He was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania (2, 9). He was 18 years old when he enlisted (2, 9 [39 at death in 1883]).
When he enlisted, he was a laborer (2).
He was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, hazel eyes, and brown hair (2).
He enlisted and was mustered into service as a recruit (i.e. as a volunteer?) for three years in company E on 18 July 1862 (according to Bates) or 18 September 1862 (according to the descriptive roll), at Philadelphia Pennsylvania (1, 2, 5 [16 Sep]). He was enlisted and mustered into service by Lieutenant Gregory (2).
He was wounded on 3 May 1863 at Chancellorsville, Virginia (1).
He was transferred on 16 October 1863 to the Veterans' reserve corps, because he was unfit for field duty (1, 3, 5). The regiment reported his transfer on 29 June 1864 (4). He served in the 81st company 2nd battalion of the Veterans' Reserve Corps (8).
On 24 March 1866, he applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (7, 8).
On 7 March 1883, he died, of phthisis pulmonalis, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (8, 9). He died at, or was buried from, 109 Vine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (9). He was married (9).
On 11 March 1883, he was buried at Monument Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (9).
On 17 October 1889, his widow, Sarah L Russell, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (7, 8).
In 1890, his widow, S Lizzie Russell, was living at 109 New Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (5, 6). She ran a boarding house, which had at least four boarders (7).
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster)
2 descriptive book, company E, entry 114
3 register of men transferred, company E, entry 11
4 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 29 June 1864 (John Russell)
5 1890 US census, veterans schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 119, page 1 (image 455 on Ancestry), line 2) (John J Russell)
6 1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory
7 pension index, by name (John J Russell)
8 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company E (John J Russell)
9 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 7 March 1883 (John J Russell)