O'Donnell, Edward (b. 1853) Fonda, is a native of Schuylkill county, Pa. In 1855, he came with his parents to Allamakee county, Iowa, where he grew to manhood. In 1877, he located at Dyersville, where in 1878, he married Ellen Sayre. In May that year he located at Fonda, where he found employment as a carpenter. He was the postmaster at Fonda six years, April 1, 1883, to Oct. 15, 1889, and during this period built for the office a fine brick building. He has been the town assessor most of the years since that date.

His wife died in 1887, leaving four children, Carl, a clerk, who in 1902, married Vina Kennedy and located in North Dakota, Edward, Hazel and Lewis. In 1898, he married Susan McCartan.