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George Howard Russel (November 29, 1847 – May 17, 1915) was a Detroit businessman and banker.
George Howard Russel, was born November 29, 1847, to George B. Russel and Anna (Davenport) Russel. He was brother to Henry Russel and Walter S. Russel. George attended Detroit Public Schools until the age of 16 when he began work.
His first job was yard foreman for his father's Detroit & Lake Superior Iron Manufacturing Company. In 1865, Russel advanced to company bookkeeper. Two years later,1 he moved to another of his father's firms, the Hamtramck Iron Works?Iron as secretary and treasurer. It seems most likely that the elder Russel was advancing George H. around a variety of positions in his firms as a business education. In 1872, George H. became involved in the starting of the Detroit Car WorksBusinessRailroadManufacturerRolling Stock and served as its secretary and treasurer. Neither the Hamtramck works nor car works survived the Panic of 1873 and both closed in 1875.2
In February 1876, Russel with his brothers Walter S. Russel and John R. Russel? opened a firm for the production of railroad rolling stock wheels and other castings. The firm prospered, and the brothers re-organized the Russel Car-wheel and Foundry Company in 1878.Equipment
The State Savings Bank of Detroit was organized in 1883 and Russel was elected president in December 1889. Russel retained that position until his death. Under Russel's leadership, the State Savings Bank grew steadily in deposits and profits. Because of this, Russel became well known and respected among the city, state, and national bankers. Russell was elected president of the Detroit Bankers Club? and had also served as the chairman of the Detroit Clearing House Committee?. For the term 1891-92, Russel served as the president of the Michigan Bankers' Association. Then served as president of American Bankers' Association in 1898.3
Russel was interested in other Detroit area concerns. These included the River Rouge Improvement Company?River Rouge of which he was president, and the Detroit Radiator Company until its merger into the American Radiator CompanyHome Furnishings. He also served as vice president to the Michigan Carbon Works of Detroit until its acquisition by the American Agricultural Chemical CompanyChemical, to the Great Lakes Engineering Company, and to the American Car & Foundry Company (ACF). Russel was the treasurer of the Detroit United Railway (DUR)Transit of which his brother-in-law, Jere C. Hutchins, was president. He served as a director to the DUR, the Union Trust Company?, and ACF.4 Russel also served as a director for the Detroit City Gas Company? and the Canada Life Assurance Company.5
Russel does not seem to have been active in politics. He voted Democratic and served in only one governmental appointment: Detroit Board of Park and Boulevard Commissioners from 1889 to 1891.
Russel was an early promoter and member of the Fine Arts Society of Detroit.6
Russel married Frances E. Bagg, daughter of John S. Bagg, on June 27, 1872. They had nine children, but only three of which survived him.7
He died May 17, 1915, and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery.
1. ⇑ The Cyclopedia of Michigan claims that it was two years; Moore claims three. Cyclopedia of Michigan: Historical and Biographical, Comprising a Synopsis of General History of the State, and Biographical Sketches of Men (New York & Detroit: Western Publishing and Engraving Co., 1900), 82; Charles Moore, The History of Michigan, vol. II (Chicago: The Lewis publishing Co., 1915), 1127. ⇑
2. ⇑ Again, a discrepancy: the Cyclopedia of Michigan states the failures occurred in 1875 and Moore claims the failures occurred in 1876. Cyclopedia of Michigan: Historical and Biographical, Comprising a Synopsis of General History of the State, and Biographical Sketches of Men (New York & Detroit: Western Publishing and Engraving Co., 1900), 82; Charles Moore, The History of Michigan, vol. II (Chicago: The Lewis publishing Co., 1915), 1127. ⇑
3. ⇑ Mostly from Charles Moore, The History of Michigan, vol. II (Chicago: The Lewis publishing Co., 1915), 1127. ⇑
4. ⇑ Charles Moore, The History of Michigan, vol. II (Chicago: The Lewis publishing Co., 1915), 1128. The Cyclopedia did not cover this aspect of Russel's business life. The social connection between Russel and Hutchins was discovered through genealogical data. ⇑
5. ⇑ "George H. Russel Dead: Ex-President of the American Bankers' Association was 67," New York Times, May 18, 1915, p. 13. ⇑
6. ⇑ "George H. Russel Dead: Ex-President of the American Bankers' Association was 67," New York Times, May 18, 1915, p. 13. ⇑
7. ⇑ Moore and New York Times Obituary. ⇑
Except where noted, the information in this article was compiled from
"George H. Russel." Cyclopedia of Michigan: Historical and Biographical, Comprising a Synopsis of General History of the State, and Biographical Sketches of Men. New York & Detroit: Western Publishing and Engraving Co., 1900; and
Moore, Charles. "George H. Russel." The History of Michigan. Volume II, pp. 1127-1128. Chicago: The Lewis publishing Co., 1915.
For a substantial praise of George H. Russel, see Cyclopedia of Michigan: Historical and Biographical, Comprising a Synopsis of General History of the State, and Biographical Sketches of Men (New York & Detroit: Western Publishing and Engraving Co., 1900), 84.
For information about the Russel family see, Christine Walters, Genealogy Trails History Group - Wayne County — most of which is excerpted from Albert Nelson Marquis, The Book of Detroiters: A Biographical Dictionary of Leading Living Men of the City of Detroit (Chicago: A. N. Marquis & Co., 1908).
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