Source:
Commemorative Biographical Records
of the counties of Huron and Lorain, Ohio
- Illustrated -
Published: Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co.,
1894

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	DANIEL O'DELL - See NATHANIEL W. O'DELL Source: Commemorative Biographical Records of the counties of Huron and Lorain, Ohio - Illustrated - Published: Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1894 - Page 511
	NATHANIEL W. O'DELL, a prominent citizen of Fitchville township, was born Feb. 8, 1842, in Hartland township, Huron Co., Ohio.      His great-grandfather, James O'Dell, was one of three brothers who came from Ireland to the young Republic in the latter part of the eighteenth century.  James settled in Connecticut; another brother located in Virginia, and one became a sailor, all trace of the latter being lost.      Nathaniel O'Dell, son of James O'Dell, was born Nov. 6, 1799, in Warren county, N. Y., where he grew to manhood, and learned the trades of mason and plasterer.  In 1819 he was united in marriage to Sally Lane, who was born in the same county Oct. 20, 1799, and there the following named children were born to them: Daniel, born July 4, 1819; Ansel, born Apr. 19, 1821, came to Ohio with his parents, but about 1855 migrated to Michigan, settling in Ingham county, where he carried on farming until his retirement from active life (he now lives at Aurelius, Mich.); Lewis L. born Aug. 31, 1823, died Jan. 29, 1825; Amy, born Sept. 30, 1825, wife of William Hopkins, of Aurelius, Ingham Co., Mich.; Lewis L. (2), born Sept. 20, 1827, who was a farmer of Ingham county, Mich., died in Lucas county, Ohio; and Maria, born Aug. 24, 1829, who married Ezra Stratton, and now resides at Swanton, Ohio.  The family of Nathaniel O'Dell removed to Ohio about the beginning of the year 1833, the father having visited Huron county three years prior to their migration.  The journey of the family, however, was not completed without disappointments.  The lake was so rough that they were prevented from landing at Huron, and the teams sent down from Huron county to meet them and convey them to their new home returned.  When the storm subsided, a landing was made, and Mr. O'Dell walked to Olena to procure other teams.  His trip as successful, and returning to Huron he brought the family to Hosea Townsend's farm in New London township.  His capital at this time was twelve dollars, and the members of the family that were old enough had to enter at once on work, to earn sustenance.  In this county the following named children were born:  William, born Feb. 14, 1833, who died Feb. 6, 1840, and was buried on the farm; Emeline, born Sept. 4, 1836, wife of Frank Miller, of Swanton, Ohio; and Charlotte, born Sept. 20, 1844, married to Silas Munsil, of Swanton, Ohio, where she now resides.  For six months after their arrival the family remained in New London township, and then moved to the site of the present town of Olena, then known as "Angel's Corners," where the father purchased some land.  There he resided until about 1850, and then located on a farm some distance south of Olena, on which he made his home until his death, Sept. 19, 1879.  He was taken ill while visiting in Lucas county, Ohio, which illness led to his death.  His wife died in 1878, and both lie in the cemetery at Olena, where monuments, erected by their children, mark their graves.  Politically he was a Democrat until the time of the Civil war, when he joined the Republicans.  Owing to the scarcity of work for him as a tradesman, he devoted his attention to agriculture, and even as an old man he could contest for the honors of work with the ablest hands on the farm.  As a wrestler, he was never thrown by any one.  His wife, known as "Aunt Sally," was a strong, healthy woman, and endured with the family all the trials of pioneer life.      DANIEL O'DELL was born in 1819, at Queensbury, Warren county, N. Y., came to Ohio with his parents in 1833, and took a full share in supporting the family.  Before leaving Warren county, N. Y., he attended school, and even in Ohio he realized the value of an elementary education, for, while working here for A. G. Post, he found time to attend the winter school of the district.  When a young man he attended the masons in the erection of the first brick building at Norwalk, and he also cut the first four-foot fire-wood hauled to Norwalk, the consideration being two shillings per cord.  He was united in marriage Feb. 11, 1841, with Miss Almira Wooley, who was born Apr. 28, 1824, in Genesee county, N. Y., and came to Ohio when a child ten years of age.  To her marriage with Mr. O'Dell the following named children were born:  Nathaniel W., the subject of this biographical memoir; Henry C., born May 18, 1844, a resident of Olena; Charles J., a farmer of Fitchville township; Wesley D., a resident of Olena; and Sarah J., born Oct. 15, 1861, deceased July 3, 1862.  In 1841 Daniel O'Dell and his wife settled on a farm forty acres in Hartland township, Huron Co., Ohio, thence in 1860 removing to Townsend township, where he had purchased land.  In 1871 he returned to Hartland township, eight yeas later taking up his residence in Greenwich township, and remaining there until 1881, when he located at Fitchville.  