He was chief clerk in the office of Ohio Secretary of State William Henry Smith.

[1] Later that year, at the State Republican Convention, Russell came in fourth of four candidates for the nomination on the first ballot, and withdrew.

He taught school and saved his money to enroll in Ohio Wesleyan University in 1849, from which he graduated.

[3] After his term expired, Russell returned to Urbana and worked in the office of the Collector of Internal Revenue.

Russell was nominated and elected to the Ohio State Senate in the fall of 1869, but was struck down by stroke and died December 16, 1869, before he could take his seat.