Black History Month: Eugene Russell: Friend to Moses Pettingill in Peoria, Illinois


Above is a photo of Eugene Russell, an employee and friend of Moses Pettengill, a Peorian active in the abolitionist movement. Here is some information about Eugene from a Peoria Magazine article written by Barbara Meyn.

Eugene Russell was a former slave in Louisiana who had been a servant to a rebel officer before falling into the hands of the Union Army. Moses hired him in 1864 to work on the Moss Avenue property with the understanding that he should have one hour each day to study, beginning with Webster’s American Spelling Book. Eugene stayed on for about two years and afterwards, would return to the Pettengill house for supper with the family. He later moved to Washington DC, where he attended Howard University.

I initially learned about Eugene Russell from a Peoria Historical Society lecture on Peoria's role in the Underground Railroad. Moses Pettengill was a prominent Peoria abolitionist and helped runaway slaves. He met and befriended Eugene. Lots of unanswered questions about Eugene, a primary one being, how and when did he make his way to Peoria? 

While Eugene was in Washington D.C., he wrote at least two letters, one to Jonathan Blanchard, the president of Wheaton College, and another to Jonathan's wife, Mary Bent Blanchard. These letters are in the archives of Wheaton College archives, and I hope to see them some day. Eugene probably knew the Blanchards from their connection with the Pettengill family.

Looking forward to sharing more information about Eugene.

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