Here he resided until his death, Mar. 16, 1891; the death of his wife, the preceding day, affected him so powerfully as to cause his own death within twenty-four hours, and the pioneers were buried side by side in Olena cemetery.  Mr. O'Dell was an enthusiastic Democrat, and in Church connection affiliated with the Society of Friends.  His wife joined the Methodist Church in early years, but seventeen years prior to her death united with the Society of Friends at Greenwich.  Both were excellent people, as parents and citizens, and possessed broad sympathy for the unfortunate.  At their golden wedding, held Feb. 11, 1891, the large number of relatives and friends demonstrated clearly the esteem in which the old people were held.      Nathaniel W. O'Dell passed his youth after the fashion of farmers' boys of the period, working on the farm and attending winter school, his first teacher being Miss Emma A. Pierce.  From the age of eighteen to that of twenty-one years his health was poor, but recovering somewhat he went to Cleveland, where he obtained the position of traveling salesman in Noyeson Bros.' dry-goods and notions house.  The salary of twenty dollars per month was soon increased to forty-five dollars, and he remained in the service of that firm until the close of June, 1869.  On July 1, 1869, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Dania (Templar) Deneen (widow of William Deneen), who was born Jan. 22, 1850, in Hartland township.  Her father, Jonathan Templar, was born Mar. 20, 1813, in Schenectady county, N. Y., came westward to Ohio in 1848, and subsequently went to Mason, Mich., where he died Oct. 10, 1866.  To Mr. and Mrs. O'Dell came the following named children: Frank, a farmer of Fitchville township; Fred L., born Aug. 1, 1871, also a farmer of Fitchville; Annie S., born Nov. 14, 1875, Mrs. John Kennedy, of Olena; Nicholas T., born Mar. 19, 1877; Colonel E., born Apr. 23, 1882, and Della, born Nov. 4, 1886, all residing at home.  After marriage Mr. O'Dell and his wife located in Greenwich township, where he was engaged for one year in buying and furnishing wood for the C. C. C. & I. Railroad Co.  He had fifty-three acres of land in Townsend township, the property of his maternal grandfather, and selling this tract, together with one of thirty acres (in Greenwich township, he removed to Olmsted Falls, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, where he became interested in farming and stone quarrying.  After a year he returned to Greenwich township, and, in partnership with his father, purchased a farm and carried it on for over six years.  Then he removed to Hartland township, to take possession of Grandfather O'Dell's farm, which he purchased, and on which he remained for five years, a part of the time conducting a general store at Olena, in connection with his farming operations.  In 1883 he purchased the Hezekiah Johnson farm in Fitchville township, and he now owns 178 acres, all improved, which he manages systematically.  In connection with his agricultural pursuits on this beautiful farm, he does a large business in agricultural implements, a trade which he has built up during the last twelve or thirteen years.  Politically Mr. O'Dell is a Democrat; religiously, a Presbyterian. Source: Commemorative Biographical Records of the counties of Huron and Lorain, Ohio - Illustrated - Published: Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1894 - Page 511
	W. W. OSBORN, the leading hardware merchant of Greenwich, __ born Nov. 30, 1858, in Mahoning county, Ohio, and receiving a common-school education in the schools of Youngstown, same State.  He learned the tinner's trade, and worked at same for ten years before establishing his present business.      On Sept. 20, 1883, Mr. Osborn established his present house at Greenwich.  A practical tradesman himself, he started on a small scale, gradually increasing his stock to meet his growing trade, and thus built up on a solid foundation a prosperous business.  He handles hardware, stoves, tin and copper ware and queensware, keeping in each department a large and varied assortment of goods, making a specialty of paints, oils, varnishes, etc. and tin and sheet-iron work.  His store occupies a building 20 x 70 feet in area.  On Nov. 12, 1889, he married Annetta Patterson, by whom two children were born: Mabel Estelle, Aug. 12, 1890, and Mildred Virginia, June 12, 1893.  Mrs. Osborn's parents, Robert and Mary Patterson, who Irish and Scotch respectively.      Osborn's parents, Robert and Mary Patterson, are Irish and Scotch respectively.      Mr. Osborn is a Republican politically, has served as member of the school board.  An active participant in public enterprises, he gives a liberal share of his time to questions affecting the well being of the town and township of Greenwich.  In religious connection he is a member of the Congregational Church.  His parents, Freeman and Susan (Strauss) Osborn, are descended from English and Dutch pioneers of Pennsylvania, who settled in Ohio at an early day. Source: Commemorative Biographical Records of the counties of Huron and Lorain, Ohio - Illustrated - Published: Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1894 - Page 324

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