Elizabeth Henry Campbell Russell
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Henry Campbell Russell was born in Hanover County, Virginia
in 1749 to John Henry and Sarah Winston. She was a sister of Patrick Henry
. In 1776 she married Gen. William Campbell (1745–1781). He was the commander of the American forces that defeated the British at the Battle of King's Mountain in 1780. This was the turning point of the American Revolution
. Following General Campbell's death in 1781, she married Gen. William Russell in 1783. They lived at Aspenvale, Virginia until 1788 when they moved to Saltville, Virginia
where they carried on the manufacture of salt. The Russells converted to Methodism in 1788. After Gen. Russell's death in 1793, Elizabeth spent the remainder of her life fostering Methodism in southwestern Virginia and northeastern Tennessee. Francis Asbury
and various Circuit Riders stopped regularly at her home. She is credited with bringing Methodism to western Virginia and northeastern Tennessee. In 1812 she moved to Chilhowie, Virginia
to be nearer the Great Road. She died in March 1825 and is buried in the Aspenvale Cemetery. "Madame Russell is probably more eminent in the Methodist pioneer history of America than any other woman. In Saltville, in 1824, a Methodist church, Elizabeth Church, was dedicated in her name. In 1898 construction was begun on a new Methodist church, located a few feet from the then still standing Russell home. That church, Madam Russell Memorial United Methodist Church, stands today as a monument to Mrs. Russell, the region's earliest religious leader, and to the pioneer Methodist Movement in the Holston Territory of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. In present day Saltville, there now stands a beautiful stone building named 'Madam Russell Methodist Church.' Nearby is a replica of the original log cabin where the Russell's had lived. This is owned by the church. The stone doorstep of the church is said to have been the hearth in the Russell cabin." (Madam Russell by Gladys Stallard).
Hanover County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 86,320 people, 31,121 households, and 24,461 families residing in the county. The population density was 183 people per square mile . There were 32,196 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile...
in 1749 to John Henry and Sarah Winston. She was a sister of Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry was an orator and politician who led the movement for independence in Virginia in the 1770s. A Founding Father, he served as the first and sixth post-colonial Governor of Virginia from 1776 to 1779 and subsequently, from 1784 to 1786...
. In 1776 she married Gen. William Campbell (1745–1781). He was the commander of the American forces that defeated the British at the Battle of King's Mountain in 1780. This was the turning point of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Following General Campbell's death in 1781, she married Gen. William Russell in 1783. They lived at Aspenvale, Virginia until 1788 when they moved to Saltville, Virginia
Saltville, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,204 people, 909 households, and 660 families residing in the town. The population density was 273.7 people per square mile . There were 1,003 housing units at an average density of 124.5 per square mile...
where they carried on the manufacture of salt. The Russells converted to Methodism in 1788. After Gen. Russell's death in 1793, Elizabeth spent the remainder of her life fostering Methodism in southwestern Virginia and northeastern Tennessee. Francis Asbury
Francis Asbury
Bishop Francis Asbury was one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, now The United Methodist Church in the United States...
and various Circuit Riders stopped regularly at her home. She is credited with bringing Methodism to western Virginia and northeastern Tennessee. In 1812 she moved to Chilhowie, Virginia
Chilhowie, Virginia
Chilhowie is a town in Smyth County, Virginia, United States.Chilhowie, pronounced Chil·´how·ee, the Cherokee word meaning “valley of many deer,” was adopted as the town’s name when the town became incorporated in 1913. The population was 1,781 at the 2010 census...
to be nearer the Great Road. She died in March 1825 and is buried in the Aspenvale Cemetery. "Madame Russell is probably more eminent in the Methodist pioneer history of America than any other woman. In Saltville, in 1824, a Methodist church, Elizabeth Church, was dedicated in her name. In 1898 construction was begun on a new Methodist church, located a few feet from the then still standing Russell home. That church, Madam Russell Memorial United Methodist Church, stands today as a monument to Mrs. Russell, the region's earliest religious leader, and to the pioneer Methodist Movement in the Holston Territory of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. In present day Saltville, there now stands a beautiful stone building named 'Madam Russell Methodist Church.' Nearby is a replica of the original log cabin where the Russell's had lived. This is owned by the church. The stone doorstep of the church is said to have been the hearth in the Russell cabin." (Madam Russell by Gladys Stallard).