Valentine S. Odeneal was born Feb. 5, 1812 in Tennessee. On July 14, 1834 in Missouri he married Derinda (Dicy) Gilbreath, born Dec. 25, 1815 in Blount County, TN, July 14, 1834 in Missouri. She was the daughter of Hugh (1781-1852) Gilbreath and Hanna CONOVER Gilbreath. They first came to Cole Co. (present day Moniteau Co), MO. Valentine and his father had land transactions in the early 1840's and he also farmed. He, with his brother George Washington, were executors of his fathers estate. In the 1850 Dist 23 Being of Cooper Co. census he was listed as a sawyer and it is believed this was still his occupation when he died. In the 1850 Products of Industry he is listed, circular saw, with a capital investment of $1,400 $900 in Raw material, Horse power, 3 male employees, with an average monthly cost of labor of $45.00 and producing 240,000 ft of lumber per year.

    The cause of death is not known as he was only 40 years old neither is it known where he died. In the court records it is stated he owned no real estate at the time of death. In "A History of Cooper County Missouri 1804-1876" by Levens & Drake it gives Palestine, MO as his place of death and burial which is a township in Cooper Co., MO and there were also two towns by that name Old palestine and New Palestine. There are several cemeteries in the area and also some cemeteries that are gone, but no idea if he was buried in one of them. Dicy remarried Hardin Ellison in 1858 but is listed in the 1860 Moniteau Township of Cooper Co., MO cenus as Dicy Odineal, as a farmer with $300 in personal Estate. She died Sept. 6, 1862 near Prairie Home, MO and is buried in Harris Cemetery near Prairie Home, Cooper Co., MO.

    Their eight children are as follows:  William J., Hugh G., Thomas B., John W., James M., George C., Nancy J. and Madora R.

    William J. Odneal was born about 1836, never married and was killed just after the Civil War near Tipton, MO(according to the Cooper Co. History of about 1920).

     The third son, Thomas B., was born about 1840. He served in the Civil War from June 1863 until the end. He was in Co. J 9th Regiment of the State Militia Cavalry (UNION). According to the military record he enrolled June 27, 1863 at Boonville, MO. He was mustered in at Mexico, MO for three years, his age was given as 25. He was mustered out at Benton Barracks. MO July 13, 1865. It states he was last paid to date on Feb. 28, 1865. At the bottom of his service record there was a Book mark APZ 402 1867. The records of Co J 9th Reg. had only two enteries July-Aug. and Sept.-Oct. 1864. Both records were the same "The company has been on numerous skirmishes and on the march almost constantly. All records of Co. J 9th Reg. indicate he spent his time around Fayette, Macon and Mexico, MO." He is the only known descendant of William B. to serve on the Union side, however, the three sons of George M. all served with the Union Army and it is possible John Washington was in the Union Army.  It would be interesting to have more information about this.

    It it believed he never married and died in Texas between 1873 and 1878. However a story by Jack Odneal tells of two brothers, John Wash. and another going to Texas, one stayed (John Washington), and the other went on to California.

    The other children Hugh G., John W., James M., George C., Nancy J. and Madora R. all married and had families.  All except Madora have living descendants.