WILLIAM H. RUSSELL. — Born Oct. 25, 1818. A civil engineer. Began as a line boy in 1836 with a surveying party, and has steadily moved forward through all the departments of civil engineering, serving under those eminent engineers, Capt. William H. Swift, Major George W. Whistler, and Capt. John Child, all of whom were graduates of West Point Military Academy. In 1837 he was engaged in locating the Western Railroad, west of the Connecticut river, under the charge of I. C. Chesborough. When the railroad was completed, and the trains commenced to run to Albany in 1842, he retired from the service for a time, and removed to Ellington, Conn. When the Springfield & Hartford Railroad began to be built, he was induced to return to his former business. In the spring of 1845 he was employed by Clyde & Stone, contractors, to superintend a gang of men on the section between this city and Longmeadow. He was afterwards engaged on the line between New Haven and New York. Mr. Russell was three years in surveying and locating the Cheshire Railroad. He also surveyed for the New London and Palmer road, and assisted in the extension of the New London road to Grout's Corners. For two years he was engaged on the Passumpsic road line from St. Johnsbury to Barton, Vt. In 1858 Mr. Russell became chief engineer of the Western Railroad (now the Boston & Albany). He has been engaged in railroading for over fifty years, and for more than thirty years has been the chief engineer of the Boston & Albany Railroad. Of a serene and temperate mould, he wisely enjoys life and business with contentment and equanimity. He resides at West Springfield, Mass.
ALBERT H. KIRKHAM, Springfield, Mass. — Clerk in Troy. N. Y., 1839-40; Hartford, Conn., 1842-46; in business in Springfield, Mass., 1847-54; engaged at U. S. Armory 1854-56; in business in Davenport, Iowa, 1856-59; in government employ at U. S. Armory, Hartford, Conn., New York city, from 1859 to 1868. Engaged on
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