SAMUEL W. ODELL b 1864 IL (Bio)
Biographical Record of Rock Island County IL
page 154
SAMUEL W. ODELL, the well-known
city attorney of Moline, is one of the
ablest lawyers practicing at the Rock Island
county bar, having that mental grasp which
enables him easily to discover the intricate
points in a case. A man of sound judg-
ment
he manages his cases with masterly
skill and tact, and is regarded as one of the
best jury advocates in Moline. He is a log-
ical reasoner, and has a ready command of
English.
Mr. Odell is a native son of Rock Island
county, bom at Hampton in November 1864
His father, John P. Odell, was
born. Reared and educated in Ohio, where
he married Miss Sarah Nelson, of Guernsey,
He was a mechanic and active member and
local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal
church in Hampton, Illinois, whence he re-
moved to Scott county, Iowa, and later
resided in Kansas for a few years.In 1879,
however. He returned to Rock Island coun
ty, this time locating in Port Byron.
Our subject pursued his studies in the
public schools and also in the academy of
Port Byron, graduating from there in 1884.
Later he taught for a time in the academy.
Entering the Bloomington Law School, he
practiced law one year at Port Bvron. And
also acted as editor of the Port Byron
Globe. He removed to Moline in 1890
and entered the office of Browning &
Entrikin, and remained with them two
years. In March, 1892, he opened an office
bis own, and is now practicing at No..
418 Sixteenth street.
La Port Byron Mr. Odell was married
December 20, 1888, to Miss Clara Morgan,
who was reared and educated in that city,
though born in Cordova, Illinois.Her
father, Dr. J. W. Morgan, is now a prominent
physician of Moline. Mr. And Mrs.
Odell have two children, Samuel Morgan
and Donald A.
Mr. Odell is a man of considerable liter -
ary ability, and has written and published
four different works, including the “Lives
and Campaigns of Generals U. S. Grant and
Robert E. Lee, “a subscription book.
He in 1892.His books include two juvenile
works, which are published by the Method-
ist Book Concern, of Cincinnati, and have
a fair sale. Mr. Odell has spent al-
most his entire life in Rock Island county,
has become widely and favorably known in
professional, social and church circles, and
in the spring of 1897 was elected city attor-
ney of Moline. Thoroughness characterizes
all his efforts, and he conducts all his busi-
ness with a strict regard to a high standard
of professional ethics. In the First Meth
odist Episcopal church of Moline both he
and his wife hold membership, and take an
active and prominent part in its work.