Columbus O'Donnell explained

Birth Name:Christopher Columbus O'Donnell
Birth Date:1 October 1792
Birth Place:Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Death Place:Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Alma Mater:St. Mary's College
Children:5
Relations:Adrian Iselin Jr. (grandson)
Columbus Iselin (grandson)
Charles Oliver Iselin (grandson)
Eleanora Iselin Kane (granddaughter)

Christopher Columbus O'Donnell (October 1, 1792 – May 26, 1873) was an American businessman who served as president of Baltimore's Gas and Light Company.

Early life and education

O'Donnell was born on October 1, 1792, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the son of prominent merchant, and slaveowner, Capt. John O'Donnell (1749–1805), and Sara Chew (Elliott) O'Donnell (1766–1857).[1] [2] His father was born in Limerick, Ireland, and ran away to India, where he "amassed a substantial fortune from mercantile pursuits." His father likely arrived in Baltimore around 1785, eventually acquiring a 1,981 acre estate that he called Canton, that "wound around the elbow of the northwest branch of the Patapsco River, east of Fell's Point." He also bought more than 100 lots in Baltimore, the two Miller Islands in the Chesapeake Bay, a 1,628 estate in Howard County known as Never Die, and 3,000 acres in Virginia.

His paternal grandfather was John O'Donnell and his maternal grandfather were Capt. Thomas Elliott "of a well-known Quaker family and descendant of one of the Pilgrim Fathers."[3] He was educated at St. Mary's College.

Career

During the War of 1812, he fought in the Battle of North Point between General John Stricker's Maryland Militia and a British force led by Major General Robert Ross.[4]

In 1828, O'Donnell and others petitioned the Maryland State Senate to incorporate the Canton Company, "a real estate company that was to include at the outset the Canton plantation plus all the waterfront property from Fells Point to Lazaretto Point, a total of 3,000 acres." The bill passed in 1829 and the company was given the right to lay out streets, build wharves, ships, factories, stores and homes, which O'Donnell did together with William Patterson and Peter Cooper.

He served as president of Baltimore's Gas and Light Company for thirty-nine years, president of the Baltimore Water Company for fifteen years, and was on the board of directors of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Union Bank of Baltimore. He was also an original member of the Maryland Club and was one of the commissioners appointed to lay out Druid Hill Park.[5]

Personal life

O'Donnell was married to Eleanora C. Pascault (1799–1870), a daughter of French-born merchant Louis Pascault, Marquis de Poleon.[6] Among her siblings were sisters Henriette (wife of French Gen. Jean-Jacques Reubell, who came to Baltimore with Jérôme Bonaparte),[7] [8] and Josephine (wife of James Gallatin, eldest son of Ambassador and Secretary Albert Gallatin)[9] [10] Her brother, Louis Charles Pascault,[11] was a Capt. in the Mexican War (who married Ann Goldsborough, a granddaughter of Continental Congressman Robert Goldsborough),[12] [13] [14] [15] Together, the O'Donnells were the parents of:[16]

O'Donnell died on Mary 26, 1873, in Baltimore.[25] In his will, he left his estate to his children and grandchildren, with specific bequests of $5,000 to the Maryland Institution for the Instruction of the Blind, $5,000 to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, and $5,000 to the Roman Catholic Asylum for Widows.[26]

Descendants

Through his son Charles, he was a grandfather of John Charles O'Donnell (1868–1914), who married Julia Edie (a granddaughter of U.S. Representative John Rufus Edie) and lived in Montreux, Switzerland.[27]

Through his daughter Eleanora,[28] he was a grandfather of Adrian Iselin Jr. (1846–1935),[29] [30] William Emil Iselin (1848–1937),[31] Eleanora Iselin Kane (1849–1938),[32] [33] Columbus O'Donnell Iselin (1851–1933),[34] [35] Charles Oliver Iselin (1854–1932),[36] [37] Papal Countess Georgine Iselin (1857–1954),[38] [39] and Emilie Eleanora Iselin Beresford (1860–1916).[40] [41] [42] [43] [44]

Notes and References

  1. News: ADRIAN ISELIN DEAD AT HIS CITY HOME; Banker's Illness Developed Into General Breakdown. NEW ROCHELLE'S BENEFACTOR Rumor That He Was Deathbed Convert to Roman Catholic Church, to Which He Gave Much.. 2 March 2018. The New York Times. 29 March 1905.
  2. Book: Matthews . John . Complete American Armoury and Blue Book: Combining 1903, 1907 and 1911-23 Editions . June 2009 . Genealogical Publishing Com . 978-0-8063-4573-4 . 185 . 28 October 2021 . en.
  3. Book: O'Donnell . Elliott . The Irish Abroad: A Record of the Achievements of Wanderers from Ireland . 1915 . Dutton . 341 . 29 October 2021 . en.
  4. Book: Elting, John R.. Amateurs to Arms! A Military History of the War of 1812. New York. Da Capo Press. 1995. 0-306-80653-3. registration.
  5. News: Novak . Josephine . Famous Baltimore names: O'Donnell . . 12 July 1979 . 15.
  6. Notes and Queries . Maryland Historical Magazine . March 1955 . 76 . 28 October 2021 . Maryland Historical Society.
  7. Book: Gill . John H. . With Eagles to Glory: Napoleon and His German Allies in the 1809 Campaign . 28 March 2011 . Frontline Books . 978-1-84832-582-1 . 453–454 . 28 October 2021 . en.
  8. Web site: To James Madison from John Dawson, 29 July 1803 . founders.archives.gov . Founders Online, National Archives . 28 October 2021 . en . [Original source: The Papers of James Madison, Secretary of State Series, vol. 5, 16 May–31 October 1803, ed. David B. Mattern, J. C. A. Stagg, Ellen J. Barber, Anne Mandeville Colony, and Bradley J. Daigle. Charlottesville: [[University Press of Virginia]], 2000, p. 247.].
  9. Book: Walters . Raymond . Albert Gallatin: Jeffersonian Financier and Diplomat . 15 October 1957 . . 978-0-8229-7408-6 . 327, 346 . 28 October 2021 . en.
  10. Book: Dungan . Nicholas . Gallatin: America's Swiss Founding Father . 28 September 2010 . . 978-0-8147-2111-7 . 139 . 28 October 2021 . en.
  11. Web site: Louis Charles Pascault, 1790 - 1867 . npg.si.edu . . 28 October 2021.
  12. Miniatures in the Collection of the Society . Maryland Historical Magazine . December 1956 . 28 October 2021 . . Baltimore.
  13. Web site: Pleasant Valley, Easton, Talbot County, Maryland . www.loc.gov . . 29 October 2021.
  14. Web site: Pleasant Valley Farm site . apps.jefpat.maryland.gov . Collections at the MAC Lab . 29 October 2021.
  15. Book: Hanson . George A. . Old Kent: The Eastern Shore of Maryland . June 2009 . Genealogical Publishing Com . 978-0-8063-4632-8 . 279–280 . 29 October 2021 . en.
  16. Book: John O'Donnell of Baltimore, His Forbears & Descendants . 1934 . Favil Press . 978-0-598-99450-9 . 50 . 29 October 2021 . en.
  17. Web site: HILLEN, Solomon, Jr. 1810 – 1873 . bioguide.congress.gov . . 29 October 2021.
  18. News: MRS. ADRIAN ISELIN DEAD.; She Had Been Seriously Ill Since September, but Recently Had Improved.. 2 March 2018. The New York Times. 28 November 1897.
  19. News: ELEANORA ISELIN'S WILL.; The Estate Is Bequeathed to the Husband, Adrian Iselin, Sr.. 2 March 2018. The New York Times. 16 December 1897.
  20. Web site: Charles Oliver O'Donnell . americanart.si.edu . . 29 October 2021.
  21. Book: Keith . Charles Penrose . The Provincial Councillors of Pennsylvania, who Held Office Between 1733-1776: And Those Earlier Councillors who Were Some Time Chief Magistrates of the Province, and Their Descendants . 1883 . W.S. Sharp Prtg. Company . 978-0-7884-1765-8 . 359 . 29 October 2021 . en.
