William B. was born between 1770 and 1780 but it is not known where. He married Mary Snodgrass who was born about 1774 in VA(src 1850 MO census and by 1804 they were living in TN where their first known son was born. They lived in Tennessee and had at least five children; George Washington (Wash), Mary Ann, Valentine S., Eleanor McClanahan, and Drusilla. William B is listed in the Washington Co., TN records buying and selling land 1811 thru 1836, the name is spelled Odeneal, Odaneal, & Odineal. There was also a William Odeneal as early as 1796 and in 1801 was listed as an attorney. It doesn't appear that these two Williams are the same person. William B. also had land transactions in Jefferson Co., TN and road work in Greene Co., TN.

    Mary was the daughter of Joseph Snodgrass and had at least three brothers and one sister. The brothers are: William, James and Samuel. The sister is Ellen Snodgrass/McClanahan wife of John McClanahan. Src: Mary Ann and Jerry Odneal About 1833-34 William B. and Mary, along with four of their known children, George Washington (Wash), Valentine S., Eleanor McClanahan, and Drusilla moved to Cole Co.(present day Moniteau Co.), Missouri . George M. Odeneal and his family most likely came to Missouri with William B's group. It is not know the relationship between William B. and George M. but it is believed George M. was Wm B's nephew. Also about the same time two possibly four children of John Odeneal of NC came to central MO. It also seems some of Mary's siblings came to MO. A William Snodgrass is on the sale of land between Levi and William B. and a Samuel Snodgrass is also in MO at this time.  Most likely these are Mary's brothers.

    In 1833 William B. bought 80 acres of land from Levi Odeneal for $200. and between 1834-1848 William B. and children settled eight known Missouri land grants and bought other land.  This is all due west of Jamestown about three miles near the channel 17 TV tower. William B. seemed to have been a farmer and land trader most of his life. He died about June 30, 1845. His will lists his wife Mary, his sons George Washington Odneal, Valentine S. Odneal, and daughter Ellenden (Eleanor) McClanahan Donaldson and also refers to three sons of George M. Odneal (alias McBee), George Green, Walter Hail (Hale), and John George (Grey) (alias McBee).

    William B. left 80 acres to his wife, Mary, and upon her death it would pass to their daughter Eleanor if she would care for Mary until her death. This was the land purchased from Levi Odeneal by William B.  In 1855 Hannibal and Eleanor sell the land so it seems that Mary is deceased by this time.

    There is a small private cemetery on the west side of this property. Its located at the top of the hill on the south side of the road. Thomas Aubra Odneal Jr. (T. A.) commented, " my father said many times we had relatives buried in this cemetery." The cemetery has now been been cleared for the most part. There are two headstones that are engraved and 23 that are just marker stones with no knowledge of who is buried in them. On the west side of the cemetery one of the engraved headstones is for, Andrea B. Schaaf, born March 20, 1813 and died August 11, 1855. On the East side of the cemetery the other engraved headstone is for Tilman A. Todd. Tilman A. Todd is one of the two securities listed as a bondsman of William B.'s estate.

    The spelling of the name in both the William B. and George M. families was changed from Odeneal to Odneal by the end of the Civil War. William B.'s will has Odneal for him but Odeneal for Wash and Valentine. It is not known why they changed the spelling. Earl Larimore Odneal Jr. said "My father told me the spelling was changed to keep their idenity from those who stayed in TN.

    Known descendants of William B. and Mary Odeneal are currently traced through; George Washington (Wash) Odeneal (one son), Valentine S. Odeneal (four sons and one daughter) and Eleanor McClanahan Odeneal/Donaldson(one son and one daughter).