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On election day, Tuesday, April 3, 1917, V. H. Russell was elected mayor. He served as Mayor of Lawson 1917 – 1918. He associated in the produce business with his brother, J. E. Russell.
Russell was born April 6, 1877 near Union, east of Lawson, the son of Dolphus S. and Levisa Russell. He married Mary M. Hartman on December 23, 1897. On June 15, 1935 at age 58 he died and was buried in Lawson Cemetery.