Some of the items in the local newspapers about Lester were:
 

O'DELL TO WORK IN NEW MARKET
Lester O'Dell will assist his brother-in-law, Mr. J.B. Roberts in his store during the coming summer.
IOWA SOUTH-WEST Feb 22, 1879

O'DELL AND TIMBERLAKE SHOOT WOLVES
L.L. Odell and Harry Timberlake brought to town two monster gray wolves they had shot. The boys went home with $5 each tucked away in their jeans.
BEDFORD FREE PRESS Jan 20, 1898
 
L.L. O'DELL SELLS HORSES
L.L. O'Dell, made two trips from New Market last Friday. He brought in one of his fine horses the first trip to sell to a buyer which was so well liked that he had to go back for another. That's the kind of stock L.L. raises.
BEDFORD FREE PRESS April 10, 1902

L.L. O'DELL VISITS BEDFORD
L.L. O'Dell, was in from Nodaway (sic) twp., Monday, and while here called and paid for more FREE PRESS. While in the office he remarked that he had probably moved less than any other man in the county. He was born on a farm within two miles of his present home 41 years ago. At the age of 3 years he moved to his present home and has never moved since.
BEDFORD FREE PRESS Dec 11, 1902
 
LOCAL NEWS
Warren and Lester O'Dell went to Des Moines Monday to attend the state fair.
NEW MARKET HERALD Sep 2, 1920

POSSUM AND MELONS
Last week Lester O'Dell noticed something kept eating his muskmelons. They would just eat all of the inside clear to the rind. Lester couldn't make out what on earth it could be so he got a steel trap and set it by a melon that was partly eaten. Next morning on visiting his melon patch he discovered an opposum in the trap. After he had killed the critter he examined it and discovered it to be a female and in her pockets were eleven little possoms. Lester said had he known the little ones were there he would not have killed the old one.
NEW MARKET HERALD Sep 2, 1920

VISITING
Lester O'Dell and family, Grandma O'Dell, Warren O'Dell, Bertha, Ruth and Cynthia O'Dell spent Sunday afternoon at the Wilber O'Dell home near Gravity.
NEW MARKET HERALD Oct 7, 1920

VISITING
Lester O'Dell and family spent Thursday with Mrs O'Dell's parents, Mr and Mrs Fitch.
NEW MARKET HERALD Dec 20, 1920

PUBLIC SALE
Warren O'Dell has rented his farm to Shelby Lower and will quit farming. He and his brother Lester will hold a joint public sale at the Warren O'Dell farm on next Tuesday, Nov 9. See their advertisement on last page.  copy of sale bill
NEW MARKET HERALD Nov 4, 1920
 

PUBLIC SALE
Warren and Lester O'Dell's sale went well, and a large crowd attended, considering the condition of the roads.
NEW MARKET HERLAD Dec 9, 1920

LADIE'S AID
The Ladie's Aid of Gilead met with Mrs Lester O'Dell Thursday. Quite a number were present.
NEW MARKET HERALD Jan 20, 1921

BREAKS WRIST
Mrs Lester O'Dell had the misfortune to fall Monday and fracture a bone in her left wrist. But is getting along as well as could be expected.
NEW MARKET HERALD Feb 3, 1921

VISITS SCHOOL
Mrs Lester O'Dell visited the grammar grades in New Market Friday.
NEW MARKET HERALD Mar 3, 1921

TEAM RUNS AWAY
Monday afternoon Lester O'Dell was on his way to the Warren O'Dell farm to help put up hay and he had not gone far until the wagon tongue came down frightening the horses so that they ran away. Mr O'Dell was thrown from the wagon and rendered unconscious by the fall. No bones were broken, but he was badly shaken up.
NEW MARKET HERALD Jul 14, 1921

O'DELL STORM
Lester O'Dell had a large barn blown to the ground in the recent storm.
CLARINDA HERALD Jul 18, 1929

O'DELL SAWMILL
Jerd Fiddler of Hawleyville has moved his sawmill to the O'Dell timber and will begin sawing in a few days.
CLARINDA JOURNAL Sep 29, 1932

LESTER O'DELL  OBITUARY
Lester L. O'Dell, son of Clark and Mary O'Dell, was born Sept. 30, 1861, in Mason township, Taylor county, Iowa, and departed this life August 5, 1945, at the age of 83 years, 10 months, and five days. He was one of five children, three boys, and two girls, all of whom have preceded him in death.

When two years old, he moved with his family to the present farm home, where he grew to manhood and followed the occupation of farming.

On March 5, 1890, he was united in marriage to May Fitch. They in turn have lived at the same home until he departed this life. To them were born four children, Bruce F. O'Dell of McPaul, Ia., Mrs. Neva Novinger of Gravity, Mrs. Helen Cummings of Bedford, and Herman H. O'Dell, who resides on the home farm.

He leaves to mourn his passing the aged wife and companion of 55 years, the four children and eleven grandchildren.

Being a pioneer of this community, he watched the county develop from open prairie to its present state, and made every attempt to adjust himself to the ever-changing conditions and times.

His many, many friends are numbered, not so much by the long continuous years of his residence as by the good deeds and kind words he had to offer. He will be greatly missed by his family and his loved ones.

(NEWSPAPER NAME AND ISSUE NOT KNOWN)