Russell, Thomas

Thomas Russell (d.1858) was a pre-statehood arrival in Santa Cruz who was able to patent a portion of Rancho Potrero after 1850. Much of Russell's land was in the hills above the potrero flats, adjacent to the Tres Ojos de Agua grant. On the 1866 Town of Santa Cruz map, the owner of that large parcel is shown as Alexander Russell (1840-1898). The Sentinel obituary reproduced on the Find-a-Grave page notes that: "Mr. Russell resided in Santa Cruz for over forty years, coming here with his brother and sister from Ireland to join his father, who was murdered in 1858. The murderer was never captured. Alexander was a part owner in the Russell tract, famous for having been the scene of military encampments. He was never married, residing with his brother and sister, who formed the family. Not a foot of the tract has been sold or a foot added to it since it came into the possession of the Russells." From that we can assume that Thomas was also a native of Ireland.

• John L. Chase, The Sidewalk Companion to Santa Cruz Architecture (4th ed. 2023), Chapter Six, introduction, page 181.

Alexander Russell was a Soc. of Pioneers member.

Later owners of the Russell tract included Isaac Graham and Eliza Farnham. Much of the hilly portion of the former Russell tract is now part of the Pogonip Open Space, while the flatter portion Graham gave to Farnham is in the "Harvey West" area of the Potrero.