Joseph H. O'Neill (Biography)

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Taken from History of the State of Kansas, by William G. Cutler


JOSEPH H. O'NEILL, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Howard, was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1840.  In 1858, at the age of eighteen, he came to Kansas, locating in Topeka.  In 1861, he enlisted in the Second Kansas Infantry, six months, he then enlisted in Second Cavalry, serving three years, was scouting on the frontier the most of the time.  In 1867, he came to Howard County and took a claim on the Elk River.  There were but two other claims in the township at that time.  The survey was not made and the treaty with the Indians was not completed.  He was forty-five miles from a post office and twenty-three miles from a mill or blacksmith shop.   There were a great many Indians, and several times he was obliged to watch his property with a gun and a large dog.  He has 200 acres in Section 11 and 120 on Section 14, Township 30, Range 10, 120 acres under the plow and all fenced but forty acres, has sixty acres of timber, plenty of fruit, 150 apple, 300 peach and a variety of small fruits, good house and a fine stone quarry on his place.  He has also a good coal mine which eventually will be a big thing, as he is only half a mile from Howard.  He has done well since coming here.  He was married in 1866, in Topeka, Kansas, to Miss Wendel.  They have four children--Annie L., Alvin B., Della, and Harvey.  He is a member of the E. M. Stanton Post, No. 23, G.A.R.