James Edward "Jim" O'Dell
born 09 July 1903, at Hominy Falls, Nicholas County, West Virginia.
James on left, Mary O'Dell, Inis O'Dell, and Vadan O'Dell
Jim O'Dell was my maternal grandfather.
He was the son of Cyrus Rupert O'Dell and Naoma Louvenia Childers. His mother died of Consumption when he was only 6 years old.
Sometime during his teen years, Jim broke his leg and being afraid to walk on his healed leg, he used crutches for nearly a year. In concern, his father took the boy's crutches and hid them. Jim would later admit that if his dad had not done that, he may never have walked on that leg again.
As a young man, Jim was hired by another man to go to Lewisburg to get some horses the man had purchased. Lewisburg lies on the opposite end of Greenbrier County WV. The man took Jim and a friend to Lewisburg in his car. Jim and his friend rode the horses back. Jim fondly recalled that the trip took a few days and that they would travel by a dirt road at times and through fields at other times.
I can recall little of my Grandpa, mostly that he was a kind man.
Jim worked for the Margarite Coal Company store at Marfrance, Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Marfrance is located near Quinwood.
Jim delivered the Company stores groceries and coal to local families. The deliveries were made by wagon, pulled by horses. Jim also tended to the mules and horses.
While he worked, Jim took a room at a Quinwood boarding house ran by Lawrence "L.O." Nutter and his wife Jeannie. There he met Bessie Arbula Nutter, daughter of Emerson Nutter and Lettie Miller. Bessie was employed by Lawrence Nutter.
Bessie Arbula Nutter, born 12 April 1909 in Gatewood, Fayette Co., WV; died 10 May 1993 in Fairlea, Greenbrier Co., WV.
Bessie's younger brother Arnold married Cora Lea Belcher. Daughter of Joseph and Jessie McIntosh Belcher, my Paternal Grandparents.
One day, Jim asked Bessie to go with him to Charleston. Jeannie Nutter did not want Bessie to go as she needed her to work that day. Jeannie told Bessie if she went not to come back. Nevertheless, Bessie made the trip with Jim to Charleston. On her return, Bessie went back home to her parents. A few days later Jeannie Nutter asked Bessie to come back to work.
Jim and Bessie were married 31 October 1927, in Quinwood WV.
Jim died 30 April 1970, at Richwood, Nicholas County, WV.
Bessie and he are buried at the Wallace and Wallace Memorial Cemetery, Greenbrier County, WV.
Children of James O'Dell and Bessie Nutter are:
1. Almagene Ruth O'Dell, born 07 August 1928 in Marfrance, Greenbrier Co., WV. She married Ralph Ervin Hellems 15 September 1951.
2. Virginia Sue O'Dell, born 16 October 1933 in Marfrance, Greenbrier Co., WV. She married Romie Clayton Belcher 29 June 1954, in Clifton Forge, Allegheny Co., Virginia. He is the son of Joseph Belcher and Jessie McIntosh.
3. Loretta June O'Dell, born 08 December 1935 in Marfrance, Greenbrier Co., WV. She married Clyde Cloma Belcher 19 November 1954, in Clifton Forge, Allegheny Co., Virginia. He is the son of Joseph Belcher and Jessie McIntosh.
by: Gregory Clyde Belcher,
grandson
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