Russell was nominated by President William H. Taft on May 27, 1910, to a seat vacated by David E. Bryant.

Born on December 22, 1859, in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama,[1] Russell attended the common schools, the Sam Bailey Institute in Griffin, Georgia and Crawford High School in Dalton, Georgia.

[2] He received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1877 from the University of Georgia and read law the same year.

[1] His service terminated on September 14, 1919, due to his death in Kerrville, Kerr County, Texas.

[2] This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress