Will County IL Archives Biographies.....O'Donnell, James L 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com September 7, 2007, 9:43 pm

Author: Genealogical & Biographical Record

JAMES L. O'DONNELL. The family of which Mr. O'Donnell is a representative has 
been identified with the history of Illinois for more than one-half century. 
It was established in Dayton Township, LaSalle County, Ill., by his 
grandfather, James O'Donnell, a farmer, who spent his later years in that part 
of Illinois. The father, William, who settled in the same county in 1846, 
improved a tract of raw land in Dayton Township, making of it a valuable farm. 
Besides agricultural pursuits he was extensively engaged in the breeding of 
draft horses and roadsters and also owned a number of fine cattle. From time 
to time he added to his property until his possessions included several farms. 
He took an active interest in local affairs and held a number of township 
offices, in which, as in his private business matters, he displayed the 
possession of good judgment and wise discrimination. His death occurred in 
1889, when he was almost seventy years of age. In early manhood he had married 
Johanna Keating, who removed from Quebec, Canada, to  LaSalle County, Ill., in 
1846, and is still living at the old homestead. Like her husband she has 
always been a devoted member of the Catholic Church. Of eleven children that 
attained mature years all but two are still living, seven of whom are in 
LaSalle County, and one engaged in the real-estate business in Omaha.

On the home farm in LaSalle County James L. O'Donnell was born August 10, 
1849, being the eldest of the entire family. After completing public school 
studies he entered the University of Niagara, N. Y., where he spent the 
college year of 1868-69. After teaching school for a year he returned to the  
university for another year and then taught school one winter. He took up the 
study of law with Glover, Cook & Campbell, of Ottawa, in 1872, and  later read 
with Mayo & Widmer, of the same city. He was admitted to practice in the 
supreme court at Springfield, Ill., in January, 1874, and in April of the same 
year opened an office at  Braidwood, this county. July 29, 1874, he formed a 
partnership with P. C. Haley, in Joliet, and the firm of Haley & O'Donnell has 
since built up a large and important practice in the various courts, and is 
now the oldest firm of attorneys in the city. Since the organization of the 
sanitary district in 1893 they have been its attorneys, and for years they 
have acted as attorneys for the Santa Fe, Wabash, Michigan Central and Elgin, 
Joliet & Eastern Railroads.

Aside from his other interests Mr. O'Donnell is a member of the board of 
directors of the Joliet public library. For years he acted as attorney for the 
Mutual Building and Loan Association, of which he has been a stockholder from 
the first and is now a director. While he has never cared to identify himself 
closely with politics he is nevertheless well posted concerning the issues of 
the day. He devotes himself unreservedly to professional work. Socially he is 
a member of the Union Club. He was appointed assignee of the Stone City Bank, 
of Joliet, upon its failure in December, 1892, and for four years was 
connected with the litigation growing out of the failure.

The home of Mr. O'Donnell, at No. 103 Lincoln street, is presided over by his 
wife, whom he married in Joliet in  1877 and who bore the maiden name of 
Costelle E. Edgerly. She was born in Penobscot County, Me., and in 1876 came 
to Joliet with her parents, Lorain G. and Sarah Edgerly. Her father, who was 
for a time a farmer in Putnam County, this state, served in an Illinois 
regiment during the Civil war; he is now living retired in Joliet. The family 
of Mr. and Mrs. O'Donnell consists of three children, Edith N., Louise and 
Francis, of whom the first-named was a graduate of the Joliet high school, 
class of 1897, and is now a student in the Chicago Art Institute.

Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900

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