Oneall - Abijah - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

(thanks to Harry Bounnell for this one)

Abijah O'NEALL, deceased. The first reliable history of the O'NEALE family begins with the O'Neale of the Red Hand, an Irish nobleman who is said to have been born with the impress of a large human hand upon his breast, one of whose descendants built Castle Shane, County Antrim, Ireland, where for many years the family held a high position in the ruling of that country. Early in the seventeenth century a descendant of this family, a midshipman in the British navy, escaped from his vessel while it was lying in the Delaware bay, and swam ashore, - the origin of the O'Neale family in America. From fear of detection he changed the spelling of his name from O'Neale to O'Neall. He settled in Virginia, where he raised two sons, William and Hugh, the latter being the father of Judge John B. O'Neale, prominent in South Carolina history. William also had two sons, Hugh and Abijah, the latter of whom was married to Ann KELLY, of King's County, South Carolina, and was the father of several sons, one of whom was Abijah O'Neale, late of Yountsville, long and favorably known by the early settlers of Montgomery County, and remembered by many of her sons to-day for his sterling honesty, unwavering patriotism, and hospitality. He was born in Newbury District, South Carolina, December 9, 1798, and came with his father's family to Ohio in 1800. June 12, 1828, he was married to Eleanor HALL, and for six years led a quiet farmer's life near Waynesville, Ohio, when, in 1834, he removed to Montgomery County, settling at Yountsville, where he purchased the Crooks' mill property and carried on milling, and also kept a country store. He was justice of the peace for several years, also representing his County in the state legislature for a number of years. He was also a surveyor, and well known in that capacity in this and adjoining counties. He died in 1874, at the advanced age of seventy-six years, leaving a wife and eight children, by whom the memory of their father is held with that sacredness which all should but few do show. Mr. O'Neale was a man of refined manner, scholarly, and a great lover of books. As a reader he had few equals, and was perhaps one of the best posted men, politically, this County has ever had. Religiously he was a believer in universal salvation. His charity knew no bounds, and no beggar, however unworthy, was turned from his door unassisted. He was strictly moral, and ever ready to raise his voice in defense of right. His children, who are now taking their places upon the stage of action, are moral and honest, and have the respect of all their acquaintances, - the grandest monument ever built to a parent.

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Source: (The Political Graveyard)

Abijah O'Neall (1798-1874) of Montgomery County, Ind. First cousin of John Belton O'Neall; cousin of John F. O'Neall; brother of Thomas H. O'Neall; father of John Kelly O'Neall; great-great-grandfather-in-law of Bruce Charles Savage. Born in Newberry County, S.C., December 9, 1798. Miller; merchant; surveyor; farmer; member of Indiana state house of representatives, 1839-40; candidate for Indiana state senate, 1849. Quaker; later Universalist. Irish ancestry. Sheltered escaping slaves as part of the "Underground Railroad" before the Civil War. Died in 1874. Original interment at Yountsville Cemetery; reinterment at Oak Hill Cemetery.