Abijah P. and George T. O'Neall
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A. P. & G. T. O'Neall

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Scanned and corrected by John O'Neall on 12 March 2004 [the great grandson of Abijah Porter O'Neall]

Sources:
The History of Warren County Ohio
Part VI. Biographical Sketches
Turtlecreek Township
(Chicago, IL: W. H. Beers Co, 1882; reprint, Mt. Vernon, IN: Windmill Publications, 1992)

Page
875

A. P. &. G. T. O'NEALL, farmers; P. O. Waynesville. In the early settlement of Wayne Township, among the first and most prominent of the pioneer families, we find the O'Neall family demands an extended and especial consideration. The genealogy of this family we are able to trace to early in the eighteenth century to one Hugh O'Neall, of Irish birth, born at Shane’s Castle, County Antrim, Ireland, who was a midshipman in the British Navy, and was in service in the American colonies, but became dissatisfied with the service and determined to leave it, and, in pursuance of this resolve, while in the Delaware River, he jumped overboard and swam to the shore. From this time he had no communication with his family; he altered the spelling of his name by changing the last letter (e) at the end of his name to “l”. He settled in Maryland and married Ann Cox, whose father was a Captain in King William's army at the battle of the Boyne. His son William married Mary Frost, who, as well as himself, was a member of the Society of Friends. He moved from Virginia to South Carolina and settled on Mudlick Creek, Laurens District; thence he moved to Bush River, Newbury District. He was the father of six sons and one daughter; the eldest son, Abijah, being the grandfather of our subject; he married Anna Kelly. About 1797, he made a visit to this Western country, on horseback, prospecting for land and a location; there were then seven families in Waynesville, and while here one of his horses was stolen, as is supposed, by a half-breed Frenchman; he returned home and he and Samuel Kelly purchased 3,000 acres of land to be located in Warren County, situated on the east side of the Little Miami River, immediately north of Caesar’s Creek. In 1799, Mr. O'Neall, with his family, left South Carolina and came to this county to occupy his land; he settled where Mr. Graham now resides, his tract embracing a large scope of land where the village of Corwin is now located, he being the first settler east of the Little Miami River. The next year, or in 1800, Mr. Kelly came and located where his son Samuel still resides. Mr. O'Neall remained where he first located till his death, May 19, 1823, aged 61 years; his wife died April 21, 1831, aged 73 years. They had eight children; seven grew to maturity; all married and raised families except one -- the oldest -- who died soon after his marriage, leaving no issue. Mr. O'Neall was a more than ordinary man, firm and unyielding in his principles, yet kind-hearted and free almost to s fault -- giving a helping hand to every neighbor who needed assistance. He was the leading spirit in the business community, and, being a good surveyor, he had much of that work to do, and bought and sold large

Page
876
amounts of land for himself and others; and, as he was the first settler in this neighborhood, so he was first in activity and first as a useful and worthy citizen. William O'Neall, the father of our subject, was born in South Carolina, in 1791; hence was about 8 years of age when brought to this county by his parents; here he was raised, inured to the scenes and hardships of pioneer life; was married, Jan. 11, 1816, to Martha, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Porter) Smith, natives of Powhatan Co., Va., by whom he had four children -- James S., John K., Abijah P. and George T.-- all married and residents of this county, and all prominently and favorably known. Mr. William O'Neall was in faith and principle a Quaker, being born and raised in that Society; he seemed to possess all those firm and excellent principles of his father, embodied fully in his nature; kind and generous, energetic in all his undertakings, and whose life was a success to himself and family and an ornament and a credit to his community; he lived to the advanced age of 83 years, and enjoyed the companionship of his noble wife for fifty seven years. He departed this life July 18, 1874; his wife, Jan. 18, 1873, aged nearly 82 years. The subjects of this sketch, the two youngest sons of William and Martha O'Neall, were raised and grew to manhood upon the old homestead farm, Abijah remaining with his father till his death; was married. Jan. 4, 1875, to Anna C., daughter of Dr. Elias and Letitia (Haines) Fisher; by this union they have one child -- Margaret born March 28, 1877. In the summer of 1875, Mr. O'Neall erected a fine large frame house upon the eastern portion of the home farm, where he located and has since resided; has all good improvements, constituting a pleasant home and residence. Mr. O'Neall is one of the directors of the Waynesville National Bank, having been such since its organization; is also a Trustee of the Miami Cemetery Association, in which capacity he has acted since its first organization, in the spring of 1866. George T. O’Neall was united in marriage, Jan. 24, 1860, with Harriet, daughter of Jonas T. and Matilda (Ferguson) McKay. Mr. O’Neall located upon the eastern portion of the old home farm, where his parents spent many years of the prime of their life; here he has erected fine and commodious buildings and every comfort and convenience constituting a very pleasant farmer's residence.

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This page created 12 March 2004 and last updated 9 October, 2005
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