John J. Oneil

John J. O'Neill

Biography courteously provided by Joyce Riedinger, Delaware County Coordinator.


JOHN J. O'NEILL, a well-known dealer in marble and granite in Roxbury, N.Y., was born in Boston, June 24, 1855. His parents, Michael O'Neill and Ellen Shistell O'Neill, came from Ireland. Mr. O'Neill's boyhood, youth, and young manhood were spent in Boston, where he received a good education and acquired the outlines of his knowledge of business. When he reached the age of twenty-one years, and was ready to begin life for himself, Mr. O'Neill decided to try his fortune in another part of the country. He came to Roxbury, therefore, in 1876, and has made his home here ever since. During six years he was in the employ of C.A.Noble. Then he worked for T. Richman for four years. Finally, in 1884, Mr. O'Neill established a marble and granite business for himself, with his headquarters on Main Street. The business has grown rapidly, and is now one of the largest enterprises of the sort in the country. Mr. O'Neill makes a specialty of the North British granite, a very handsome stone, which is quarried in Scotland. In 1892 he made a trip to Scotland on business connected with this granite industry. On this voyage the steamboat on which he was a passenger was wrecked off the Scotch coast, and those on board placed in great and imminent danger. Mr. O'Neill, however was rescued and reached the shore in safety.

Mr. O'Neill married Clara Noble, daughter of William Noble and Caroline Denton Noble. Mr. William Noble is a resident of Catskill, in Greene County, where he is largely interested in the marble and granite business.

Mrs. Clara O'Neill is a member of the Presbyterian church. She has a sister Sarah, who married Otis P. Morse.

Mr. John J. O'Neill is now thirty-nine years of age. He is in good circumstances, and owns three houses in the village. In politics he supports the Democratic party.


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