Lydia's Notes:
1850 CENSUS, Holt Co, MO, 38th District, #246: "Lidia", 11 years, born IN. Living with parents and 4 siblings.
1860 CENSUS, Holt Co, MO, Dallas Twp, Rush Bottom P.O., #1024: 21 years, born IN. Living with spouse, Francis M. and 2 children.
1870 CENSUS, Dallas Twp, North Point P.O., Holt Co, MO, #239/231: 30 years, born IN. Living with spouse, Francis M. and 3 daughters.
1876 CENSUS, Holt Co, MO, page 326: Living with spouse, "F.M. ODAL" and 2 daughters.
1880 CENSUS, Holt Co, MO, Union Twp, #135: "Liddie", 39 years, born IN, parents born KY. Living with spouse, Francis M., 2 daughters, mother-in-law, William Church, boarder and Nancy ASHER, boarder.
1900 CENSUS, Holt Co, MO, Union Twp, Craig, #90/92: born Sep 1839, 60 years, born IN, parents born KY, married 42 years, 5 children born and 3 living. Living with spouse, Francis M, Nancy J. ASHER ("Portege"), William Witchchurch, ("Portege") and Andrew D. ODELL, brother-in-law.
1910 CENSUS, Union Twp, Holt Co, MO, #3: 70 years, born IN, parents aborn KY, married 53 years, 5 children born and 5 living. Living with spouse, "Marrian".
1920 CENSUS, Union Twp, Holt Co, MO, #190: 80 years, born IN, parents born IN, can read and write. Living with spouse, Francis M. and 2 servants.

From Gwyn BARKER: Lydia raised orphans, Harrison Isom, Mrs. Triplett; and W. H. Whitchurch.

Gone Home: Lydia came to Holt Co. in 1841.
Gone Home, page 441: William H. Whitechurch was born in Forest City, MO, 17 May 1876; he died 11 Sep 1932. William was the son of Robert and Mary Jane (Patton) Whitechurch, and was raised (after the death of his parents) from the age of 3 years, by Marion F. and Lydia Asher ODELL. He is buried in the Odell lot at Craig Cemetery. (HCMP) "The settlement of the Estate of Robert Whitechurch (deceased) with William H. Terry as Administrator, was published in the Holt County Press, 8 Feb 1879".

Obituary: The Craig Leader, Friday, 2 Mar 1923: "Death of Mrs. Marion ODELL; Mrs. Marion ODELL died at her home in Craig on Friday, February 23. She had been in ill health for several months and death was due to general debility. Lydia ASHER was born in IN on 26 Oct 1839 and was 83 years of age at the time of her death. She moved with her parents to Daviess Co, MO, when 2 years of age. A year later the family moved to Holt Co. She was married to F. M. ODELL in 1857. To this union were born 5 children, 2 preceding her to the great beyond. Eliza Jane, aged 6 months and Roseta, aged 8 years. She leaves besides her husband to mourn her death 3 daughters, Mrs. Sarah ILSLEY and Mrs. Charles YANDELL of Craig, and Mrs. Dallas MOORE of Rosendale, MO. She also leaves 2 children which she adopted in their infancy, William WHITCHURCH of Craig and Mrs. Nannie TRIPLETT of Stillwater, OK. She also leaves 2 sisters, Mrs. George SWEETWOOD of Rulo, NE and Mrs. Judd ODELL of Auburn, NE. She also leaves 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. She was converted to the Christian faith at a revival meeting held by Reverend Gooding in 1868 and had since lived a consistent Christian life. Funeral services were held at the family home in Craig on Sunday afternoon, the sermon being preached by Reverend W. E. Akers, who in well chosen words consoled the relatives and many friends. Reverend Akers took his text from Psalms 116-15, 'Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.' Interment was in the Odd Fellows cemetery The pallbearers were grandsons as follows; Henry MOORE, Frank RANDALL, Ed MOORE, Frank MOORE, Ira YANDELL and Omar YANDELL. Another pioneer has gone to her reward. She lived and worked that this earth might be a better place in which to live. May she rest in peace."

