SOLOMON RUSSELL

From "History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan" - 1880

The first settler in the township of Oneida was Solomon Russell, from Orleans Co., N. Y. His journey was performed in the autumn of 1836, by ox-team, and his route lay through Canada and across the counties of Oakland, Shiawassee, and Clinton, in Michigan. He finally arrived in the township of Eagle, in the last-named county, and after having established a crossing over Grand River (since known as the "old ford"), he cut his way through the trackless forest to section 22, in what is now the township of Oneida, Eaton Co. He there built the first habitation erected by a white man in the township, and settled in it with his wife and several small children. He employed the first "hired men" in the township, Robert Rix, afterwards of Roxand, and William Henry, who became one of the wealthiest and most prominent citizens of Oneida. Not long after his arrival Mr. Russell had a hand severely injured by falling upon his axe while chopping, and he was carried on a litter to the township of Eagle, where he finally recovered.