Fannie L. Forbis Russel (November 18, 1846 - 1934) was one of the pioneer women of the state of Montana.

Early life

Fannie L. Forbis was born in Platte County, Missouri, on November 18, 1846, the daughter of J. F. Forbis. She was sister of John F. and James Forbis, prominent Butte mining attorneys.

Career

Fannie Forbis Russel was one of the pioneer women of the state of Montana, she crossed the plains from Missouri to Montana with her first husband, David LeRoy Irvine. They travelled by ox team in the spring of 1864 and settled in

Deer Lodge, Montana Deer Lodge is a city in and the county seat of Powell County, Montana, Powell County, Montana, United States. The population was 2,938 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Description The city is perhaps best known as the home of t ...

. The following year they moved to Virginia City, Montana, at the time an hustling mining camp. Deeply religious, Russel was always interested in civic, church and club problems; she was active in organizing and building the local Butte Woman's Club. She was also prominent in the Homer Club for many years. She was a member of the

Daughters of the American Revolution The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in the United States' efforts towards independence. A non-profit group, they promote ...

and Literary Club.

Personal life and family

Fannie Forbis Russel moved to Montana in 1864. She first married David LeRoy Irvine. They lived in Virginia City for several years, and then moved back to Deer Lodge, the first city where they settled in Montana back in 1864. Irvine practiced law and died in 1872. On July 27, 1875, at

Helena, Montana Helena (; ) is the capital city of Montana, United States, and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. Helena was founded as a gold camp during the Montana gold rush, and established on October 30, 1864. Due to the gold rush, Helena would ...

, she secondly married Reverend James Richard Russel (1847-1928), the first Presbyterian minister in Montana. They moved to Butte in 1879 and lived at 849 West Gueste St. (later Quartz Street),

Butte, Montana Butte ( ) is a consolidated city-county and the county seat of Silver Bow County, Montana, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. The city covers , and, according to the ...

. Reverend Russel founded the churches in Missoula, Butte, Deer Lodge and Helena. They had five daughters: Lialah Russel, Ebia Russel, Theo Russel, Charlotte Hough Russel, France Russel. Since 1924 Charlotte Hough Russel was the librarian at the

Montana State University Montana State University (MSU) is a Public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Bozeman, Montana. It is the state's largest university. MSU offers baccalaureate degrees in 60 fields, master's degrees in 6 ...

Law School for 26 years until her retirement in 1950. Law students called her "chief". Before that she was the registrar and librarian at the

Montana School of Mines Montana Technological University, popularly known as Montana Tech, is a public university in Butte, Montana. Founded in 1900 as the Montana State School of Mines, the university became affiliated with the University of Montana in 1994. After und ...

in Butte. She died on July 8, 1957. Theo Russel, Butte school teacher for 40 years, died on August 8, 1955. She was born in Butte on June 10, 1880. Fannie Forbis Russel died on July 16, 1934, and is buried with her husband at Mount Moriah Cemetery, Butte.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Russel, Fannie Forbis 1846 births 1934 deaths Librarians from Montana American women librarians People from Platte County, Missouri Educators from Missouri American women educators People from Montana Territory