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Thomas W. Odell

As did many of the area pioneers, Thomas W. Odell came to Cheney from an eastern state. He was born in Guernsey County, Ohio on December 12, 1853 to John and Sarah Odell. A year later the family moved to Rock Island County, Illinois where Thomas was reared and educated.

Thomas learned the trade of masonry and plastering on completion of his formal schooling and followed that line of work exclusively until moving to Iowa as a young man. There he began farming, using the masonry business as a supplemental income only.

On October 26, 1876 he married Harriet Vanduser of Iowa. Through the years they became parents of five children: Charles, Effie, Luella, Sarah and Myrtle.

In the early 1880's, stories of the fertile land and opportunities offered to new settlers in Washington Territory beckoned the young family to come to this part of the country where land was available for a reasonable price. Thus encouraged, the Odells joined the migration westward, bought a 120 acre farm near Cheney and proceeded to build it into a successful operation before moving into town where Thomas again took up his trade of masonry and plastering. With the rapid expansion of city growth there was always great demand for his services.

Mr. Odell was a well-known and respected citizen noted for his ambition and inherent business sense, therefore a logical choice to hold positions in the city government. He was a school director for three years then city councilman for several terms before being elected Mayor in 1894. He was elected three consecutive times, his final year being from 1897 - 1898. An interesting insight into the election process in June, 1897 was printed in the Cheney Free Press of that year:

"The annual election took place Monday and the result was a victory for the People's ticket. There was absolutely no interest manifested with possibly one or two exceptions. 145 registered, 108 voted, 6 of the ballots were irregular and thrown out. T.W. Odell has been honored with the mayoralty. The vote for councilmen was as follows: People's ticket, J.F. Cummin 66; J.F. Oppliger 95; John Cassidy 67; J.D. Irby 63; J.W. Minnick 58. On the Citizen's ticket, D.J. Turner 42; L.H. Houck 48; F.M. Martin 42 and Steve Harris 38."

The five on the People's ticket received the majority of votes and were sworn in as the next councilmen.

In 1900 the adventurous life of prospecting for gold enticed Thomas Odell. Consequently June 1st of that year saw him making plans to go to Nome, Alaska gold fields in the company of Webster Webb, father of Sam Webb, who was a master of prospecting and gold mining having struck it rich in the 1800's at Alder Gulch, Montana, one of the richest lodes in the Northwest. There was no follow-up to the story. We do know whatever the outcome, Thomas Odell's zest for life and it's challenges was cut short by his death when he was 57 years of age. He passed away in 1910 and was buried at Fairview Cemetery here.

Contributed by Ellen Proctor, 1988.