William Russell, born in Culpeper County, Virginia, in 1758, removed in
early boyhood with his father to the western frontier of that State.
When only fifteen years of age, he joined the party led by Daniel
Boone, to form a settlement on the Cumberland River. Driven back by
the Indians, Boone persevered; but Russell hastened to enter the
Continental army; and he received, young as he was, the appointment
of lieutenant. After the battle of King’s Mountain in 1780, he was
promoted to a captaincy, and ordered to join an expedition against
the Cherokee Indians, with whom he succeeded in negotiating a treaty
of peace. On the 3d of November, 1783, he received his commission as
brigadier-general.
At the close of the war Russell went to Kentucky and bore an active
part in all the expeditions against the Indians, until the settlement
of the country was accomplished. In 1789, he was a delegate to the
Virginia Legislature that passed an act separating Kentucky from that
State. After the organization of the Kentucky government Russell was
annually returned to the Legislature until 1808, when he was appointed
by President Madison colonel of the Seventh United States Infantry.
In 1811, he succeeded Gen. William Henry Harrison in command of the
frontier of Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. In 1812, he planned and
commanded an expedition against the Peoria Indians, and in 1823 was
again sent to the Legislature. The following year he declined the
nomination for governor, and died on the 3d of July, 1825, in Fayette
County, Kentucky. Russell County of that State is named in his honor.