1864 - 1961 (96 years)
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Name |
William Elzie O'Neil |
Nickname |
Billy |
Born |
13 Oct 1864 |
Keithsburg, Mercer County, Illinois |
Gender |
Male |
Died |
21 May 1961 |
Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas |
Person ID |
I5508 |
Rossville |
Last Modified |
5 Apr 2020 |
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Documents
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![Obituary- O'Neil, William Obituary- O'Neil, William](documents/thumb_Obituary-%20O%27Neil%2C%20William.jpg) | Obituary- O'Neil, William
Rossville’s oldest citizen dies
William E. O’Neil, 96, of Rossville died Sunday in a Topeka hospital after a two-month illness.
He was born October 13,
1864 in Illinois and moved with his parents to Nebraska when he was 10. In 1884 he moved to Flush, Kansas, and farmed in Flush and Wamego communities.
He was married to Sophia Keller in Wamego in 1889, and they moved to farm near Delia in 1933. In 1944 Mr. O’ Neil retired and moved to Rossville. His wife died in 1945.
Survivors include his grandchildren.
Rosary was recited at 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Verschelden Funeral Home in St. Marys. Services were at 9 a. m. Wednesday in the St. Stanislaus Church in Rossville. The Rev. Michael R. McNally, S.J., of [missing rest]
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![Birthday- O'Neil, William 1 Birthday- O'Neil, William 1](documents/thumb_Birthday-%20O%27Neil%2C%20William%201.jpg) | Birthday- O'Neil, William 1 Rossville's oldest resident lives alone
On October 13, William "Billy" O'Neil will celebrate his 96th birthday. He was born in Illinois but says his "daddy couldn't find a place to suit him" so the family was on the move most of the time. They spent several years in different parts of Illinois and Nebraska and when they traveled into Kansas, they settled around the St. George - Wamego territory. Mr. O'Neil has lived in Rossville since 1943.
Mr. O'Neil was one of 12 children. He says there were six boys and six girls, or as he describes them, "six read heads and six colored." Thinking back over his ancestors, Mr. O'Neil remembers that an uncle lived to the ripe old age of 99.
He says he farmed until he was "pretty near 80." He lost his wife at a young age and they had only one daughter. The daughter is now gone but he has six living grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. He smiles happily as he tells of one granddaughter who has two sets of twins. The first set were boys and 16 months later, twin girls.
Now the days are passed quietly and slowly for Mr. O'Neil who lives alone in his own home. He says he has a circle of good neighbors who bring him samples of good cooking now and then. Some of his friends at the St. Marys College come down at intervals to mow his lawn and clean up his house. His home is immaculately clean. But then, he says, "There's no reason for me to get it dirty. The only thing that gets it dirty is my pipe ashes spilling on the floor."
Mr. O'Neil is proud of the mustache he has had for 72 years. His white hair is combed neatly with a center part. He enjoys a pipe which he started smoking after he was past 50 and rocks contentedly in the porch swing of his home as he watches the children pass to and from the grade school.
[From The Rossville Reporter, Thursday, October 6, 1960] |
![Birthday- O'Neil, William 2 Birthday- O'Neil, William 2](documents/thumb_Birthday-%20O%27Neil%2C%20William%202.jpg) | Birthday- O'Neil, William 2 Rossville’s oldest citizen celebrates 94th birthday
Mr. William Elzie O’Neil, who is probably Rossville’s oldest resident, celebrated his 94th birthday on October 13. He had lunch at the Carl Rupin home and then enjoyed the afternoon in a car ride seeing the sights and changes made in town. He enjoys fairly good health.
Mr. O’Neil was born at Keithburg, Ill., in 1864 one of a family of twelve children. He moved with his parents to Muskatee, Iowa, at the age of three, crossing the Mississippi River by boat and traveling on by covered wagon. Later he moved to Beatrice, Nebraska, and finally settled near Wamego and St. George where he made his home for 45 years. He was a farmer and carpenter by trade.
He met his bride, the former Sophia Keller, while she was visiting in Wamego. They were married in 1889. She died in June of 1945. They had one daughter who had six children. Their daughter died at an early age and Mr. O’Neil and his wife helped to raise the grandchildren. They also helped to raise several other orphaned children.
Mr. O’Neil has lived in Rossville for a number of years and his closest relative is a grandson, Father McNelly of St. Marys College, St. Marys, Kansas.
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![Birthday- O'Neil, William 3 Birthday- O'Neil, William 3](documents/thumb_Birthday-%20O%27Neil%2C%20William%203.png) | Birthday- O'Neil, William 3 A very special greeting goes to William O'Neil. He will celebrate his 95th birthday Tuesday, October 13. |
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