O'DONNELL, WM.

ODONNELL, LEAHY

Posted By: Administrator
Date: 10/4/2001 at 09:16:19

From the book "The History of Clinton County Iowa" by L. P. Allen (1879) Pages 669-697
Biographical Sketches of Clinton Residents

WM. O'DONNELL, section boss on the C. & N. W. R. R. residence on Tenth avenue, west of Third street; is a native of Ireland, and was bon in 1819; he grew up to manhood there, and emigrated to America in 1849; he came to Chicago and entered the employ of Col. Smith, on the Galena & Chicago Union R. R., in 1851; he was section boss and had charge of the track at Cottage Hill, Elgin, Belvidere, Cherry Valley; he came to Clinton in 1856, and is the oldest employee on this division of the road; he is one of the early settlers of Clinton, coming the next year after the town started. Mr. O'Donnell has been a member of the City Council for twelve years, and is also a member of the School Board. He married Winnifred Leahy, a native of Ireland, in 1849; they have five children -- William H., David J., Mary, Winnie, and Joseph H.; they attend the Catholic Church.