Russells from Linn County, Missouri

Image is of a tintype photograph and might be dated anywhere between 1865-1900. However, in researching the mat/frame, I have discovered one that is identical that dates without question to 1873. Similar frames/mats can be found from the early 1860s to the mid 1870s.

This may be the image of Judia Russell, a possible ancestor of ours from Linneus, Linn, Missouri. It might also be of another woman who may have known Judia or was related to Amanda Russell a direct ancestor of ours. Both Judia and Amanda had been slaves of Thomas Russell in Linn County. There were only three adult women on the slave schedules of Thomas Russell and all three were discussed by name in his will. They were Judia, Katy (believed to have died in late 1861 to early 1862), and Louisa who had two children by 1861 named Maria and Jordan. Judia and Katy may have both been of mixed European and African heritage. Louisa's ethnicity and coloring has not been described in any documents I have seen to-date.

Judia "Judy" Russell was born a slave about 1796 in Virginia. According to census records, her parents were also born in Virginia, but we don't yet know for certain who they were. Judia had been a slave of Thomas Russell (who was a teenager when she was born) from at least 1820 to the emancipation, but she may have been with Thomas's family from birth. He brought her to Missouri when his family relocated to Linn County in the 1830s. Thomas made a special request (singularly about her) in both his will in 1861 and codicil in 1862 that his son "always take good and special care of and provide well for the comfort of Judy".

The 1880 census record has Judia listed as the mother of our ancestor, Amanda Russell. Also, the 1862 codicil to Thomas's will requests that she and then eleven-year-old Amanda go together to his son David after his death (since Thomas was still living after the emancipation, this is not expected to have happened). This was not a surprise, as we believed (at that time) that Judia and Amanda were mother and daughter, based on the 1880 Census. However, the census data was not based in fact. Thomas's original will, dated eight months before the codicil, states that another woman, "Katy" is the mother of Amanda and of five other children (Allen, Jane, John, Nilly, and Wyatt). Katy and these other children are not found on the 1862 codicil, nor was Thomas's wife Nancy. Since there is no mention or record of Katy, her five youngest children, or Nancy any time after 1861, I believe they all died in or around the winter of 1861-62. Judia may have raised Amanda as her own, hence the title of "mother" on the 1880 census, but she may actually have been her grandmother or simply a mother figure since Katy's passing.

DNA testing now matches descendants of Amanda to the descendants of Thomas Russell. We are not yet certain that our own line is through his son David, but circumstantial evidence to support this is explained below.

It is believed that both Judia and Amanda remained close to and worked for the Russell family for many years, and a number of Amanda's descendants used the name of Russell for decades (as forenames) even though her surname had changed to Walden. Before Amanda married Benjamin Walden, she was a young single mother with four children who were are all described as mulatto. She and Judia were also described as mulatto. The children were all born "Russell" in the 1870s, years after emancipation. Amanda's death certificate says that her father's name was Dave Russell, the same name as Thomas's son, David W. Russell. Amanda had four known children during the 1870s, all bearing er maiden name. They were Ella, Henrietta, Victor, and Lenora (b. 1875). Lenora was also the name of David W.'s youngest known daughter who was born in 1860 to his wife Deborah Ann Trumbo. (Coincidentally, I also have a daughter named Lenora. My line descends from Ella.)

Amanda's son Victor's death certificate says his father was a John Russell, but this, like the indication on the census that Judia was Amanda's mother, may be misinformation. Death records for a couple of the other children simply name the step-father as their father (Ben Walden). Death records for the remaining children have not yet been found.


Judia "Judy" lived  c1796-c1885. Amanda lived 1850-1924. Katie "Katy" was born between 1823 and 1831; death date is presumed to be winter 1861-62.


Image was graciously provided by the Russell Family and is a part of their private collection.