Confederate Army Officer. He was educated at Anderson Seminary, Petersburg, Virginia, and moved to Lake City, Florida in 1859. At the outbreak of the War Between The States, he enlisted in Jacksonville as Second Lieutenant of the 2nd Florida Infantry Regiment, Company G ("St. Johns Grays). He accompanied the regiment to Virginia and took part in their baptism of fire in the Battle of Williamsburg. In 1862 he returned to Florida on a new commission to 1st Lieutenant and Drill Master of the Florida Volunteers Camp of Instruction. He was transferred to the Columbus, Georgia Navy Yard in 1863. During the invasion of Atlanta by Sherman's troops in 1864, he returned to active duty, and followed the Stars and Bars to the 1865 surrender of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston's troops to Sherman at Durham's Station, North Carolina. Major Russell returned home after the war to raise the standard for the promotion of public education in Florida. In 1874, he was elected to the Jacksonville City Council. In 1877, he was elected Duval County's Superintendent of Public Instruction, and between 1884 and 1893, he served as Florida's State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Five years a Grand Master of his Masonic Lodge, he was instrumental in the establishment of schools, colleges, court houses, fire departments, and homes for former Confederate soldiers throughout Florida. One year after his death, "The Life and Labors of Albert J. Russell," a 368-page illustrated memorial volume, was published in Jacksonville.
Confederate Army Officer. He was educated at Anderson Seminary, Petersburg, Virginia, and moved to Lake City, Florida in 1859. At the outbreak of the War Between The States, he enlisted in Jacksonville as Second Lieutenant of the 2nd Florida Infantry Regiment, Company G ("St. Johns Grays). He accompanied the regiment to Virginia and took part in their baptism of fire in the Battle of Williamsburg. In 1862 he returned to Florida on a new commission to 1st Lieutenant and Drill Master of the Florida Volunteers Camp of Instruction. He was transferred to the Columbus, Georgia Navy Yard in 1863. During the invasion of Atlanta by Sherman's troops in 1864, he returned to active duty, and followed the Stars and Bars to the 1865 surrender of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston's troops to Sherman at Durham's Station, North Carolina. Major Russell returned home after the war to raise the standard for the promotion of public education in Florida. In 1874, he was elected to the Jacksonville City Council. In 1877, he was elected Duval County's Superintendent of Public Instruction, and between 1884 and 1893, he served as Florida's State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Five years a Grand Master of his Masonic Lodge, he was instrumental in the establishment of schools, colleges, court houses, fire departments, and homes for former Confederate soldiers throughout Florida. One year after his death, "The Life and Labors of Albert J. Russell," a 368-page illustrated memorial volume, was published in Jacksonville.
Bio by: Angela Tooley
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