After 37 years of family history research, rarely does an ancestor capture my imagination as much as Lora “Lou” Franklin Russell. My interest into this man’s life began as I researched my first cousin once removed, i.e., Thelma Dorothy (PRATT) Rowland.

Lora Russell was born, (according to his death certificate) in Eldon, Saline Township, Miller County, Missouri, United States on 4 April 1873 and died in Sullivan, Meramec Township, Franklin County, Missouri, United States on 19 March 1923. The informant on his death certificate was his son…Joseph “Joel” Edward Russell.

You would think the controversy would end here with this information but Joel did not know who his father’s parents were on the death certificate. Since there can only be one informant on a death certificate, even if Joel’s siblings knew who their father’s parents were they didn’t share that information with older brother; Joel.

This lack of information requires interested family researchers, i.e., descendants to dig into the life of Mr. Lora Russell in order to bridge him to his parents.