Dora J. RUSSELL was born to David S. RUSSELL (1833-1897) and Rebecca Ann LUTZ (1841-1916). She and her older sister Cora Russell were born in Flora, Clay County, Illinois, and grew up there. They were affectionately known in the family as "Cora and Dora from Flora."
At age 13, in 1877, Dora worked as a domestic servant in Caledonia Twp., Michigan. She worked for William and Mina Tick, but if there was any family relationship, it is unknown. (There were Russell family members living in Michigan at that time.) Her parents were living in Ohio in 1877 where her brother Claud Russell was born, but then moved to Michigan the next year.
By the 1880 US Federal Census, Dora was living with her family in Lorain Village, Black River Twp, Lorain Co., Ohio, and working as a milliner. Three years later, at age 19 she married William Hanford AIKEN. Their first child, Dorothy Adele AIKEN (1884-1953) was born in Black River, Lorain Co., Ohio. Dora and William moved to Amherst, Lorain, Ohio by 1885. Their son Claude Frank (or Frank Claude) AIKEN (1889-1944) was born 4 years later in Lorain County, Ohio.
The family moved to West, New Madrid, Missouri, by the 1900 US Federal Census. Dora's husband W. H. was playing the organ for the famous stage production, "Ben Hur" which was seen by millions over its 20 year run.
The family later lived in Fremont, Colorado, where WH worked as an insurance agent.
Dora and her husband (W.H. Aiken) split up sometime between the 1910 census and 1917; she may have lived in Chicago with her son Claude AIKEN and his wife Elvira for a short time c1915-7. Claude's World War I Draft Registration in 1917 listed Dora (and his wife) as dependent on his income. Dora was enumerated as a widow in subsequent censuses, but her husband was actually still living, at one point in another state.
Dora lived the remainder of her life with her daughter Dorothy/Dottie Aiken Lee and son-in-law Samuel J. Lee, in St. Louis, Missouri. There were 4 generations living in the household for the last few years of her life.
Dora is buried with her daughter & son-in-law in Memorial Park, Missouri. Her son Claude Frank is buried nearby.
At age 13, in 1877, Dora worked as a domestic servant in Caledonia Twp., Michigan. She worked for William and Mina Tick, but if there was any family relationship, it is unknown. (There were Russell family members living in Michigan at that time.) Her parents were living in Ohio in 1877 where her brother Claud Russell was born, but then moved to Michigan the next year.
By the 1880 US Federal Census, Dora was living with her family in Lorain Village, Black River Twp, Lorain Co., Ohio, and working as a milliner. Three years later, at age 19 she married William Hanford AIKEN. Their first child, Dorothy Adele AIKEN (1884-1953) was born in Black River, Lorain Co., Ohio. Dora and William moved to Amherst, Lorain, Ohio by 1885. Their son Claude Frank (or Frank Claude) AIKEN (1889-1944) was born 4 years later in Lorain County, Ohio.
The family moved to West, New Madrid, Missouri, by the 1900 US Federal Census. Dora's husband W. H. was playing the organ for the famous stage production, "Ben Hur" which was seen by millions over its 20 year run.
The family later lived in Fremont, Colorado, where WH worked as an insurance agent.
Dora and her husband (W.H. Aiken) split up sometime between the 1910 census and 1917; she may have lived in Chicago with her son Claude AIKEN and his wife Elvira for a short time c1915-7. Claude's World War I Draft Registration in 1917 listed Dora (and his wife) as dependent on his income. Dora was enumerated as a widow in subsequent censuses, but her husband was actually still living, at one point in another state.
Dora lived the remainder of her life with her daughter Dorothy/Dottie Aiken Lee and son-in-law Samuel J. Lee, in St. Louis, Missouri. There were 4 generations living in the household for the last few years of her life.
Dora is buried with her daughter & son-in-law in Memorial Park, Missouri. Her son Claude Frank is buried nearby.
