by Laurel | February 4th, 2014
28 April 1934
Russell Family Plot
Forestdale Cemetery
Holyoke, MA
Holyoke Mourns Newton Russell As Civic Leader
Well-Known Sportsman and Business Man Had Many Interests Among Service Organizations
Holyoke, April 27–Death removed today by a rare combination of diseases Newton H. Russell, 46, of South Hadley a virile figure in Holyoke’s life and a man who had become interested in various forms of organized work with credit to himself and his fellows. For some weeks he had been in failing health and a visit to the Deaconess Hospital five or six weeks ago established a fact that he was suffering from a combination of blood disease, the cure for which has been not yet found. Nevertheless he courageously carried on his attempt to win back his health even though it was hopeless.
He was state president of the Izaak Walton League, Secretary of the Holyoke Kiwanis Club, Treasurer of the Russell & Co. concern, and, with his two brothers Stuart A. and Robert H., active in its management. of late years he had given much study and time to the growing of nuts and his South Hadley home was a small nursery of nut trees. He had frequently spoken to organizations on this subject. He held that there was a great future for growing nuts in this country and looked forward to the time when it would be done on a large scale.
Newton H. Russell
June 1, 1888
April 27, 1934
Interested in Boy Scouts
At the recent change of the town of South Hadley from the old town-meeting to the representative council form of government Mr. Russell led the ticket. He was also interested in the Boy Scout movement and was vice-president of the Hampshire County Council. He had been active for years in the Holyoke Family Welfare society.
Mr. Russell was the great-grandson of the late Joel Russell, who founded the concern of which he was treasurer. Robert Russell, his grandfather, succeeded Joel and Newton’s father, Henry L. Russell, succeeded Robert. Joel Russell came to Holyoke from Andover in 1855 and his forbears lived in the same house for some 200 years. Newton was the oldest son, his given name being that of his mother, Susan E. Newton. On mother’s side, his ancestral line also goes back to colonial days to Richard Newton, who came to this country in 1610 and settled at Sudbury. Through this lineage he was connected with the Newton brothers, prominent in the early building of Holyoke and its early industrial development — Moses, John C., James H. and Daniel H., most noted among them.
Graduate of Dartmouth
Mr. Russell was born June 11, 1888. He graduated from the Holyoke High School and Dartmouth College, 1911, with Phi beta Kappa honors. At college he was also interested in music and played the chapel organ. After graduation he joined the Russell concern and learned the business from the ground up. He married Helen McIntyre and she and three children are left. Roberta, 15, Evelyn, 12, and Margaret 2½ are the children.
No story of his life would be complete without recounting his devotion to outdoor sports and his love of the open spaces. He was an ardent fisherman and belonged to the Pelham Fishing Club and the Bircham Bend Club. Each spring and fall saw him with others journeying to the Connecticut lakes and on these excursions he radiated happiness and good fellowship.
After his wedding he lived in the house at 167 Chestnut Street, which was built by Joel Russell in 1868 and lived in from generation to generation until his time. For a number of years, however, he had lived in a new and attractive home at South Hadley.
Besides the family mentioned, he leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry L. Russell; two brothers, Stuart A., and Robert H., and one sister Mrs. James (Laura) Logan, all of this city. The funeral will be held at the Skinner Memorial Chapel Sunday afternoon at 3. Rev. Dr. David E. Adams of Mount Holyoke College will officiate and burial will be in the family lot at Forestdale.
From The Springfield Republican.
