Gordon J. Russell

Born on December 22, 1859, in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama,[1] Russell attended the common schools, the Sam Bailey Institute in Griffin, Georgia and Crawford High School in Dalton, Georgia.[2] He received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1877 from the University of Georgia and read law the same year.[1] He taught school in Dalton.[2] He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in Dalton from 1878 to 1879.[1] He was in private practice in Texas from 1879 to 1884.[1] He was in private practice in Van Zandt County, Texas from 1884 to 1895.[1] He was a Judge of the Van Zandt County Court 1890 to 1892.[1] He resumed private practice in Willsport, Texas starting in 1892.[1] He was district attorney for the Seventh Judicial District of Texas from 1892 to 1896.[1] He continued private practice in Tyler, Texas starting in 1895.[1] He was a Judge of the Texas District Court for the Seventh Judicial District from 1896 to 1902.[1]

Russell was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives of the 57th United States Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative Reese C. De Graffenreid.[2] He was reelected to the 58th United States Congress and to the three succeeding Congresses and served from November 4, 1902, to June 14, 1910, when he resigned to accept a federal judicial post.[2]

Russell was nominated by President William Howard Taft on May 27, 1910, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas vacated by Judge David Ezekiel Bryant.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 6, 1910, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on September 14, 1919, due to his death in Kerrville, Kerr County, Texas.[1] He was interred in Oakwood Cemetery in Tyler, Smith County, Texas.[2]

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

• "Gordon James Russell". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Gordon James Russell at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

• Gordon James Russell entry at The Political Graveyard
• Gordon J. Russell at Find a Grave