A participant on German Infolink-Board claims that Russell was not rich before he founded the Watch Tower Society. He refers to an English source. I am reluctant to believe this but here are people like RR who can answer with authority:
What we have been told.
Up to now, no one has contested the explanation that has been provided by The WT Society and their official history. Supposedly, Russell sold his clothing store and financed his activities from the proceeds...
Russells finances.
It will surprise many people to learn that Charles T. and his father Joseph L. were quite poor in 1870. They boarded and their store was rented to them. In 1870, they were not involved in religion yet, and the two of them had not a single piece of property. Josephs personal belongings were $ 2,000. (1870 Census of Pittsburgh, Ward 4, pg. 98, Line 4,5,6).
The first good financial break was when Charles T. Russels uncle by the same name dies Dec. 1875. His father inherited $ 1,000. (Will of C.T. Russell, Sr).
The popular story is that Pastor Russell gave all his money to his great crusade and dies a poor man, leaving his poor wife with only $ 200. The Court records show a very rich man indeed. And most of Russells money CAME IN AFTER HE STARTED UP HIS Watch Tower Society.
Because C.T. Russells wife divorced him in 1897 Russell hid his money so that his ex-wife would not be able to get any support. In Court, C.T. Russell would not honestly state his holdings even under oath. J.J. Ross investigated on his own and discovered that Russell had lied under oath. After having lied in Court, Pastor Russell had to make a clean breast of his lies when the Reverend Ross confronted him in Court with the facts and the charters of SOME OF RUSSELLS COMPANIES (Ross, Rev.J.J. Some Facts and More Facts About the Self-Styled Pastor Charles T. Russell, Hamilton, Ont. 1920, pp. 31-32. See also Courthouse Records, Deeds, Allegheny Co., PA, citations from numerous volumes and pages).