Individual Details
Nathaniel Odell
(6 Nov 1799 - 19 Sep 1879)
"...Nathaniel O'Dell...was born September 6, 1799, in Warren County, NY, 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 October 20, 1799, and there the following children were born to them: Daniel, born July 4, 1819; Ansel, born April 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 August 31, 1823, died January 29, 1825; Amy, born September 30, 1825, wife of William Hopkins, of Aurelius, Ingham County, Mich.; Lewis L.(2), born September 20, 1827, who was a farmer of Ingham County, Mich., died in Lucas County, Ohio; Maria, born August 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 was successful and returning to Huron he brought the family to Hosea Tounsend'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 country the following children were born: William, born February 14, 1833, who died February 6, 1840, and was buried on the farm; Emeline, born September 4, 1834, wife of Frank Miller, of Swanton, Ohio; and Charlotte, born September 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, September 19, 1879. He was taken ill while visiting 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 anyone. His wife, known as "Aunt Sally," was a strong, healthy woman, and endured with the family all the trials of pioneer life..."
"Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Huron and Lorain, Ohio...", by J.H. Beers & Co., Chicago, ILL 1894, pp 511ff.
Nathaniel and Sally Odell's Family appears in the 1840, 1850, 1860 and 1870 Hartland, Huron Co., OH Censuses. They maybe in the 1830 Hadley, Saratoga Co., NY Census. Before they died they moved to Swanton Twp, Lucas Co., Ohio, where several of their children were living, and where Nathaniel's will was written and probated in 1879.
The above biography says Nathaniel's father was an Irish immigrant named James O'Dell. This conflicts with the genealogy, "Twelve Families, an American Experience", by William Francis O'Dell, Baltimore, MD 1981, which tracks this extended family tree back to an Austin O'Dell in 18th century Westerly, RI. He identifies Nathaniel's parents as Samuel O'Dell, son of Capt. Augustin O'Dell, and Elizabeth Wells, possibly the daughter of James Wells.
Although William Francis O'Dell spells his last name with an apostrophe, his book notes his O'Dells maybe from near Newport Pagnell in Bedfordshire, England, and not Ireland. No records before the 19th century show an apostrophe. Supporting this view is the early pronunciation of the name as evidenced by numerous documents spelling it phonetically as Odle. There is an Odell parish in Bedfordshire. My grandparents, both of whom were related to Nathaniel and Sally Odell, balked at my suggestion the name might have been O'Dell, saying it was pronounced "Odle".
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 was successful and returning to Huron he brought the family to Hosea Tounsend'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 country the following children were born: William, born February 14, 1833, who died February 6, 1840, and was buried on the farm; Emeline, born September 4, 1834, wife of Frank Miller, of Swanton, Ohio; and Charlotte, born September 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, September 19, 1879. He was taken ill while visiting 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 anyone. His wife, known as "Aunt Sally," was a strong, healthy woman, and endured with the family all the trials of pioneer life..."
"Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Huron and Lorain, Ohio...", by J.H. Beers & Co., Chicago, ILL 1894, pp 511ff.
Nathaniel and Sally Odell's Family appears in the 1840, 1850, 1860 and 1870 Hartland, Huron Co., OH Censuses. They maybe in the 1830 Hadley, Saratoga Co., NY Census. Before they died they moved to Swanton Twp, Lucas Co., Ohio, where several of their children were living, and where Nathaniel's will was written and probated in 1879.
The above biography says Nathaniel's father was an Irish immigrant named James O'Dell. This conflicts with the genealogy, "Twelve Families, an American Experience", by William Francis O'Dell, Baltimore, MD 1981, which tracks this extended family tree back to an Austin O'Dell in 18th century Westerly, RI. He identifies Nathaniel's parents as Samuel O'Dell, son of Capt. Augustin O'Dell, and Elizabeth Wells, possibly the daughter of James Wells.
Although William Francis O'Dell spells his last name with an apostrophe, his book notes his O'Dells maybe from near Newport Pagnell in Bedfordshire, England, and not Ireland. No records before the 19th century show an apostrophe. Supporting this view is the early pronunciation of the name as evidenced by numerous documents spelling it phonetically as Odle. There is an Odell parish in Bedfordshire. My grandparents, both of whom were related to Nathaniel and Sally Odell, balked at my suggestion the name might have been O'Dell, saying it was pronounced "Odle".
Events
| Birth | 6 Nov 1799 | Queensbury, Warren County, New York | |||
| Death | 19 Sep 1879 | Swanton, Lucas County, Ohio | |||
| Burial | East Bronson-Olena Cemetery, Olena, Huron County, Ohio |  |  |
Families
| Spouse | Sarah Lane (1798 - 1878) |
Notes
Burial
Inscription: ae 79y 10m 13dEndnotes
1. Find A Grave Memorial 92411118.