The attractiveness of Delaware county as a place of residence is indicated in the fact that many of its native sons have remained within its borders, finding here the opportunities which others seek elsewhere. Such an one is I. C. Odell, who is a native of Elk township, born on the 20th of April, 1857, his parents being Job and Mary Odell, mentioned elsewhere in this volume. They carefully reared their family and I. C. Odell therefore had the benefit of good home training. He attended the public schools and from an early age worked in the fields.
      Upon attaining his majority I. C. Odell took charge of the old homestead farm, bending his energies to its further development and improvement until 1902, when he purchased the farm upon which he now lives situated on section 17, Elk township. He has two hundred and fifty acres of arable land. The soil is naturally rich and productive and responds readily to the care and labor which he bestows upon it. He raises various cereals and in addition makes a specialty of stock raising, feeding, buying and shipping, and is known today as one of the foremost stockmen of this part of the state. His judgment in regard to the value of farm animals is seldom if ever in error and his success is due to his wise investment and his judicious management of his business interests.
      In 1883 Mr. Odell was united in marriage to Miss Emily Smithyman, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of William E. and Eleanor (Hughes) Smithyman, the former a native of England and the latter of Wales. Mr. Smithyman came to America in 1860 and in 1853 his wife crossed the Atlantic. They had but two children, Mrs. Odell and Eleanor, now the wife of Fred Wishart, a resident of Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Odell have become parents of five children: Edwin J., who was born December 16, 1883, and died in May, 1884; Nellie, born March 8, 1886; William S., April 4, 1889; Lincoln L., August 2, 1892; and Florence H., born March 28, 1900. The parents are believers in the cause of education and have given their children good advantages in that direction, the youngest daughter being now a pupil in the high school. Mrs. Odell attends the Christian church.
      Mr. Odell has membership in the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained high rank, and is now connected with the Mystic Shrine. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and for about fifteen years he filled the office of assessor. He is now treasurer of the school board, having occupied that position since 1893. No public trust reposed in him is betrayed in the slightest degree and he has made a creditable record in office. His years have been filled with business activity, his energy has carried him beyond the point of mediocrity, and he is today numbered among the prosperous agriculturists of Elk township as the result of his ambition and determination.