Résumé

Born in IN, Russell migrated to CA by about 1900 or 1901. He worked in various partnerships in both Los Angeles and San Francisco, the most important being Marsh and Russell and Russell and Alpaugh.

Draftsman, John Parkinson, Architect, Los Angeles, CA, 1901. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1901, p. 748.)

Partner, [Norman F.] Marsh and Russell, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1902-1909.

Partner, Russell and Slingluff, Architects, Los Angeles, CA.

Principal, Clarence H. Russell, Architect, Los Angeles, CA. In 1918, Russell had an office in Room #1106 of the Story Building in Los Angeles.

Partner, Russell and Alpaugh, Architects, Los Angeles, CA.

Partner, [Joseph A.] Leonard and Russell, Architects, San Francisco, CA, c. 1909.

Principal, Charles H. Russell, Architect, San Francisco, c. 1910-1913. In 1912-1913, Russell had an office at 785 Market Street in San Francisco. (See Crocker-Langley San Francisco City Directory, 1912, p. 1831 and Crocker-Langley San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1913, p. 1944.)

High School

The 1940 US Census reported that Clarence Russell had completed two years of high school. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Roll: m-t0627-00403; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 60-843, accessed 06/11/2025.)

Relocation

Clarence Henry Russell was born on 08/15/1874 in Indianapolis, IN. At the time of his birth, his parents Henry and Jennie Russell lived at 377 North Illinois Street in that city. (See Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1874, p. 325.) The Russell household continued to reside at 377 North Illinois Street in 1880. The US Census of that year indicated that Henry and Jennie lived here with their three sons Eugene, Harry and Clarence, as well as a servant, Lena Miller (born c. 1859 in IN). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana; Roll: 294; Page: 138c; Enumeration District: 111, accessed 06/11/2025.)

In 1901, Russell resided in Santa Monica, CA, and worked as a draftsman in Downtown Los Angeles for John Parkinson. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1901, p. 748.) He moved to a residence near Downtown Los Angeles by 1902-1903, at 1105 Georgia Street. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1902, p. 954 and Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1903, p. 1085.) He moved to 1335 South Flower Street as per the Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1904, (p. 1115.) He relocated to an abode on West Washington Street by 1905. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1905, p. 1253.)

In 1909, Russell lived in San Francisco at the Miles Hotel. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1909, p. 1365.) Russell and his wife Inez resided in an apartment building at 642 Ellis Street in San Francisco according to the 1910 US Census and 1910 San Francisco voter rolls. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: San Francisco Assembly District 42, San Francisco, California; Roll: T624_101; Page: 1a; Enumeration District: 0282; FHL microfilm: 1374114, accessed 06/11/2025 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1910, accessed 06/11/2025.) He remained in this city until about 1913. While Clarence lived in San Francisco in 1910, his daughter boarded with a brother and sister, both widowed, in Santa Monica, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Santa Monica Ward 2, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T624_87; Page: 23a; Enumeration District: 0343; FHL microfilm: 1374100, accessed 06/11/2025.)

On 09/07/1918, just before the outbreak of the Spanish Flu in Los Angeles, Russell and his wife resided at 318 West 17th Street. They boarded with the Plunkett family in an apartment in the Bonsallo Apartments at 1927 Bonsallo Avenue in Los Angeles, as noted in the 1920 US Census. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Los Angeles Assembly District 75, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T625_115; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 448, accessed 06/11/2025.)

He and his second wife Clare resided at 1334 South Berendo Street in Los Angeles in 1940. They rented this house that cost $40 per month. Russell was probably retired by this time, as no occupation was listed in the 1940 US Census. This census also indicated that he had lived in Los Angeles in 1935. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Roll: m-t0627-00403; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 60-843, accessed 06/11/2025.)

He passed away at his house at 1334 South Berendo Street in Los Angeles on 08/16/1942, one day after turning age 68.

Parents

His father was Henry Clay Russell, Sr., (born 1836 in Callaway County, MO-d. 03/30/886 in Indianopolis, IN). Henry's occupation was listed as "shorting" in the 1870 US Census. This was the same occupation as his father-in-law, James Basey (born c. 1820 in OH), with whom Henry and Jenny lived with their two sons Eugene and Harry. At this time, the Russells listed more assets than those of their immediate neighbors, owning $7,000 in real estate and having a personal estate of $1,000. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Indianapolis Ward 3 (2nd Enum), Marion, Indiana; Roll: M593_338; Page: 190A, accessed 06/11/2025.) As noted in the 1880 US Census, Henry Russell continued to work as a broker. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana; Roll: 294; Page: 138c; Enumeration District: 111, accessed 06/11/2025.)

Henry married Sarah Jennie "Fanny" Basey (born c. 1846 in OH) on 06/28/1863 in Lafayette,Tippecanoe County, IN.

After Henry, Sr.'s death in 1886, Jennie remarried to a younger man, Joseph Schreiber, Jr., (born c. 1858 in PA) on 05/24/1887 in Indianapolis, IN. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Indiana, U.S., Marriage Certificates, 1960-2012 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016, accessed 06/11/2025.)

Clarence's brothers were Eugene Russell (born 01/10/1865 in IN-d. 02/27/1917 in Indianapolis, IN) and Henry Clay Russell, Jr., nicknamed "Harry" (born 01/15/1868 in Saint Louis, MO-d. 11/15/1959 in Louisville, KY). Eugene Russell also became an architect, while Harry worked as a photographer.

Spouse

Russell married at least three times.

He wed Mabel Adams around 1900, and had a daughter with her.

By at least 1910, he had married Inez M. Russell (born 04/01/1883 in PA-d. 08/24/1963 in Los Angeles County, CA). According to Los Angeles County voter records of 1924, Inez lived at 815 Lake Street in Los Angeles, likely on her own. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1924, accessed 06/11/2025.)

By the end of his life, he had wed Clare Russell. Ina Mae Magers (born 07/24/1906 in Whitewright, TX-d. 02/11/1983 in Midway City, CA)

Children

Clarence Russell had a daughter Josephine Vivian Russell Avery (born 02/16/1902 in Los Angeles, CA-d. 05/28/1990 in San Diego County, CA). In 09/1942, Josephine resided on the KP Ranch in Dorris, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Oregon State Archives; Salem, OR, USA; Oregon, Birth Records, 1842-1902, 1917, accessed 06/11/2025.)

She wed Orin Saxton Avery (09/12/1901 in Edgar NE-d. 10/31/1984 in Oceanside, CA) on 09/11/1923 in Los Angeles County, CA.

Biographical Notes

His World War I draft registration card indicated that Russell, at age 44, was Caucasian, with brown eyes and gray hair. He was of medium build and height. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Los Angeles Source Information: U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm, accessed 06/11/2025.)