Daniel J. O'Connell Biography


	This biography appears on pages 51-52 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				DANIEL J. O'CONNELL. 

	No history of Lake county would be complete and satisfactory were 
there failure to make reference to Daniel J. O'Connell of Ramona, well 
known as a successful and enterprising business man and also as a 
capable official, who has wisely directed public affairs in various 
positions of honor and trust. He is now owner of a grain elevator and 
also of an implement business in Ramona and has other commercial and 
industrial connections which have contributed in large measure to the 
substantial upbuilding of his part of the county.  

	Mr. O'Connell was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, on the 6th 
of September, 1857, a son of James and Mary O'Connell. His education 
was acquired In the common schools and later he assisted his father 
upon the home farm until he attained his majority, during which period 
he gained intimate knowledge of every branch of farm work, including 
the best methods of planting, plowing and harvesting. When he reached 
adult age he came to South Dakota in company with his father and on the 
7th of May 1878, homesteaded on section 10, township 107, range 53, in 
Lake county. Five years later he purchased the relinquishment of a tree 
claim. He still owns the original homestead and in addition to the tree 
claim has purchased a half section, so that he now owns altogether six 
hundred and forty acres of rich and valuable land, all of which lies in 
Lake county, and two hundred and forty acres in Stanley county. 
Carefully and systematically he carried on the work of the farm year 
after year until 1894 and wrought a marked transformation in the 
appearance of his place, to which he added many modern and substantial 
improvements. After sixteen years devoted to general agricultural 
pursuits he became manager of the Farmers Elevator at Ramona and 
conducted it for twenty consecutive years In 1897 he embarked in the 
implement business, in which he has since continued with growing 
success, and in 1899 he was joined by his brother. In 1910 he engaged 
in the elevator business on his own account and is now one of the 
extensive dealers in grain and farm implements in Lake county. He is 
also the largest stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Ramona, 
of which he is the vice president, is president of the Electric Light 
Company and is secretary of the Woodmen Opera House Company. He is a 
man of sound business judgment, who readily recognizes opportunities 
and utilizes them, not only to his personal advantage but also to the 
benefit of the community 

	On the 12th of July, 1883, Mr. O'Connell was united in marriage 
to Miss Kate Mulvehill, a daughter of John and Margaret (Cox) Mulvehill 
The children of this marriage are: James, who is now operating the home 
farm; John, who is engaged in the grain business in Minnesota; Mary, 
the wife of Charles Feyder; Daniel, connected with the telephone 
business: Margaret. the wife of H. Davis, who is editor of a paper at 
Ramona; Elmer, who was assistant postmaster at Ramona but is now a 
druggist at Humboldt; Bernadetta, at home; and Walter and William, who 
complete the family. Their religious faith is that of the Catholic 
church, to which the parents have long adhered and in which they have 
reared their children. 

	Mr. O'Connell gives his political support to the republican party 
and in 1901 was appointed postmaster of Ramona by President McKinley. 
He has served as mayor of the city for six years, has been clerk of the 
school district for thirty-one consecutive years and has been reelected 
for another three years' term. The fact that he has been so long 
continued in the different offices which he has filled is unmistakable 
evidence of his capability, fidelity and promptness in the discharge of 
his duties. He holds membership with Marquette Council of the Knights 
of Columbus at Sioux Falls, with the Modern Woodmen, the American 
Brotherhood and the Royal Neighbors. His life interests are broad, his 
purposes strong and his activities resultant and thus as the years have 
passed on he has become a more and more prominent and influential 
factor in the community in which he makes his home.