Dora J. RUSSELL was born to David S. RUSSELL (1833-1897) and Rebecca Ann LUTZ (1841-1916). She and her older sister Cora Russell were born in Flora, Clay County, Illinois, and grew up there. They were affectionately known in the family as "Cora and Dora from Flora."
At age 13, in 1877, Dora worked as a domestic servant in Caledonia Twp., Michigan. She worked for William and Mina Tick, but if there was any family relationship, it is unknown. (There were Russell family members living in Michigan at that time.) Her parents were living in Ohio in 1877 where her brother Claud Russell was born, but then moved to Michigan the next year.
By the 1880 US Federal Census, Dora was living with her family in Lorain Village, Black River Twp, Lorain Co., Ohio, and working as a milliner. Three years later, at age 19 she married William Hanford AIKEN. Their first child, Dorothy Adele AIKEN (1884-1953) was born in Black River, Lorain Co., Ohio. Dora and William moved to Amherst, Lorain, Ohio by 1885. Their son Claude Frank (or Frank Claude) AIKEN (1889-1944) was born 4 years later in Lorain County, Ohio.
The family moved to West, New Madrid, Missouri, by the 1900 US Federal Census. Dora's husband W. H. was playing the organ for the famous stage production, "Ben Hur" which was seen by millions over its 20 year run.
The family later lived in Fremont, Colorado, where WH worked as an insurance agent.
Dora and her husband (W.H. Aiken) split up sometime between the 1910 census and 1917; she may have lived in Chicago with her son Claude AIKEN and his wife Elvira for a short time c1915-7. Claude's World War I Draft Registration in 1917 listed Dora (and his wife) as dependent on his income. Dora was enumerated as a widow in subsequent censuses, but her husband was actually still living, at one point in another state.
Dora lived the remainder of her life with her daughter Dorothy/Dottie Aiken Lee and son-in-law Samuel J. Lee, in St. Louis, Missouri. There were 4 generations living in the household for the last few years of her life.
Dora is buried with her daughter & son-in-law in Memorial Park, Missouri. Her son Claude Frank is buried nearby.
At age 13, in 1877, Dora worked as a domestic servant in Caledonia Twp., Michigan. She worked for William and Mina Tick, but if there was any family relationship, it is unknown. (There were Russell family members living in Michigan at that time.) Her parents were living in Ohio in 1877 where her brother Claud Russell was born, but then moved to Michigan the next year.
By the 1880 US Federal Census, Dora was living with her family in Lorain Village, Black River Twp, Lorain Co., Ohio, and working as a milliner. Three years later, at age 19 she married William Hanford AIKEN. Their first child, Dorothy Adele AIKEN (1884-1953) was born in Black River, Lorain Co., Ohio. Dora and William moved to Amherst, Lorain, Ohio by 1885. Their son Claude Frank (or Frank Claude) AIKEN (1889-1944) was born 4 years later in Lorain County, Ohio.
The family moved to West, New Madrid, Missouri, by the 1900 US Federal Census. Dora's husband W. H. was playing the organ for the famous stage production, "Ben Hur" which was seen by millions over its 20 year run.
The family later lived in Fremont, Colorado, where WH worked as an insurance agent.
Dora and her husband (W.H. Aiken) split up sometime between the 1910 census and 1917; she may have lived in Chicago with her son Claude AIKEN and his wife Elvira for a short time c1915-7. Claude's World War I Draft Registration in 1917 listed Dora (and his wife) as dependent on his income. Dora was enumerated as a widow in subsequent censuses, but her husband was actually still living, at one point in another state.
Dora lived the remainder of her life with her daughter Dorothy/Dottie Aiken Lee and son-in-law Samuel J. Lee, in St. Louis, Missouri. There were 4 generations living in the household for the last few years of her life.
Dora is buried with her daughter & son-in-law in Memorial Park, Missouri. Her son Claude Frank is buried nearby.
