Russel founded the Watchtower Society (under a slightly different name) and began publication of the Watchtower, hence why the witnesses claim him. The fact that practically none of his teachings - his pyramidology, his significance for 1799, 1874, etc - are accepted is never talked about, nor the fact that he allowed innocuous things such as birthdays and holidays and using the symbol of the cross.

My impression of Russel is of a rather odd fellow with a strong bent toward mysticism and tangled application of every phrase of every scripture to the most ludicrous things (other people can give some specific examples), who eventually got caught up in believing there was something special to his publishing corporation and his ideas. But he didn't turn it into the controlling organization we know and loathe, just provided some of the basic odd witness doctrine as well as some painfully convoluted literature.

It wasn't until after his death, when Rutherford seized control, that what I consider the more distinctive and dangerous aspects of the current organization appeared: the proscribed refusal of medical procedures like vaccinations and blood transfusions (and organ transplants later); the fanatic efforts to keep "clean" from the world by avoiding pagan or God-dishonoring holidays like Mother's Day, the flag salute, etc; and the tightening of control over the local congregations to a stranglehold. Rutherford also gave them the name Jehovah's Witnesses (Russel had only called his followers Bible Students; there are still groups of Bible Students remaining today.)

Hope this helps, and let me know if you want some more specifics.

-T.

I have had occasion to associate with a Dawn Bible Student or two, and they will be quick to tell you how insulted they would be to be identified in any way with 'Jehovah's Witnesses" and that Pastor Russell would be horrifiend at what his organization had become, beginning just hours after his death. And whatever personality quirks he had or however wrong - tho likely sincere- his bible predictions and interpretations turned out to be, never would he have wanted children to die through lack of medical treatment, nor families shunning one another, not people to die rather than pay a 25 cent tax, and on and on. That is whay they say, and for my part I rather believe them. The story goes on and one and fills many books, but I will let others pick up from here. A quiz will follow after. : )

By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.