William Elzie O'Neil

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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]

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