Russell Ralph Lair was a son of James Newton Lair and Francis Caroline (Hale) Lair. He married Edith Wise in Arkansas in 1918. His children were Opal, Leroy, Raymond, and Donald. His siblings were Elisha, Lester, Ruby (male) and Maudie. Russell was my uncle. His brother, Elisha, was my father.
OTHER INFO:

16 June 1900 Census, N Palmyra Twp, Macoupin County, IL:
Lair, James, head, w, m, b.May1866-IL, 34, m:12yrs, fa/mo-IL
Francis, wife, w, f, b.May1865-IL, 25, m:12yrs, 5children/4living, fa/mo-KY
Elisha, son, w, m, b.Mar1889-IL, 11, fa/mo-IL
Russel, son, w, m, b.Sep1893-IL, 6, fa/mo-IL****
Lester, son, w, m, b.Sep1895-IL, 4, fa/mo-IL
Ruby, son, w, m, b.Aug1898-IL, 1, fa/mo-IL

7 May 1910 Census, North Palmyra Twp, Macoupin County, IL:
Lair, J. N., head, m, w, 42, m:age21, b-IL, fa/mo-IL
Francis, wife, f, w, 44, m:age21, 6children/5living, b-KY, fa/mo-KY
Russell, son, m, w, 16, b-IL, fa-IL, mo-KY****
Lester, son, m, w, 14, b-IL, fa-IL, mo-KY
Ruby, dau, f, w, 11, b-IL, fa-IL, mo-KY(this is a mistake--Ruby was a son)
Maude, dau, f, w, 8, b-IL, fa-IL, mo-KY

6 Jan 1920 Census, Spencer Twp, Clay County, Iowa:
Lair, Russell, head, m, w, 26, b-IL, fa-IL, mo-KY
Edith, wife, f,w, 20, b-AR, fa-AR, mo-IN

1925 CENSUS, Twelve Mile Lake, Emmet County, Iowa:
Lair, Russell R., head, m, w, 30, b-IL, fa: James Lair, 58, b-IL, mo:Frances Hale, 59, b-IL, m-IL
Lair, Edith, wife, f, w, 25, b-AR, fa: Charlie Wise, 46, b-AR, mo: Sarah Cragar, 50, b-IN, m-AR
Lair, Opal, dau, f,w, 2, b-unreadable, fa:Russell R. Lair, 30, b-IL, mo:Edith Wise, 25, b-AR, m-AR
Lair, Leroy,son, m, w, 1, b-unreadable,fa:Russell R. Lair, 30, b-IL, mo:Edith Wise, 25, b-AR, m-AR
[NOTE: Although this 1925 census does spell the name "Lair" correctly, Ancestry.com incorrectly shows it is "Lari".]

4 April 1930 Census, Twelve Mile Lake, Emmet County, Iowa:
Lair, Russel R., head, m, w, 36, m:age25, farmer, b-IL, fa/mo-IL
Edith, wife, f, w, 30, m:age19, b-AR, fa-AR, mo-IN
Opal V., dau, f, w, 8, b-IA, fa-IL, mo-AR
Larry R., son, m, w, 6, b-IA, fa-IL, mo-AR
Raymond R., son, m, w, 4, b-IA, fa-IL, mo-AR

OBITUARY ARTICLES:
Russell Lair Dies
Russell Lair, 51, of Estherville township, died Monday morning at the state hospital in Cherokee where he had been a patient since March 5. Lair's death was caused by pneumonia. Funeral arrangements have not been completed. Mr. Lair, a farmer for a number of years in Estherville township, is survived by his widow, several sons and daughters. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, March 15, 1945)

Rites Thursday
Funeral services for Russell Lair will be held Thursday at 1:30 p.m. from the Mahlum and Sandin funeral chapel and at 2 p.m. from the Church of Christ with the Rev. Leon Triggs officiating. Burial will be in the North Lawn cemetery at Spencer. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, March 15, 1945)

Russell Lair Passed Away Sunday
Russell Lair, about 50, died at a hospital at Cherokee of pneumonia Monday. Mr. Lair was taken to the hospital last Wednesday. For many years they lived southeast of town where they made many friends and were well liked by all neighbors. A few years ago they moved to a farm 8 miles northeast and have since made this their home. There are two sons in the service, Leland at Kelly Field, Texas and Raymond in France. Raymond was home at Christmas time. Leland will be home for the funeral. The daughter, Opal, is employed at Mankato, Minnesota and the youngest son, Donald, 14, is at home and a student in Estherville high school. Funeral services will be held at Estherville today at 2 o'clock at the Christian church if Leland can get home by that time. Burial will be at Spencer. (Terril Record, Terril, IA, March 15, 1945)