John O'Donnell (Lewis County, New York)

John O'Donnell (1827 Fort Ann, Washington County, New York – August 11, 1899 Brooklyn, New York City) was an American merchant and politician from New York.

Life

He removed first to Lyme, in Jefferson County; and in 1849 to Lowville, in Lewis County. He became a tailor, and later a merchant and builder.

He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Lewis Co.) in 1864; and a delegate to the 1864 National Union National Convention in Baltimore.

He was a member of the New York State Senate (18th D.) from 1866 to 1869, sitting in the 89th, 90th, 91st and 92nd New York State Legislatures. In 1869, he was appointed as Collector of Internal Revenue. He was Clerk of the New York State Assembly in 1873 and 1874.

He was a New York State Railroad Commissioner from January 30, 1883 to 1887. About 1894, he removed to Brooklyn, and was President of the O'Donnell Steel Track Company.

He died from diabetes at his home in Brooklyn. His daughter, Jessie Fremont O'Donnell, was a writer.

Sources

• The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough, Stephen C. Hutchins and Edgar Albert Werner (1870; pg. 444 and 500)
• Life Sketches of the State Officers, Senators, and Members of the Assembly of the State of New York, in 1867 by S. R. Harlow & H. H. Boone (pg. 131ff)
• THE RAILROAD COMMISSION in NYT on November 15, 1882
• OPPOSITION TO O'DONNELL in NYT on January 20, 1883
• MR. O'DONNELL CONFIRMED in NYT on January 31, 1883
• RAILROAD COMMISSIONER O'DONNELL'S VIEWS ON TAXATION AND LABOR in NYT on December 29, 1883
• STEEL-TRACK HIGHWAYS; Money and Labor-Saving Device of Ex-Senator O'Donnell in NYT on May 10, 1896
• DEATH LIST OF A DAY; John O'Donnell in NYT on August 14, 1899