William Greeneberry "Green" Russell was born in 1818.

Green Russell lived in Georgia and worked in the California gold fields in the 1850s. Russell was married to a Cherokee woman, and through his connections to the tribe, he heard about a 1849 discovery of gold along the South Platte River at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Green Russell organized a party to prospect along the South Platte River, setting off with his two brothers and six companions in February 1858. They rendezvoused with Cherokee tribe members along the Arkansas River in present-day Oklahoma and continued westward along the Santa Fe Trail. Others joined the party along the way until their number reached 107.^[1] For other uses, see Cherokee (disambiguation). ... 1849 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The South Platte River in Denver, Colorado The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River and itself a major river of the American West, located in the U.S. states of Colorado and Nebraska. ... The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a broad mountain range in western North America. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 1858 (MDCCCLVIII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The Arkansas River flows through Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. ... Official language(s) None Capital Oklahoma City Largest city Oklahoma City Area  Ranked 20th  - Total 69,960 sq mi (181,196 km²)  - Width 230 miles (370 km)  - Length 298 miles (480 km)  - % water 1. ... Trail logo The Santa Fe Trail was an historic 19th century transportation route across southwestern North America connecting Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. ...

Upon reaching Bent's Fort, they turned to the northwest, reaching the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte on on May 23. The site of their initial explorations is in present-day Confluence Park in Denver. They began prospecting in the river beds, exploring Cherry Creek and nearby Ralston Creek but without success. After twenty days, several decided to return home, leaving the Russell brothers and ten other men behind. In the first week of July 1858, Green Russell and Sam Bates found a small placer deposit near the mouth of Little Dry Creek that yielded about 20 troy ounces (622 grams) of gold, the first significant gold discovery in the Rocky Mountain region. For information concerning Bents New Fort, visit the National Park Services website at: [1] ... Cherry Creek in Denver in 2003 Cherry Creeks location in the western part of the Missouri River watershed, highlighted in light blue Cherry Creek is a tributary of the South Platte River, 64 mi (103 km) long, in Colorado in the United States. ... May 23 is the 143rd day of the year (144th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Ralston Creek is a tributary of Clear Creek, approximately 15 miles (24 km) long, in central Colorado in the United States. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... 1858 (MDCCCLVIII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Little Dry Creek is a short tributary of the South Platte River, approximately 6 miles (10 km), in Arapahoe County, Colorado in the United States. ...

Green Russell died in 1887.