Obituary of Newton J ODELL, Wayne County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 2000 Cindy McCachern Obituary of Newton J. Odell   After making a valiant fight for life, Newton J. Odell passed away at Olney Monday.  The fast thinning ranks of the Grand Army of the Republic has lost another of its honored members, Wayne County has lost one of its pioneer citizens. Newton J. Odell, who for many years has been prominent in the forward looking movements of this community, died at the Olney Sanitarium on Monday night.  For several months he had been gradually failing in health, and just a few weeks ago he was taken to the hospital in the hope that relief might be found for his ailments, but it seems nothing could be done and his life passed out quietly and painlessly.   The body was brought home during the night and will remain at the home until the hour of the funeral service.   Mr. Odell was born in this county in February 1840, and was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Odell.  He spent his boyhood days on the farm.  When the Civil War came on and the call for patriots was issued, Mr. Odell responded, enlisting in Company H, 57th Illinois Infantry, in January 1862, where for two years he served as a non- commissioned officer in his company, and was mustered out in August 1865, with the commission of First Lieutenant.  Upon his return home from the service, Mr. Odell engaged in farming for about a year;, and in the fall of 1866, he was elected to the office of Sheriff of this county.  After the expiration of his term of office, he engaged in merchandising with the late J. W. Tullis.  He later engaged in the grain business with his father-in-law, the late William Shaeffer.  Still later he was engaged in the grocery business, having been a member of the firm of Wicklin and Odell and later with others in the same line of business, but for the past few years he had retired from active work.   He was married on February 8, 1874, to Miss Frances Shaeffer, daughter of the late William and Maria Shaeffer, and of this union two children were born.  Both of them preceded their father in death, the daughter Mary died on February 17, 1882, at the age of five years, while the son, Dellos, died while just in young manhood, and this death shadowed the life of Mr. Odell and his good wife ever after. For many years, Mr. Odell has been one of the outstanding and active members of the Christian church of this city, in fact, was one of the charter members thereof, and there was never a time when he was able that he did not answer to every call of the church, even to the very last of his life his absence from church was a certain indication that he was not physically able to be there.  There are few things connected with the history of his church from the day of its orgaization to now but what it is a reminder of some act of Mr. Odell. In civic life Mr. Odell was always active, standing at all times for that which he felt to be right, and many times in the years that are past and gone it took nerve to stand as he did for law and order, but he always was to be found standing just there.   He is survived by his wife who is surrounded in her grief by a great throng of friends, and she has the sympathy of all in her great sorrow.   Funeral services will be held at the Christian church on Thursday after noon at 1:30 o'clock. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Cindy McCachern