|
|
GEORGE. T. ODELL
George T. Odell, one of Utah's foremost prominent and progressive citizens, and for nearly half a century prominently
identified with the growth and upbuilding of Utah, was born in London, England, Dec. 4, 1848. He is a son of Thomas
George and Ann (Newman) Odell, who emigrated to Utah in April, 1861, crossing the Atlantic in the sailing vessel
"Underwriter," and arriving at Salt Lake City, September 30, 1861. The elder Odell was a printer and
publisher. The opportunities for education in those early days of Utah were not advantageous, and, although George
Odell was of a studious nature and ambitious to acquire an education, he did not have the facilities of the boys
of the present generation, and had to acquire what knowledge he did obtain in the educational line by hard practical
knocks as he grew to manhood, he being but thirteen years of age when he arrived here. The family first located
at Ogden, Utah, and the early life of young Odell was spent on a farm until 1869, but he had some newspaper experience
in the meantime, being a reporter on the "Ogden Junction," a paper then being edited by Mr. Penrose,
and printed by Odell's father. He subsequently, in 1869, entered the service of the Central Pacific Railway as
brakeman, and later as conductor. Leaving the service in 1878, he went into the produce and shipping business in
Ogden. He next went to Bullionville, Nevada, in charge of the mercantile interests of the Bullionville Smelting
Company.
In 1882 he came to Salt Lake City, permanently settled here, and in 1883 formed the vehicle, machinery and implement
business of Grant, Odell & Co., which later was merged into the following institutions and in the order named:
First to Grant, Odell & Co. (Inc.), then to the Cooperative Wagon & Machine Co., and on February 13, 1902,
into the Consolidated Wagon & Machine Co., which latter concern took over the business of the Consolidated
Implement Co., with Mr. Odell as general manager. To the credit of Mr. Odell it may be said that since the interests
have been merged the business has steadily grown, until today it is the largest concern of its kind in the world,
all of which is gratifying to Mr. Odell and due largely to his efforts, ability and energy. They now have some
stores all through the Western country, all operated by their own employees, and the commercial rating of the institution
is the highest attainable. Mr. Odell is a man of diversified interests, as is evidenced by his activity as an officer
or director in many of Utah's most substantial institutions, being connected with, as a director or official, the
following corporations: The Bank of Garland, Capitol Hill Improvement Co., Consolidated Wagon & Machine Co.,
First National Bank of Montpelier, Glen Lumber Co., Heber J. Grant & Co., Karns Tunneling Machine Co., Montana
Independent Telephone Co., Odell-Wright Investment Co., Apex Mines, Pittsburg-Salt Lake Oil Co., Rexburg Drug Co.,
Romney Lumber Co., Sugar City Hardware & Lumber Co., Sugar City Townsite Co., Teton Lands, Wright Mercantile
Co., Witcher Dam Co., Beeman & Cashin Mercantile Co., of Evanston, Wyoming, and many others. Mr. Odell is well
known in Eastern business circles, is a Free Mason and a member of the Alta and the Commercial clubs of Salt Lake
City. He was married to Miss Florence Caroline Grant at Ogden, Utah, May 11, 1871, and they have five children,
Thomas George, Joshua Frederick, Florence Louise, Adelaide Eugene and Ethel Marie. The family reside at 254 Fourth
East Street, Salt Lake City.
From:
Sketches of the Inter-Mountain States
Utah Idaho Nevada
Published by: The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake City, Utah 1909
Privacy Policy for
OnlineBiographies
|
NAVIGATION
Utah
Biographies
Online
Biographies
New York
Biographies
Pennsylvania
Biographies
For all your genealogy needs visit
|