Husband Arthur O'Donnel 1 2
Born: 26 Dec 1824 - Clearfield Twp, Butler Co, PA 1
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Arthur O'Donnel (Abt 1798-1875) 1
Mother: Marjorie Duffy ( -Bef 1875) 1
Marriage: 27 Jan 1853 - New Bethlehem, Clarion Co, PA 1
Wife Margaret D. Graham 2
Born: 13 Apr 1833 - Centre Furnace, near Bellefonte, Centre Co, PA 1
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: William Graham ( -Abt 1844) 1
Mother: Mary Adams ( -Abt 1836) 1
Children
1 M William O'Donnel 3
Born: 16 Mar 1854 3
Christened:
Died: 18 Dec 1854 3
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
2 F Matilda O'Donnel 3
Born: 2 Oct 1855 3
Christened:
Died: 31 May 1861 3
Cause of Death: Scarlet fever
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
3 F Flora O'Donnel 3
Born: 27 Jul 1859 3
Christened:
Died: 9 Jun 1861 3
Cause of Death: Scarlet fever
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
4 M John O'Donnel 3
Born: 25 Nov 1861 3
Christened:
Died: 23 Dec 1861 3
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
5 M Charles G. O'Donnel 3
Born: 16 Dec 1863 3
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Mary Heis ( - ) 3
6 F Anna Maria O'Donnel 2
Born: 27 Apr 1866 - New Bethlehem, Clarion Co, PA 2
Christened:
Died: 3 Jul 1936 - Knox Twp, Jefferson Co, PA 2
Buried: - Central Cemetery, Reynoldsville, Jefferson Co, PA
Spouse: Alexander Lee "Alec" Best (1862-1937) 2
Marr: 17 Feb 1886 - Reynoldsville, Jefferson Co, PA 2
7 M Arthur O'Donnel, Jr. 3
Born: 15 Sep 1869 3
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Anna Nulph ( - ) 3
Spouse: Cora Swartz ( - ) 3
General Notes: Husband - Arthur O'Donnel
He remained on his father's farm until the age of eighteen, but for two winters he assisted his father in working an ore bank at Buffalo Furnace, Armstrong County, PA. He then ventured out for himself, engaging cheerfully in whatever employment he could find; for several months he operated an engine at Buffalo Furnace, later running an engine at Pittsburgh, and then was similarly engaged in a nail factory until the mill burned, when he returned home. After harvest he began an apprenticeship of two years with Payne & Bigley, carpenters and contractors in Clarion County. For his first year's services he received six dollars per month, for the second eight dollars, receiving also two-months' schooling each year. He was now equipped for life and eager to begin business for himself. Payne & Bigley dissolved partnership about this time, and Mr. O'Donnel associated himself in business with Mr. Payne. They followed carpentering, and also engaged in shipping iron to Pittsburgh by boat on contract. Mr. O'Donnel two years later purchased the business of his partner, and continued it until 1850, when he removed to New Bethlehem, and for eight years leased from Jacob Shankle a dam privilege, building the first sawmill at that place. He rented it for two years for $500, and then sold the privilege to another firm for $300 per year, in the meantime carrying on his business of carpentering and contracting.
In 1858 he built the first steam mill at New Bethlehem, on land which he had previously bought. He leased this mill for three years, but soon after sold it for $3,500. He continued carpentering, but the black frost of 1859 having killed business in that locality, he abandoned the trade, and took charge of the “Lafayette Hotel” at New Bethlehem, remaining its proprietor for fifteen months. Returning to the woods, he took out square timber and built the two bridges across the Clarion river. He was engaged in various similar enterprises until June 1, 1866, when he established himself in the wilderness in Winslow township, Jefferson County, first engaging as a carpenter and millwright for Andrews, Kitley & Co. He contracted to build the mill for this firm, and subsequently arranged to manufacture and deliver lumber to them at New Bethlehem, floating it down the river. A year later he purchased a third interest in the business for $15,000, his salary as superintendent being fixed at $1,000 per year. He conducted this business until the mill was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1873 at a loss of $12,000. During the three following years, owing to the hard times, the business was suspended, but in 1876 the mill was rebuilt, and thereafter was operated by Mr. O'Donnel on a large scale, the O'Donnel mill turning out from 25,000 to 30,000 feet of manufactured lumber per day. Charles E. Andrews is associated in business with Mr. O'Donnel, and receives a royalty on the lumber cut from one tract of 1,437 acres of land. Mr. O'Donnel's life was too active to permit him to accept any office. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, and he was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Brookville. [CBRCP, 1104]
General Notes: Wife - Margaret D. Graham
She was only three years old when her mother died, and eight years later she lost her father. Thrown largely upon her own resources, after spending several years with her maternal grandparents, she developed strong habits of self-reliance.