Biographical Sketch of

William O'Neil

Transcribed by Joan Benner for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 726 - 727 

O'NEIL William Surnames: Blair, Lloyd, Marshall, Moses, O'Neil, Schatzka
William O'Neil, of Westfield, is numbered among the early settlers of the county, dating his residence from 1850. He has 
endured all the hardships and trials incident to pioneer life, and has been a witness to the great changes which have taken 
place since Marquette county was in its infancy. He has seen its wild prairies transformed into beautiful homes and farms, 
has participated in its growth and development, and has watched with interest the work of transformation which has placed 
it in its present advanced position. To such men a debt of gratitude is due, for it is no easy task to convert a wild and 
unsettled region into a county whose growth has been almost marvelous. It is with great pleasure that we bring his sketch 
to the readers of the Album, for none are more worthy of representation in this volume.

Mr. O'Neil was born in County Derry, Ireland, Feb. 14, 1826, and is a son of Charles and Jane (Blair) O'Neil, who were also 
natives of the Emerald Isle. When William was a babe of a year his parents crossed the Atlantic to America and settled in 
Clinton, New York, where the father worked at his trade of masonry for a number of years. He then settled on a farm which 
he operated for some time, and in 1853 moved with his family to Marquette County, but two years later became a resident of 
Fond du Lac County. After some years spent in agricultural pursuits in that county, having become somewhat advanced in years, 
he retired from active life and removed with hsi wife to the city of Fond du Lac, where he was living at the time of his death. 
They were the parents of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, all of whom are living. In February, 1880, a family 
reunion was held in Rosendale, Fond du Lac County, where all twelve of the children were present. That assembly was certainly 
a remarkable one, for it is seldom that in so numerous a family all live to mature years. In the order of birth they are as 
follows: William, John, Jane, Eliza Ann, Rachel, James, Robert, Martha M., Charles H., Cordelia, George and Emogene. The oldest 
is sixty-two years and the youngest thirty-nine years of age.

Our subject accompanied his parents in their various removals until twenty-two years of age, when he started out in life for 
himself, being the first of the family to leave home. He came at once to Racine County, that being in September, 1848, and 
began working as a farm hand by the month. Two years later, Mr. O'Neil was joined in wedlock, on the 7th of February, 1850, 
with Miss Martha Lloyd, daughter of Silas and Martha (Moses) Lloyd, who were pioneers to Racine County. The father was a 
native of Massachusetts, but when a youth went to New York, where he was married, and in 1835 removed to Racine. Milwaukee 
was a military post and Chicago but a mere hamlet. He witnessed much of the growth in the Northwest. He located 740 acres 
of land near Racine and improved a large amount of it. He loved the excitement and variety of pioneer life, and in 1854 
emigrated to Missouri and from thence to Kansas, where he and his wife spent their last days. Their family consisted of 
five sons and five daughters, eight of whom are still living: George, Mary A., Alice, Sarah, Martha, David, Andrew and 
Abby Jane. Silas, a soldier of the war of the Rebellion, was killed int he seige of Atlanta, and Benjamin died in infancy.

Soon after his marriage Mr. O'Neil came to Marquette County, and settled on a farm in sections 25 and 36, in the town of 
Westfield. The land was not then surveyed, but he entered it as soon as it came into market. Turning his attention to farming, 
it was not long before his land yielded bounteous returns for the care and cultivation bestowed upon it, and he successfully 
engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1885, when he removed to Westfield, where he is now living a retired life in the 
enjoyment of the competency which he acquired by years of patient toil and perseverance. He still owns the old homestead, 
but has a pleasant and beautiful residence in Westfield, which he erected in 1884.

The family circle of Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil was completed by the birth of seven children, one son and six daughters: Mary Jane, 
widow of Lucius Marshall; Charles E., who occupies the homestead farm; Carrie A.; Pearl G., wife of Frank Schatzka; and Lulu 
E. Two children of the family are deceased: Eliza A. who died at the age of seven years, and Ida L., who died when one year 
old. As will have been seen, Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil are among the earliest settlers of Marquette County, where they have made 
their home for forty years, and are numbered among its most highly esteemed, respected citizens. They are both faithful members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have lived useful and upright lives.






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