Biography of David Washington Odell I, Crawford County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 2000 Jim Admire Surname: Odell ------------------------- Please note: The connection bewteen David Washington Odell below and Benjamin and Mary MacKay Odell has not been verified. David Washington stated in at least two census that he and his parents were from N. Carolina.  My research to date has turned up only Benjamin and Mary MacKay Odell as having a son David born in the same  year (1813) as David Washington.  They show up in both N. C. and TN.  census and evidently owned property on both sides of the French Broad River. If anyone can verify or refute this connection I would appreciate being notified. David Washington Odell Sr. lived to the age of 81.  He probably came to Indiana from Cocke Co. TN or Haywood Co. N. Carolina. In Indiana at the age of 19 he purchased 40 acres of Land in 1832 and 40 more in 1833. He married Agnes (Hilda) Arnett in 1832. Their daughter Elizabeth was born in 1834, William Jasper in 1836, Shadrach H. in 1838 and Jonathon in 1842. While in Indiana David Washington Odell Sr.  served as Justice of the Peace from 1841 to 1852. He is listed in the 1850 census and gives an age of 37 years old, which puts his birth year at 1813 and conflicts with his tombstone birthdate of 1811 (which was given by his son Jasper or Shadrach probably). The 1850 census also lists his wife Agnes and all four of his children by age and name. His marriage to Agnes is also on record in Hancock Co., IN. In 1852 David decided to move his family further west and traveled to Crawford Co. Illinois where he purchased 150 acres of land for $320. Jonathon died in 1853. David built the first store, was first Postmaster and first president of the village of Oblong. He served two terms as State Representative from 1864-1866 and 1868 -1870. In the 1880 census he was living with his son Jasper and family and listed as 'retired merchant born  in NC, father and mother born in NC'. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb Archivist with proof of this consent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Jim Admire