Bio of James O'Neill b.1831 from History of Renville Co, MN

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The following excerpt comes from 
The History of Renville County, Minnesota
compiled by Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
H. C. Cooper Jr. Company, Chicago, 1916

p. 1013-1014

JAMES O'NEILL was born in Ireland in 1831. Here he grew up to manhood 
and married Catherine Flanagan. This marriage resulted in ten children:
John, James, Charles, Stephen, William, Patrick, Ellen, Margaret, Catherine
and May. He and his family came to Quebec where he remained a few years and
then moved to Rochester, and later to Northfield in 1859, where he engaged 
in farming. The oldest sons, John and James, served in the Civil war 
returning home in 1865. The family moved to Henryville, Renville county, 
Minn., where the father and sons took a homestead and farmed until the 
winter of the "Big Blizzard." Jan. 7, 1873, a journey was made to Willmar 
with loads of wheat by John, Charles and Stephen O'Neill in company with 
Thomas and Michael Holden. A terrible snow storm came up and the men lost 
their way and of the five, Michael Holden was the only survivor. William 
and Patrick remained on the farm until a few years ago when both retired
and moved to Olivia. James went west and engaged in the mining business
until his death in 1905.

PATRICK O'NEILL was born in Quebec, Canada, Jan. 29, 1850, son of James 
and Catherine (Flanagan) O'Neill. He attended the common school of his 
neighborhood and grew up on the farm. He was married to Catherine Noonan,
Sept. 5, 1871, born in Albany, New York, May 14, 1850. She came with her 
parents William and Bridget Noonan to Stillwater, Minn., where she was 
married. Eight children were born to this marriage: Mary E.,James P., 
Agnes, John B., William J., Stephen F., Charles E., Arthur T., all residents
of Renville County. Mary E., the oldest was born June 22, 1872, in Henryville 
township on the old homestead and remained with her parents until her marriage,
Sept. 8, 1897 to Thomas J. Kelly. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly still live on the old 
homestead.