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From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [IA-IRISH] Bio of C.M. Odell
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 20:04:11 -0600

Surnames: Odell, Lash, Lindsay, Kennedy

History of Delaware County, Iowa...Captain John F. Merry, supervising ed. 2
vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1914

C.M. ODELL
The grim reaper death is always busy gathering his harvest here and there
first in one home and then in another. When C.M. Odell of Elk township was
called to his final rest the community in which he lived lost a
representative citizen, his associates a faithful friend and his family a
devoted husband and father. He was born in Elk township, April 27, 1855 and
was a son of John and Mary Odell.
Upon the old homestead farm C.M. Odell was reared, remaining there up to the
time of his marriage, which was celebrated in 1881, Miss Mary Kennedy
becoming his wife. Three children were born of that union, of whom two died
in infancy, while the surviving daughter, Clara, is now hte wife of C.W.
Lash a resident of North Dakota. The wife and mother passed away and in 1887
Mr Odell married again, his second union being with Miss Elizabeth Kennedy,
a daughter of Cornelius and Mary (Lindsay) Kennedy, both of whom were
natives of Ireland. In 1854 they came to the United States and established
their home in Elk township, this county, among the pioneer settlers. There
was little indication that Delaware county would ever become the thickly
populated and prosperous region which it is today, for at that time the work
of civilization had hardly penetrated into the region and much of the land
was still in possession of the government. Mr. Kennedy entered a claim and
thereon built a log cabin which the family occupied for several years.
Later, however, he improved the place with fine buildings and continued the
further development of his farm until with his wife he removed to South
Dakota, where they spent their remaining days. In their family were fourteen
children, of whom eight still survive.
Mr and Mrs Odell became the parents of two sons and a daughter. John K., the
eldest, born April 27, 1888, is still at home with his mother and operates
the farm. He is a graduate of the Greeley high school and attended Lenox
College one year. Edith M., born February 2, 1892, was graduated from the
State Normal School at San Diego, California, and is now a teacher in
Greeley, Iowa. Benjamin, born October 7, 1899, is attending the high school
in Greeley.
Mr. Odell led a busy life and as the result of his energy, presistency of
purpose and careful management he became the owner of two hundred and ninety
acres of rich and valuable land on section 21, Elk township, on which he
placed many improvements. There he lived until his death, which occurred
March 14, 1909, when he was laid to rest in Grandview cemetery, leaving a
widow and four children to mourn his loss. He did not seek to figure
prominently in any public connection, being content to concentrate his
energies upon his business affairs and to faithfully perform the duties
which each day brought. His sterling worth, however, was widely recognized
and deep regret was felt at his passing.


Cathy Joynt Labath
The Irish in Iowa
http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/

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