Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....O'Neil, Timothy P. 1862 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 5, 2007, 6:17 pm Author: Emma E. Forter TIMOTHY P. O'NEIL. Timothy P. O'Neil, a well-known farmer and one who has met with much success in his chosen work as a general farmer and stockman in Richland township, Marshall county, and is now one of the efficient county commissioners, representing the first district, was born in Guittard township, within one mile of where he now lives, on December 23, 1862, and is the son of Patrick and Mary (Connor) O'Neil. Patrick and Mary (Connor) O'Neil were born in Ireland and there received their education in the public schools and grew to manhood and womanhood. Mr. O'Neil was born in 1829, and worked as a laborer in his native land, until he was nineteen years of age, when he decided to come to America. Mrs. O'Neil remained in her native land until she was eighteen years of age, when she came to this country with relatives. They both settled in the state of Virginia, where they lived for some time and were married. Soon after their marriage they set out for the Western territory, where they hoped to make a home for themselves. They established their home in St. Louis, where they remained for two years and where Mr. O'Neil worked as a laborer. They then moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, where they remained for seven years, when in 1862 they came to Marshall county. On their arrival in this county, Mr. O'Neil purchased a pre-emption in Guittard township and there established his home. He at once built a log cabin in which he and his family made their home for some years. This farm he later developed and improved and became one of the prosperous farmers of the township. He purchased more land and is now the owner of four hundred acres of excellent land. He engaged in general farming and stock raising, with much success, until 1896, when he retired from the more active duties of life and moved to Beattie, where he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil always took much interest in the services of the Catholic church in which they were reared and of which they ever remained earnest members. They are the parents of three children as follow: Dennis, a successful grain dealer of Axtell, Kansas; Mrs. Menehan, a widow who lives with her father at Beattie, and Timothy P. Timothy P. O'Neil received his education in a log school house in his home township, but had the opportunity of attending school only during the winter months. He grew to manhood on the home farm, where he assisted his father with the farm work, until his marriage in 1885, when he removed to his present home on a farm, at that time consisting of eighty acres. His father had given him the place, which at that time was without improvements. He at once began the task of making permanent improvements and developing the tract. He met with much success in his work as a general farmer and stockman, and was soon in a position to add to his farm, and is now the owner of four hundred and eighty-five acres of excellent land, two hundred and forty-five acres in the home tract in Richland township and two hundred and forty acres in the farm in Guittard township, near Beattie. On the home farm he now has two sets of substantial buildings and on the farm near Beattie he also has a fine set of buildings. His house on the home place is situated on a hillside, with a grove of trees to the front and presents a most pleasing view. His house is one of the best in the community and his barn is a substantial structure. His farm, with well-cultivated fields and pasture dotted here and there with herds of the finest of cattle and droves of hogs, gives one the idea of an ideal country home. On October 6, 1885, Timothy P. O'Neil was united in marriage in Illinois to Mary McDonald, the daughter of James and Bridget (Finn) McDonald. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald were born in Ireland, where they grew to maturity and were married. In 1878 they and their family came to the United States and located on a farm in Marshall county, and later retired to Summerfield, where they now live. Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil are the parents of the following children: James, Nellie, Terence, Rose, Maurice and John. Nellie, the eldest of the family, is the wife of P. J. Hughes and lives just over the road from her parents, on a farm where her husband is actively engaged as a general farmer and stockman; James is the owner of a good farm, which his father assisted him in buying, as he did with all his boys, and is successfully engaged in the buying of horses; Terence married Myrtle Burr and is one of the well-known young farmers of the township, his farm being adjacent to that of his father; Rose, Maurice and John are now at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil are active members of the Catholic church and have reared their children in that faith. They have long been prominent in the social life of the community and are held in the highest regard and esteem by all who know them. Politically, Mr. O'Neil is associated with the Democratic party and has for many years been one of the active workers of that organization in the county. In 1909 he was elected to the position of township trustee of Richland township and served until 1911. In the fall of 1910 he was elected county commissioner, demonstrating his high worth in the community, as the county is normally a strong Republican county. His services were of such high class that he was re-elected in 1914 for another four years and is now serving in that important position. In his official life, he has devoted the same care to the work of the public that he has to his own. He is an active member of the Knights of Columbus and takes much interest in the order. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions by Emma E. Forter Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/marshall/bios/oneil393gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ksfiles/ File size: 6.3 Kb