(1824 – 1850)

Alexander J. Russell was the first Worshipful Master of Austin Lodge No. 12 during its installation in 1839.

He was born in 1824, and came from Tennessee to Texas just prior to the Winter of 1831. On August 9, 1835 he signed a Call for the Consultation. He was in August in 1840. He joined the US Army during the Mexican American War and took part in the Battle of Monterrey in September of 1846. Brother Russell died on January 29, 1850.

Russell built and owned the first store in the City of Austin, located at the corner of Congress Avenue and Pecan Street (today 6th Street), then called “Russell’s Corner”. This two-story building stood at the site of today’s Scarborough building. Later on he published the Texas Sentinel in Clarksville, Tx.

In 1840 he served as the Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Texas.

Brother Russell served for three years as Worshipful Master, from 1839 to 1842.

He is buried at Clarksville, Texas cemetery.