  22. Book: Warfield . Joshua Dorsey . The Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland: A Genealogical and Biographical Review from Wills, Deeds and Church Records . 1905 . Kohn & Pollock . 517 . 29 October 2021 . en.
  23. Book: Lee . Edmund Jennings . Lee of Virginia, 1642-1892: Biographical and Genealogical Sketches of the Descendants of Colonel Richard Lee . May 2009 . Heritage Books . 978-0-7884-2103-7 . 388 . 29 October 2021 . en.
  24. News: MR. JOHN C. O'DONNELL DEAD Was Prominent in Society And Came Of Old Family . 29 October 2021 . . 30 May 1903 . 6.
  25. News: BY MAIL AND TELEGRAPH. . 29 October 2021 . . 26 May 1873.
  26. News: The Will of General Columbus O'Donnell . 29 October 2021 . . 29 May 1873 . 1.
  27. News: Died -- O'DONNELL . 29 October 2021 . . 25 July 1914.
  28. Alden . Henry Mills . The Social Athens of America . Harper's New Monthly Magazine . 1882 . 22 . 29 October 2021 . Harper & Brothers . en.
  29. News: ADRIAN ISELIN DIES IN HIS 89TH YEAR; Head of the Family's Banking Firm, Which He Entered in the Late 1860s. 2 March 2018. The New York Times. January 30, 1935.
  30. News: ADRIAN ISELIN LEFT ESTATE TO FAMILY; Son and Two Daughters of the Banker Share Most of It -Value 'More Than $20,000.'. 2 March 2018. The New York Times. 7 February 1935.
  31. News: WILLIAM E. ISELIN, MERCHANT, 89, DIES; Partner for Many Years in the Family's Wholesale Dry Goods Concern Here. 2 March 2018. The New York Times. January 27, 1937.
  32. News: COL. DE LANCEY KANE DIES OF PNEUMONIA; Noted Horseman and Astor's Great-Grandson Initiated Coaching in America. LONG A SOCIAL LEADER Graduate of West Point Who Inherited $10,000,000 Served in the Cavalry in Our Army.. 2 March 2018. The New York Times. 5 April 1915.
  33. News: MRS. DELANCEY A. KANE; Member of Old New York Family Dies in Westchester at 89. 2 March 2018. The New York Times. 23 October 1938.
  34. News: C.O'D ISELIN DEAD; FINANCIER WAS 82; Banker Who Retired 13 Years Ago, Was Director in Many Corporations. FAMILY NOTED IN FINANCE Had Extensive Real Estate Holdings in City--Member of Leading Clubs.. 2 March 2018. The New York Times. 11 November 1933.
  35. News: C.O'D. ISELIN LEFT EMPLOYEES $110,000; Residue of Large Estate of Financier Who Died in New Rochelle Goes to Family.. 2 March 2018. The New York Times. 22 November 1933.
  36. News: C. OLIVER ISELIN, NOTED BANKER, DEAD; Member of Family of Financiers Succumbs at 78 After Illness of Three Years. WAS AN ABLE YACHTSMAN Served as Sailing Master In International America's Cup Races--Used Bold Tactics.. 2 March 2018. The New York Times. January 2, 1932.
  37. News: Mrs. Charles Iselin, Turf Figure And Social Leader, Dies at 102. 2 March 2018. The New York Times. 6 April 1970.
  38. News: GEORGINE ISELIN, A PHILANTHROPIST; Member of Old City Family, Honored for Charity Work, Dies in New Rochelle at 96. 2 March 2018. The New York Times. 1 July 1954.
  39. News: $135,000 TO CHARITIES; Miss Iselin's Will Also Makes $350,000 in Personal Gifts. 2 March 2018. The New York Times. 17 July 1954.
  40. News: Mrs. Emilie E. Beresford.. 2 March 2018. The New York Times. 25 May 1916.
  41. News: Mrs. Beresford's Will Filed.. 2 March 2018. The New York Times. 4 June 1916.
  42. News: $6,000,000 ESTATE DIVIDED.; J.G. Beresford's Widow Gets Major Portion Under Will.. 2 March 2018. The New York Times. 13 June 1925.
  43. News: John George Beresford. 2 March 2018. The New York Times. 11 May 1925.
  44. News: MARRIED. Beresford--Iselin. 2 March 2018. The New York Times. 23 February 1898.

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