WILLIAM JEFFERSON ODENEAL

    William Jefferson was born between 1829 and 1834. He married Helen Summerfield Fletcher in Aug 1854 but a land
record in Bates Co., MO states Helens name was Odneal in 1853? "Jeff" was a farmer until the Civil War. He is
listed at his father's Estate sale buying farm equipment. He is listed as custodian to George W. Jr. and Joseph W. "Jeff" was a Confederate soldier, and died of a fever at Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1863. At the time of his death Ft Smith was held by the Confederate Army but it is not known if the fever was caused by a war wound or illness. He is not listed as buried in the cemetery so it is not known where he is buried. The military record of William J.,
    Enlisted Aug 11, 1862 in St. Clair Co., MO for the duration of the war. He was first in Capt E. Allisons Co. of Independent Cav., which became Co. J Jackmans Reg't MO Inf. At the time of death he was in Co. J Caldwells Reg't of MO. In the remarks it states he was absent in detached service since Dec. 27, 1862.
    There seem to have been two William J. Odeneals living at the same time, place and were almost the same age. I believe one to be the first son of George Washington and the other the first son of Valentine S. I believe this William Jefferson (J.) to be the son of George Washington born about 1829-30 and the other William J. the son of Valentineborn about 1835. The name is changed to Odneal at this generation.

    The records used to support this are;
    A. 1860 census of William Jefferson lists state of birth as TN, Valentine's son William J. was born in MO, George Washington's son William was born in TN.
    B. A court record in Bates Co., MO The court record follows;
"April 1855
Now at this day came George W. Odneal a minor over the age of fourteen years an heir at law of Washington Odneal late Cooper County in the State of Missouri and in open court declares William J. Odneal guardian of his estate and also of his person and It is ordered that the said William J. Odneal be and he is hereby appointed guardian of the estate and of the person of Joseph W. Odneal a minor under the age of fourteen and a child heir in law of the said Washington Odneal dec'd late of Cooper County in the State of Missouri and it is further ordered that the said guardian to rent estate land as such in the sum of three hundred dollars where upon said guardian and files notice here in his bond which is approved by the court.It seems more probable that this would be an older brother rather than a first cousin only two to three years older."
    C. A "Jeff" Odeneal buys farming equipment at George Washington's Estate sale Sept 1850, Valentine's son would have only been 14-15 years old at that time.
    D. 1900 Oklahoma census lists Geo. W. Odneal with a niece Lee born in 1863 this corresponds with the year of birth for the youngest daughter of William Jefferson.
    E. Valentine's son William J. was listed as killed near Tipton near the end of the Civil War, William Jefferson died at Ft. Smith, AR in 1863 of a fever.
    F. A land record for 40 acres in Fayette abstract lists Helen S. Odneal (William Jefferson's wife) in 1853. Valentine and Dicy were married July 1834, this would most likely make William J. 17-18 years old in 1853.

The following is from Helen Odneal Knowles Churchill a G grandaughter of Wm. J.

Editor's note; [From another source, it is reported that the couple were visiting relatives in Texas when the war broke out (this could have been George W. Jr.) and he was conscripted. She was given an open buckboard, a mule and a slave for her journey back to Missouri. After returning to their farm, she sheltered soldiers at night in her root cellar, with no difference being made between Union and Confederate, and sending them on their way at dawn, with provisions.] The farm was in Bates County, Missouri. She worked hard to make a living for herself and her small children. At one time, she and her sister Anna, gathered apples at deserted farm houses and hauled them to Kansas where they sold them to Union soldiers, or exchanged then for provisions. The trip was long and could not be made quickly with their oxen team. They reached Butler, Missouri on their return, just at nightfall and stayed there at a farm house. As they were wet from rain, it was necessary for them to dry their clothing piece by piece before the fire. When Order 11 drove everyone from Bates County Helen and children went to Henry County to live. While there, she cooked for Union soldiers, being paid in provisions. She was thus able to care for her family. Later she married Barbour Price and had a daughter, Eva Price who marred James Creighton. Helen Summerfield Fletcher Odneal/Price died in February 1905 and is buried in Willow Grove Cemetery near Butler, Missouri.
    They had four children the known descendants of William Jefferson and Helen Odneal are currently traced through Margaret M. Odneal and William Marion Odneal.  A page will be made for Margaret when more info is received.