Her maiden name was Holman, and she was born in Kentucky, December 10, 1803. When she was about eight years of age, her parents moved to Indiana and settled in Wayne County. Here she grew up to womanhood; and there, on March 30, 1820, she was united in marriage to John O’Dell. In 1825 she and her husband moved to Tippecanoe County and in March 1826, they moved to Carroll County. Theirs was among the first white families settling in this county, and for a time the only white family in the township in which the town of Camden is situated.
Their doors were thrown open wide to the pioneers who were seeking homes in that county and many availed themselves to their hospitality. In childhood she gave her heart to God and early in their married life she and her husband united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, under the ministry of Russel Bigelow. Their home was a Christian home, and they endeavored to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; and, as a result, their ten children who grew to manhood and womanhood were all converted early in life and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In the spring of 1851 they left their home in Carrol County for Oregon, by the overland route; and the last of September they reached Yamhill County, and settled near Dayton. In January, 1870, her husband who for fifty years had with her born the sorrows and shared the joys of life, took his departure for the spirit land. From that time she seemed to be only waiting and listening for the summons to join the redeemed host. On the first day of the present year, as she was quietly sitting in her chair, the chariot came and “she was not for God took her.” The first Sabbath of the new year was a beautiful day, and surrounded by kind friends and her children unto the third generation, she was by loving hands laid by the side of her husband to await the general resurrection [January 1, 1887].
Contributed by: Shelli Steedman