Martin O'Donnell
Martin O'Donnell, an able and rising attorney of London, was born at Xenia, Greene Co., Ohio, May 7, 1853. He is a son of Manus O'Donnell, a native of Ireland, who came to the United States about 1851, locating at Xenia, where he now resides. He married Onour Berry, also a native of Ireland. They were the parents of ten children, seven living. Mrs. O'Donnell departed this life in April, 1879. Martin is the second eldest, and when he was about five years of age his parents removed to Oldtown, the site of the Shawnee village destroyed by Gen. Clark, in 1780. In 1865, our subject returned to Xenia; from there he went to St. Paul, Minn., thence to Chicago, Ill., and in the fall of 1866 came back to Xenia. He attended the High School of that town, and on the 9th of January, 1867, removed to London, where he remained six months. For the following three years, he made his home in Xenia and Morrow, engaged at book-keeping. In 1871, he again came to London and entered the employ of Michael Riley, a leading merchant of the town. During this time he commenced to read law, and subsequently completed his studies with Col. J. C. McCloud. On the 2d of March, 1875, Mr. O'Donnell was admitted to the bar and immediately became the law partner of his preceptor. The firm continued as McCloud & O'Donnell for four years; it was then dissolved by mutual consent, and Mr. O'Donnell has since been practicing alone. He possesses the largest and best law library in the city, and his practice is fully in proportion. His jovial manner, free and ready "mother wit," combined with steadiness of purpose, have won for him hundreds of friends in this and adjoining counties, and have placed him in the front rank among the prominent young attorneys of Central Ohio. He is recognized as a sound judge of law, determined and aggressive in argument, and noted for his quick perception of the legal points involved in a case. Of fine personal appearance, a fluent speaker, and possessing strong common sense, he is sure to discover the weak points in an adversary's plea, and is, therefore, looked upon as a dangerous foe in a legal conflict. He is politically Democratic, and in 1880 was appointed by Judge Courtright (then on the bench) as Prosecuting Attorney of Madison County. He served in that position one year. Mr. O'Donnell was married, in September, 1879, to Katy E. Malloy, a native of Warren County, Ohio. One child was given them—Carrie, now about two and a half years of age. Mrs. O'Donnell was a member of the Catholic Church, and departed this life May 8, 1881.
From History of Madison County - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]