Greenbrier County, West Virginia         Biography of DANIEL O'CONNELL

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History of Greenbrier County 
J. R. Cole 
Lewisburg, WV 1917 
p. 191-192

DANIEL O'CONNELL.

Daniel O'Connell, farmer and lumberman, was born on October 19, 1849. He 
became a public-spirited man, working always for the good of his community, 
and striving not only to make his own way in the world, but also to pave the 
way for others. That is the record made by him.
Living in Pennsylvania until grown to manhood, he finally moved, with his 
family, to White Sulphur Springs. He carried on an extensive lumber business, 
not only in Greenbrier county, but also in Pocahontas county, West Virginia. 
He purchased the old Drewy place at White Sulphur Springs, an estate more 
than one hundred years old.
On this place was an old spring, which Mr. O'Connell considered of great 
value, together with the land around it. and feeling that the people at large 
should have the benefit of the same. he used his influence with the United 
States Government to pur-chase the land around the spring for the purpose of 
a fish hatchery. His efforts were successful. and today a great hatchery 
ex-ists there, owned by the Government, where fish of many species are 
promulgated.
Mr. O'Connell was chief promoter of a railroad fifteen miles long, from White 
Sulphur Springs to Shryock, a little village named in honor of his old 
friend, Thomas J. Shryock, of Baltimore, Md. The railroad was built and 
operated to the very great convenience of the citizens of both towns, and 
while Mr. O'Connell did not derive great wealth from the project, he was 
interested in its success, as he believed, and knew, of the immense public 
benefit such a railroad would prove to he.
Mr. O'Connell was also engaged in the oil and gas business, owning a number 
of wells in the Blue Creek section, but sold out all his interests some 
months before his death, which occurred on October 2, 1913, and at that time 
was living a comparatively retired life.
Daniel O'Connell was the son of parents born and reared in Ireland. One other 
child was born besides Daniel, being Henry O'Connell, who died at the age of 
twenty-one years.
Mr. O'Connell married, on September 8, 1883, Miss Sue Keirn, and to them were 
born two children, Daniel Oscar O'Connell, born March 8, 1885, and Minnie 
Belle O'Connell, born October 25, 1885.
Mr. O'Connell was active in the work of his church, the Cath-olic church, and 
gave always to charity, and all calls for help were not heard by him in vain.
His life, as a public-spirited man and one that was spent in the interests of 
those about him, has made the land of his home a better one.