Russell's Grove

Russell's Grove, Iowa - A Hamilton County Settlement

Russell's Grove - This place was a stagecoach stop on the run from Webster City to Fort Dodge, starting its run in 1855 and continuing until the train arrived in 1869. The stage stopped at the farm home of the Russell family. At first the run was only one day a week in good weather, less often in bad. By 1860 it was running twice a week and, after the train got as far west as Alden, the run was daily.

A map at the State Historical Library in Des Moines gives the location as NE/NW Sec. 6-88-26 in Freedom Township. A post office was established on June 19, 1872, with Eleazor Russell serving as postmaster. The life of the post office was short; it was closed on April 28, 1873.

The name comes from a grove of trees on the E. Russell farm. It was a common way to name settlements in that day, as evidenced by Lakin's Grove, Bach Grove, Rose Grove, Skunk Grove, Poplar Grove, and Poland's Grove.