The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-06-19
neath Of T9on. p. OdeII.

HON. NJ. +. ODELL, Naval OHCeE OI
New York, died in that city on the 18th
inst. He was a member of Congress in
the early part of the war, and did
much in behalf of the soldier. he was
born at Tarrytown in 1918, and became
a Custom House clerk at an early age.
President Polk made him Assistant
Collector, in which post he was retain
ability and integrity. In Mr.. Buchan-
ans administration he was "A Public
Appraiser, and was elected to Congress
from Brooklyn in 1860. He led the War
Democrats, and was a member of the
COMMITTEES on the Conduct of the War
in 1862. He was reelected TO Congress,
but declined n third election. Presi-
dent johnson made him the Naval OIL
Ger of New York, and he filed the po-
sition satisfactorily.
When he took possession of the office
he began series of reforms, which, so
far as he had time to carry them INTO
effect before struck down with his fatal
illness, expedited business, and IN
creased greatly the efficiency of his de-
partment. He was also the trusted adj
wiser OF Collector King until Mr.. Kings
unfortunate suicide.
Mr.. Odell had lived the greater part
of his life in Brooklyn, and was iden-
titled with all the public interests of
that city, and personally known to
energetic, clearheaded, thoroughly
practical man, well versed in business,
and of u most kindly heart, he was
connected with many benevolent insti-
tutions, and gave his time as freely as
his means TO all charitable objects.
To the religious community he has
long been known as the jealous and
most successful and well-beloved su-
perintendent of the Sands Street Meth
odist Sunday School, in Brooklyn, one
of the largest and best managed Sun
day schools in the country. His heart
was greatly engaged in this work; he
gave to it u great deal of time and care;
he was the personal friend, the kind
counsellor, the comforter in atfliction,
and the ready helper in need, of every
member of his school.
He had no children of his own; but it
was his delightto see the boys and girls
of his Sunday school grow up under
his hands; to help them on in life; to
start them in business, and to watch
with kindly interest over their welfare.
During the war, many of the young
men who had grown uPunder his care,
in the Sunday school, entered the army,
where, to his delight, they performed
good service for the Union.
Mr.. Odell was a man of deep and
genuine piety-the dissipated atmos-
phere of Washington made no change
in his habits; he soon became known
there for his attention to Sunday school
interests, for to these he was most ear
nestly devoted.
He bore his last illness, one of the
most distressing and cruel known
cancer OF the tongue-with heroic forth
tude and cheerfulneSs, which made him
the wonder of the surgeons who at
tended upon him.
He will be remembered with graft
tude by many hundreds of young men
whom he has helped on the way with
sound counsel, kindly interest and ac-
tive service. The community in which
he lived during the greater part of his
life, mourn in him n most useful and
patriotic citizen, and n true Christian.
The country at large owes his memo
ry gratitude, not only for the active and
efficient share he hadin carrying on the
war, but also for this, that it was, as
Mr.. Lincoln himself said, Odell's intlu-
ence among the democratic members of
the House of Representatives, most
zealously exerted. which procured for
the Constitutional Amendment abol-
iShing slavery the requisite two-thirds
majority. We believe the only set
speech Mr.. Odell ever delivered in Con-
gress was made in favor of this great
amendment.