Gardner Odell's Minor Children

Michigan, Probate Records...Genesee Estate files 1857-1883...:

Image 273

File# 1020

Mtter of William G. Odell

Gardner Odell, dec'd, late of Calhoun Co.

Margaret E. Sinnott of Genesee County has 3 minor children in said county:

John Charles F. Odell, age 12

Cynthia M. Odell, age 10

William G. Odell, age 6

15 May 1869

Also mentioned: Solyman Carpenter

Name Egerton Willson

Age (Expanded) 52 years

Birth Year 1841

Birthplace Canada

Spouse's Name Cynthia O'Dell Mccallum

Spouse's Age (Expanded) 34 years

Spouse's Birth Year 1859

Spouse's Birthplace  Flint, Michigan

Event Date 18 Oct 1893

Event Place Cadillac, Wexford, Michigan

Father's Name John Willson

Mother's Name Margaret Lawrence

Spouse's Father's Name Gardner O'Dell

Spouse's Mother's Name Margaret Wheaton

Census 1860

Athens, Calhoun, Michigan, United States

Gardner Odell M 39 New York

Margaret Odell F 26 New York

Charles Odell M 4 Michigan

Cynthia Odell F 1 Michigan

See Margaret's Widow's Pension from Gardner Odell's Civil War service here.

In Wexford County

Written by Clarence Lewis Northrup (son of Jabez Smith Northrup), published in Michigan History, Volume 5.

My brother, William A. Northrup, who also served in the Civil War [11th Michigan Cavalry], was with Sherman on his march to the sea. In the summer of 1866 he went to the lumber camps at Big Rapids. In March, 1867, I received a letter from a Mr. Green of Big Rapids telling me that my brother had met with an accident and that one of his legs was broken, and asking me to come to him (he was okay).

...I determined to look around through Mecosta and Osceola counties, on foot of course, as there was no other way.

They told me of the Traverse City trail, a new state road running from Big Prairie to Traverse City (on the township line between 11 and 12 range west)... . I left my overcoat in Big Rapids, as it was too uncomfortable to wear on my tramps through the woods... .

 Mr. Oliver [who] lived in what is now Lincoln Township....advised me not to go... .  But being the son of a pioneer with over three years experience in roughing it at the front of the Army of the Potomac [in the 4th Michigan Infantry], I determined to try it.

At this time all of Wexford County was the township of Wexford, attached to Manistee County. 

Source: BLM's GLO Records

I made a selection of land, walked to Traverse City, and located it. There was a good bridge over the Manistee River, and from there north, the country was more or less settled. I was the first man to settle in what is now the township of Hanover south of the river.

Source (BlM)

 An article in the Cadillac News attempted to reconcile the story with facts as they are known.