirement. For his last eleven years he lived with his daughter Roxie and her husband, Henry Valliere, in Skowhegan. He died at their summer cottage on Lake Wesserunsett on July 15, 1964, after a lingering illness. His obituaries gave his age as 82.

Confirmed About this evidence

The Morning Sentinel and Bangor Daily News give the death and family details.

The notices named four surviving daughters—Mary Foss, Faye Foss, Roxie Valliere and Mayola—as well as eight grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and his sister Mabel Cushing. His daughter Natalie had died in 1948. Funeral arrangements called for a Saturday service at Lord Funeral Home and burial at Southside Cemetery.

Likely About this evidence

They differ over whether Faye lived in Rockwood or Rockland. Mayola's surname appears as Boldue in this account and Bolduc in related family notices. The papers do not name Annie or establish when she died. Burial at Southside remains Likely rather than documented as completed by the notices alone.

Timeline of the public record (9 entries)
WhenWhat the record showsHow sure
2 Apr 1882Born in Cornville, Maine, son of Harlow S. and Abbie (Whittier) Russell. 'Lewis W. Russell' (obituary), Morning Sentinel (Waterville, Me.), 16 July 1964, p. 2; Vermont marriage record (groom's card): Lewis W. Russell and Mabel R. Davidson, Walden, 12 Dec. 1910Confirmed
June 1900Single, 19, farm laborer in Madison. 1900 U.S. census, Madison town, Somerset Co., Maine, ED 157, sheet 24B, lines 51-53Confirmed
1901Married Lillace A. Ames. Likely
12 Dec 1910Married Mabel R. Davidson at Walden, Vermont; his second marriage; status entered as divorced. Vermont marriage record (groom's card): Lewis W. Russell and Mabel R. Davidson, Walden, 12 Dec. 1910Confirmed
21 Oct 1916Married Annie L. McIntire at Skowhegan; second marriage for both. Record of a Marriage: Lewis W. Russell and Annie L. McIntire, Skowhegan, 21 Oct. 1916 (Maine Marriage Records 1713-1937)Confirmed
12 Sep 1918Registered for the draft as a farmer working for himself, Skowhegan RFD. WWI Draft Registration Card, Lewis Whittier Russell, 12 Sept. 1918, Local Board, Somerset County (Skowhegan)Confirmed
Jan 1920Self-employed dairy farmer at Solon. 1920 U.S. census, Solon town (Solon village), Somerset Co., Maine, ED 121, sheet 2B, lines 81-83Confirmed
Apr 1930Renting and self-employed farming in Madison. 1930 U.S. census, Madison township, Somerset Co., Maine, ED 13-47, sheet 5B, lines 63-64Confirmed
15 Jul 1964Died at Lakewood, aged 82. 'Lewis W. Russell' (obituary), Morning Sentinel (Waterville, Me.), 16 July 1964, p. 2; 'Lewis W. Russell' (obituary), The Bangor Daily News, 16 July 1964, p. 7Confirmed

Family

Parents

Wife: Lillace Alma Ames (Russell, Libbey) c. 1879–1947
Unconfirmed evidence: show why

Why: From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.

Review: not yet reviewed.

What the labels mean

Wife: Mabel R. Davidson (Russell, Lessor) born 1883
Unconfirmed evidence: show why

Why: From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.

Review: not yet reviewed.

What the labels mean

Wife: Annie L McIntyre (King, Russell) 1864–1938
Unconfirmed evidence: show why

Why: From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.

Review: not yet reviewed.

What the labels mean

Life events

Born2 Apr 1882
Confirmed evidence: show why

Why: His gravestone gives April 2, 1882. Cornville as his birthplace comes from his 1964 obituary, a later source.

Records:

Review: assessed 11-02-2026; evidence: Image examined.

Earlier: Unconfirmed (09-24-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.

What the labels mean

(the family tree records 2 APR 1882, Cornville, Somerset, Maine, United States) Image: Maine, Marriage Records, 1713-1937 · Image: 1920 United States Federal Census · Image: Vermont, U.S., Marriage Records, 1909-2008
Died15 JUL 1964, Lakewood, Madison, Somerset, Maine, USA
Confirmed evidence: show why

Why: His gravestone gives July 15, 1964; his obituary: 'Lewis W. Russell, 82, died Wednesday morning at the summer camp of his daughter ... at Lakewood'.

Records:

Review: assessed 10-26-2026; evidence: Image examined.

Earlier: Unconfirmed (09-24-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.

What the labels mean

Also recorded asLewis Russell
Residence1900, Madison, Somerset, Maine, USA Image: U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 · Image: 1930 United States Federal Census · Image: 1900 U.S. census, Madison, Somerset County, Maine (roll 600, page 24, ED 157): the page the family tree attaches to Lewis Whittier Russell.
Marriage21 SEP 1901, Solon, Somerset, Maine, USA, with Lillace Alma Ames (Russell, Libbey) c. 1879–1947
Marriage12 DEC 1910, Walden, Caledonia, Vermont, USA, with Mabel R. Davidson (Russell, Lessor) born 1883
Marriage21 OCT 1916, Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine, USA, with Annie L McIntyre (King, Russell) 1864–1938
ResidenceBET 1917 AND 1918, Somerset County, Maine, USA
Residence1920, Solon, Somerset, Maine, USA
ResidenceMarital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head; Occupation: Farmer, 1930, Madison, Madison, Somerset, Maine, USA
Residencefather of Natalie; named in her obituary, 6 AUG 1948, Sidney, Kennebec, Maine, USA
Residence6 AUG 1948, Waterville, Maine, USA
ResidenceBET 1953 AND 1954, Maine
Obituary for LEWIS W RUSSELL16 JUL 1964, Waterville, Maine
BurialSouthside Cemetery, Skowhegan, Somerset County, Maine, United States of America View memorial on Find a Grave
BurialSkowhegan, Somerset County, Maine, United States of America
ResidenceWalden
ResidenceMadison, ME

Newspapers

2 newspaper clippings to view here. View them larger, one at a time.

Also cited, with no image here

Record images

15 record images to view here. View them larger, one at a time.

Photos & documents

Sources

Research sources

Share a memory of Lewis Whittier Russell: saved privately, not published (family members can sign in to send one).

Open an evidence label for the sources, assessment and review date. Unreviewed tree entries are Unconfirmed. How sure is each statement?