Dutchess County New York Biographies, Biographical Sketches and Family Sketches

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Dutchess County New York Biographical Sketches extracted from the History of Dutchess County, New York. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers.

ODELL, Luman B., Biographical Sketch

Luman B. Odell was born in the town of Union Vale, Feb. 23, 1826. He was a son of Daniel Odell, and spent his early life, until twenty-one years of age, in attending school and assisting his father on the farm, and when of age took charge of the farm and conducted it very successfully for the ten or twelve years following.

April 21, 1853, he was united in marriage with Mary, daughter of Jacob and Margaret Uhl Able, of Union Vale, by whom he had three children as follows: — Daniel J. born Nov. 11, 1859, now living West"; Wright B., born June 17, 1866; and Flora M., born Feb. 7, 1871. Mr. Odell was a farmer of more than ordinary ability, and a man of good habits and great industry. He conducted the farm formerly known as the VerPlanck farm, in East . Fishkill, for about eight years. While attending the raising of a barn owned by Sylvester Haight, of the latter town, he was struck by a falling timber and so severely injured as to cause his death in about an hour. He left many friends who greatly missed him in the daily routine of life, and a great gloom was cast over the community where he was best known. He died May 30, 1876.

Mrs. Odell, with her three children remained on the farm during two years following the death of her husband, when she purchased a farm of Henry C. Brill, in Poughquag where she still resides. Her~ residence which is built of brick, with a mansardroof, is regarded as the finest in the town of Beekman. Mr. and Mrs. Odell both united with the Clove Christian church of which Mrs. Odell is still a member. [Source: History of Duchess county, New York: with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers.]