Card of Thanks: "We wish to thank our dear friends and neighbors for their kindness and help during the sickness and death of our beloved wife and mother. Also for the beautiful floral offerings." signed F. M. ODELL, Mrs. Sarah ILSLEY, Mrs. Margaret MOORE, Mrs. Ida YANDELL, William WHITCHURCH.

Francis 's Notes:
1850 CENSUS, Holt Co, MO, 38th District, #124: 16 years, born MO, farmer. Living with Elizabeth ODELL, 74 years, born GA. (Is she a grandmother?), plus 5 Pogue children.
1860 CENSUS, Holt Co, MO, Dallas Twp, Rush Bottom P.O., #1024: 26 years, born MO, farmer, $800, $605. Living with wife, Lydia, daughter, and mother.
1870 CENSUS, Dallas Twp, North Point P.O., Holt Co, MO, #239/231: 35 years, born MO, farmer, $500, cannot read or write. Living with wife, Lydia.
1876 CENSUS, Holt Co, MO, page 326: "F. M. ODAL". Living with wife, Lydia, and 2 daughters.
1880 CENSUS, Holt Co, MO, Union Twp, #135: 46 years, born MO, mother born TN, farmer. Living with wife, Liddie, 2 daughters and mother. Also in household are W. Witchchurch and Nancy J. Asher.
1900 CENSUS, Holt Co, MO, Union Twp, Craig, #90/92: born Apr 1834, 66 years, born MO, mother born TN, married 42 years, farmer. Living with wife, Lydia C., Nancy J. ASHER, William Witchchurch and Andrew D. ODELL, brother.
1910 CENSUS, Union Twp, Holt Co, MO, #3: "Marrian", 75 years, married 53 years, born MO, father born IL, mother born IN, own income. Living with wife, Lydia.
1920 CENSUS, Union Twp, Holt Co, MO, #190: owns property, 85 years, born MO, father born US, mother born IN, can read and write. Living with wife, Lydia and 2 servants.

Gone Home: Francis Marion came to Holt Co in 1839. Have found no record of any ODELLs in Holt Co on the 1840 CENSUS, so it's doubtful that Franics Marion arrived in 1839.

Craig Leader, 6 Oct 1922: "Married 65 years; Mr. and Mrs. Marion ODELL of Craig celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary at their home in Craig on Sunday, September 24. Marion ODELL and Lydia ASHER were married at the home of her parents, 5 miles South of Craig on 24 Sep 1857. To this union were born 5 girls, 2 passing away in childhood. Those living are Mrs. John ILSLEY and Mrs. Charles YANDELL of Craig, and Mrs. Dallas MOORE of Bolckow, MO. They also have 15 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. This worthy couple also raised 3 orphan children as follows: Harrison ISOM of Percival, IA; Mrs. TRIPLETT of Stillwater, OK; and W. H. WHITCHURCH of Craig. Mr. ODELL was born in Caldwell Co, MO, 23 Apr 1834. He came to Holt County in 1839 in a wagon drawn by oxen. They came by way of Saint Joseph, which was only a small village at that time. They came by wagon road to what is now known as Mound City, at that time called Jackson's Point. Mrs. ODELL was born in IN, 26 Oct 1839, and came to Holt Co at the age of 2 years. They have continued to reside near Craig since that time with the exception of 2 years spent in Nodaway Co. and 1 year in Atchison Co. They are both in good health, but Mr. ODELL's eyesight is very bad. They do most all their own housework. Two of their daughters, who live in Craig, live neighbors to them and see that they are not wanting for the comforts of life in their old age. Mr. ODELL has voted at every presidential election since he was 21 years of age and says he always voted the straight Democratic ticket and is as eager to cast his vote now as when he cast his first one. He enjoys meeting any of his old time friends and talking over past events. In 1857 he bought 80 Acres of land Southwest of Craig. He cleared the land, plowed the ground with oxen and built a log house with 2 rooms, which was considered a very fair house in those days. He did all his hauling with the faithful old oxen and has lived to see the auto and tractor practically take the place of the oxen and horse, and the more modern homes in place of the log cabin."