Lockley, Fred.  "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the
Sea." Vol. 2.  S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.  p. 475.

MILTON D. ODELL

Milton D. Odell, who is successfully engaged in farming near Odell, Hood River
county, enjoys the distinction of having been one of the first white children
born in the Hood River valley. He has spent his entire life here, contributing
by his individual efforts to the general prosperity of the valley, and has
gained a well-merited place among its substantial and highly respected citizens.
Mr. Odell was born on the 23d of September, 1863, on his father's old preemption
claim in the Hood River valley, about eight miles from Hood River, and is a son
of William and Diona (Neal) Odell, the former born in Tennessee, November 30,
1833, and the latter in Salem, Oregon, in 1848. With ox team and covered wagon,
William Odell crossed the plains, in 1853 and located at Placerville, Eldorado
county, California, where he followed mining for seven years. In 1861 he came to
the Hood River valley, where he took up a preemption claim to one hundred and
sixty acres of land, located eight miles south of what is now Hood River, being
one of the first settlers in the valley. He built a log house and cleared part
of his land, and later bought fifty acres additional. Here in the early days he
raised cattle, hay and garden truck, and later turned his attention to fruit
raising, meeting with success. He served as a member of the board of county
commissioners of Wasco county, before the creation of Hood River county, and
gave active assistance in the building of the first schoolhouse in the district,
contributing both labor and money. In many ways he showed a public-spirited
interest in the development and progress of the valley, was prominent and
influential among his fellowmen and commanded the respect and good will of all
who knew him, the town of Odell being named in his honor. He and his wife spent
their remaining years here, the father dying in May, 1891, and the mother in
1893. They were the parents of seven children, Milton D., James A., Emma C.,
Charles P., Lee T., William and Lucy Jane, all of whom are deceased, except the
first named.

Milton D. Odell's maternal grandfather, Peter Neal, crossed the plains, with ox
team and covered wagon in 1844, settling on a donation claim of six hundred and
forty acres in Marion county, Oregon, and was one of the first pioneers on
French prairie.

Milton D. Odell received his educational training in the district school and at
old Wasco Academy, at The Dalles. He remained at home until his marriage, when
he bought eighty acres of land near Odell, all of which was covered with heavy
timber. He built a log house and began clearing the land and in the course of
time developed a good farm and a comfortable home. He now has twenty acres in
cultivation, of which six acres are in apples and four acres in strawberries,
the remainder being in hay and pasture. He carries on diversified farming and
keeps a few cows and chickens.

On June 1, 1894, Mr. Odell was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. McCoy, who was
born in Woodford county, Illinois, and is a daughter of James Newton and Mary E.
(Herron) McCoy. Her father was born in Georgetown, Ohio, October 15, 1826, and
her mother in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 1, 1827, and both are deceased. Mr. McCoy
brought his family to Hood River, November 4, 1885, and was engaged in farming
in the valley here until his death, which occurred February 12, 1899. His wife
died in Iowa, February 5, 1885. Prior to coming west, Mr. McCoy had served
several years during the Civil war period as provost marshal of Springfield,
Illinois, and proved himself an able and fearless officer. While his duties
consisted largely in rounding up deserters from the army and bringing them to
justice, he had to deal with many lawless persons and had a number of deeds of
daring to his credit. He was a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln. To him and
his wife were born five children, namely: William Herron and Agnes J., both
deceased; Elmer E., of Seattle, Washington; John, deceased; and Mrs. Mary E.
Odell. Mr. and Mrs. Odell have an adopted daughter, Eunice Lela, who was born at
Odell, Oregon, and is now the wife of J. W. Wirrick, of Odell, and they have a
daughter, Maryellen, born December 2, 1927. Mrs. Wirrick is a graduate of the
Gillespie School of Elocution at Portland and was an instructor in that art.
Mrs. Odell graduated from the high school at The Dalles, took a teacher's course
in Portland and a commercial course in Armstrong's Business College in that
city, after which, for seven years prior to her marriage, she taught school at
White Salmon, Washington, and in Hood River and Columbia counties, Oregon. Mr.
Odell has always evinced a deep interest in the welfare of his locality and has
rendered effective service as a member of the school board. He and his wife are
members of the Grange, of which Mr. Odell is master. He is a man of mature
judgment in practical matters, has been successful in his material affairs and
throughout his section of the valley is held in high regard by his fellowmen.

 
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2006 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.