The Biographical Dictionary of America/Abbott, Russell Bigelow

ABBOTT, Russell Bigelow, educator, was born in Franklin county, Ind., Aug. 8, 1823. His early years were passed on his father's farm, and he entered Indiana university in 1843, and was graduated four years later; was engaged in teaching for nine years, meanwhile studying theology. He was ordained by the Presbytery of Whitewater in 1856. After a successful pastorate of nine years in Indiana he removed to Minnesota, where, after teaching for three years, he accepted a call to a newly organized church at Albert Lea, which soon became the leading church of the Winona Presbytery. After fifteen years of faithful service with this church he, in 1884, resigned the pastorate to accept the Presidency of the Albert Lea college, a new institution then just organized by the synod of Minnesota for the education of young women. His work as founder and president of this college was characterized by wisdom, zeal, and devotion, and he met and mastered obstacles before which many men would have faltered and failed. In this college, and previously, he educated hundreds of young women who remembered its founder with high regard, and imbibed from his teaching some of his own energy and devotion to truth. His lectures to his college students on the "History and Literature of the Bible" were published. He received the degree of D.D. from Galesville university in 1884. He served as moderator of the General Synod of Minnesota, and as a member of the General assembly of the Presbyterian church four times. He also published, "The History of Winona Presbytery," and many addresses and sermons.