Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Odlin, George O 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 3:06 am

Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885

George O. Odlin, of Morrison, was born Aug. 26, 1823, in the town of Exeter, 
Rockingham Co., N. H. His parents, James and Martha (Osborn) Odlin, were 
natives of the same place. The founder of the family in the United States was 
born in England. He is prominent in the colonial history of Massachusetts, 
from the fact that he was one of the original owners of the land now included 
in Boston Common. The Odlin family were among the pioneer settlers of New 
Hampshire, and were identified with the days of first things in the Granite 
State. Rev. John Odlin became the Pastor of the First Congregational Church at 
Exeter, in 1706, and retained his charge until he was succeeded, in 1743, by 
his son, Woodbridge Odlin. The father died in 1776. The ministry of the son 
covered a period of 47 consecutive years, and the combined pastorate of father 
and son embraced 83 years. Elisha Odlin, son and brother of those just named, 
is the ancestor in a direct line of Mr. Odlin of this sketch, from whom the 
latter is the sixth descendant. Elisha Odlin was also a clergyman in the 
Congregational Church, and was Pastor of a society at Araesbury, where the 
Quaker poet, John G. Whittier, lives. Winthrop Odlin, great-grandson of 
Elisha, was born in Exeter, which was also the place of nativity of his son, 
William Odlin, the father of James. William Odlin was a harness-maker by 
calling. James Odlin was a carriage manufacturer at Exeter, where he was born, 
and where he lived and died. The maternal great-grandfather of Mr. Odlin was 
named Jewett, and he was a member of one of the families who were among the 
original settlers of Exeter. The Osborn family were early settlers at Salem 
and Danvers, Mass., where they are still represented by their descendants. The 
family of William included five sons: James, William, Joseph, Benjamin and 
Woodbridge. They were all enterprising and successful business men at Exeter. 
They were prominent in current affairs, and were Abolitionists in principle. 
The youngest, Woodbridge Odlin, endowed Phillips Academy, at Exeter, with 
$20,000, on the condition that 10 students from Exeter should be made the 
beneficiaries of the privileges of the institution, providing that there 
should be that number of poor and worthy applicants. Mr. Odlin of this sketch 
was reared at Exeter. He was educated principally in the public schools of the 
place and attended the Exeter Academy several terms. He was 17 years old when 
he went to Concord to learn the printer's trade, and was in that business 
there 12 years. In 1844 he purchased an interest in the New Hampshire 
Statesman, which was and is now published at Concord. He edited that journal 
seven years, and sold out in 1851. He continued a resident at Concord and 
Manchester until 1856, when he went to Fond du Lac, Wis., for the purpose of 
engaging in the milling business, in which he was employed until 1858. In that 
year he came to Union Grove Township. He bought an improved farm on section 5, 
and was engaged in its management until 1881, when he put the property into 
the charge of his son, and removed to Morrison, where he has since resided. He 
was united in marriage Sept. 9, 1846, to Emma P. Dustin. She was born in 
Francistown, Hillsborough Co, N. H., and is a lineal descendant of the 
celebrated Indian captive, Hannah Dustin. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Odlin 
are recorded as follows: William was born Aug. 3, 1847, and died May 6, 1865; 
George F. was born June 13, 1850, and died April 6, 1874; Emma C. was born 
Aug. 30, 1862, and died July 1, 1884; John was born Jan. 17, 1855, and married 
Margaret Entwhistle; he is conducting the affairs of his father's homestead; 
James was born June 14, 1859, and married Flora S. Corbett; they live at 
Guernsey, Iowa. The first wife of Mr. Odlin died March 25, 1869. He was a 
second time married to Harriet A., nee Fitz, the widow of Jason Childs, who 
died during the war in the military service of the United States. He was a 
member of the 1st New Hampshire Cavalry, and died in prison at Florence, S. C. 
She was born Aug. 16, 1836, in Chester, Rockingham Co., N. H., and has one 
child, Martha G. Odlin, born April 13, 1877.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full-
page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/whiteside/bios/odlin2343nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/

File size: 5.0 Kb