* A portrait has been posted on-line at http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~westklic/wcportrait.html
WILLIAM ODELL, an enterprising and popular citizen of Wasco county, follows farming and stock raising, with his headquarters on his estate about nine miles east from Boyd postoffice. The place consists of one-half section, is well improved, and about one hundred acres are devoted to wheat. In addition to this, he gives attention to raising stock and has been more or less engaged in this enterprise for many years.
William Odell was born in Missouri, on April 25, 1864. His parents are Griffith and Jessie (Harriott) Odell, natives of Michigan and Cincinnati, Ohio, respectively, and now dwelling in Clackamas county, Oregon. The mother's parents were born in New England. When our subject was an infant, his parents came to Iowa and thence shortly to California, settling in Butte county, where William received the initial educational training of his life. In the fall of 1880, they came to Klickitat county, Washington and remained one year. Next they made a move to Clackamas county, where the parents reside at the present time. In the spring of 1882, our subject started out for himself. He first made a trip to The Dalles and soon found employment in the railroad shops where he worked for two years. Then he engaged in stock raising and since that time, he has continued in that business. In the fall of 1893, he filed on a homestead where he now resides and in 1897 bought a quarter section. Later he purchased another quarter, having now an estate of four hundred and eighty acres.
On November 1, 1893, at The Dalles, Oregon, Mr. Odell married Miss Emma Deckert, whose parents are mentioned in another article in this book. Mr. Odell has the following named brothers and sisters, Irving, Emmett, Thomas, Walter, Edward, Mrs. Lena Ellingham, Mrs. Emma Godfrey, and Mrs. Fanny Nitzche.
He is a member of the M.W.A. and in politics is independent. He has frequently been on the school board and is a man who thoroughly appreciates matters along all lines. He is progressive and public spirited and one of our best citizens.
Mr. and Mrs. Odell have five children, Hattie, Albert, Minnie, Ada, and Elmer.
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.