Warren Everett O'Dell

Following is from newspaper articles:

1879 Apr 12 - Iowa South-West Democrat, Bedford, Iowa, - Many of our readers will be pleased to learn that the celebrated young horse Prince Albert formerly owned by Noah O'Dell of Adams County, has lately been purchased by Warren O'Dell of Taylor County for the sum of near $1000. To the regret of the citizens of Adams County, Taylor County now boasts of the finest horse between the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers.

1879 Jun 14 - Iowa South-West Democrat, Bedford, Iowa Mr Warren O'Dell informs us that on last Saturday nite, at about ten o'clock he discovered some one wrapped in a buffalo robe, dark lantern in hand, picking at the lock on the door of the barn in which Prince Albert is kept. He was within ten feet of him, when happening to have his revolver in his hand, he fired. The shot was immediately returned. Fortunately the ball only bruised his ear. He certainly thinks he must have wounded the would be thief, although he has no positive evident to that effect. Not even the slightest clue to the men's (there were two of them) whereabouts have been discovered nor can anyone guess who could expect to get away with a $1000 stallion unobserved unless they were professionals.

A letter from Warren in the 1884 Iowa South-West Democrat Bedford, Iowa Oct 4, 1884

From Wyoming.Big Horn, Wyoming Territory, September 4, 1884

C. O'Dell, Esq., Bedford, Iowa: Sir - I told you in my last that assoon as I got through I would tell you about our trip from Spearfish, and describe the country as best I could. We left our old camp in the vicinity of Spearfish, Dakota, which place and surroundings I told you of, on the 13th of August, with 254 head of cattle. We had been resting for some time, so horses andcattle were feeling tolerably fresh, and we made ten or twelve miles a day. We had no trouble in supplying ourselves with plenty of fresh meat all along the road, and in fact supplied many of our neighbors. Deer and antelope are in fine fix, and we found them plentiful. I staid with the outfit, helping drive, till the 27th, when I left them and struckout by myself, on horseback, for this place. The distance, as given me, was 120 miles, much of which lies through a wilderness, marked by Indian or cattle trails, and dotted here and there by cattle ranches. For the first day I road down a rough and rugged gulch a distance of 15 miles, with no watter to drink. Once I turned to one side to a little pool, which on examination I found so strong of alkali, or someother poison, as to kill snakes before they could rescue themselves. In the one pool I counted near twenty which had lost their lives in this way, and in many others from one to a half dozen. At noon I reached a cattle ranch on Powder River, where I took dinner and rest, after which I resumed my journey up the River to the mouth of Clear Creek, where at another cattle ranch I spent the night, sleeping in a house for the first time since the 14th of May. During the next day I traveled on up Clear Creek to the U cross ranch (U) at the mouth of Piny. There I saw the greatest number of prairie dogs I ever saw in the same length of time. Near one of the dog towns I shot an animal the cowboys and I pronounced a wolverine. He was the meanest looking animal I ever saw, a size smaller than a black bear. Later in the day I shot a big, spangly, horned, black-tailed buck, without leaving the trail which I gave (to some folks who were camped) near. I reached the aforesaid ranch a little before sundown, having rode a distance of forty miles. As the boys were just preparing for supper, without a word I stripped my horse and stepped in, and was kindly welcomed. I enjoyed supper, bed and breakfast, and not a cent to pay. There were twelve boys. To the ranch belongs 1,600 cattle. The boys ride from six and ten horse apiece. On my third and last day I rode on up Piny a few miles, and then across the hills, following dim trails, or none, to Big Horn City. Nothing special worth mentioning, except three elk some hunters had just shot down in a gang, and were just skinning. On entering the city I rode to Mr. Jackson's, expecting to find brother Lon, but he had gone to Buffalo, the county seat, to secure the bounty on four bears he had been lucky enough to shoot the day before. They were one old one, two yearlings and one cub. They all say Lon is too risky on the hunt. At the last for one of the yearlings he took his revolver and crawled into the thicket where he could not walk, and got within four feet of it before he saw it, but one lucky shot between the eyes did it, and he came out without ascratch. We have been eating the flesh, and it is fine flavored meat, much resembling nice pork. On Saturday I visited the Hardees, where I found my old friend, Sim Smith, from Buchanan. I returned in the evening, and in time to surprise Lon on his return. He has improved much in size since we have seen him. Not boasting, but the boys all say he is the best man physically in or about the town. I also found Frank Hunter and Mert Price. The boys all seem to be doing well and enjoying themselves. Big Horn City is in the valley of Goose Creek, about seven miles from the canon, where it breaks through a tolerably rough range of the Big Horn mountains. The streams all have beautiful, level valleys, which are nearly all cultivated. Between is rather rough, rolling prairies - not mountains - fit only for grazing. They raise small grain and vegetables in abundance but no corn. Since I came here I helped Lon thresh. His best wheat threashed fifty bushels per acre, after badly shelling out. Prices generally are about double Iowa prices for products and other articles, such as store goods, etc. I have lately contracted to teach the Big Horn school for six months at $70 per month. Board will cost me from $20 to $25 per month. The citizens boast of their summer and fall climate. I am unable to say about that yet, for since my arrival we have had some cold rains and quite a snow, though the harvesting is not done. Snow can be seen on the mountains at all seasons of the year. I should like to write you more deffinitely a description of the country, but have not time, or room on this sheet. Lon and I are going on a two weeks hunt soon, as school does not commence for that length of time. I shall hope for letters from home on my return. Yours in haste, Warren O'Dell

Big Horn City, Wyoming

1904 - Bedford Free-Press, Bedford, Iowa, Jul 28, 1904 SHOULDER DISLOCATED On last Sunday as Warren O'Dell and wife were starting out on a drive they meet with quite an accident. Just as the horses were coming through the gate into the highway, they turned a sharp corner and upset the buggy, throwing the occupants to the ground. Both Mr and Mrs O'Dell lit on their shoulders upon strking the ground, with the result of Mrs O'Dell getting badly bruised and Warren dislocating his shoulder. They are able to be around, but have been suffering more or less from the injuries. Dr McColm bandaged the broken members and bound up the bruises.

1922 - New Market Herald, New Market, Iowa, Jan 12, 1922 MARRIED IN DES MOINES Warren O'Dell and Edith Hutson [sic, Hopson] were united in marriage Saturday Dec 24th in the State Capitol building. The ceremony which united this worthy couple for life was performed by Judge Lawrence DeGraff, of the Supreme Court. The bride and groom returned last week from their bridal trip and are now at home on Mr O'Dell's farm southeast of New Market. The Herald joins their many friends in congratulations and wishing them many years of happy wedded bliss.

1923 - Bedford Times-Republican, Bedford, Iowa "Aug 9, 1923 Fine Pieces of Wood Carving - Warren O'Dell, who resides in the north part of town, was showing a hand made jewelry box on the street last Saturday, which he had recently finished. The box was made with no other tool than a pocket knife, and Mr. O'Dell's spare time during the entire summer was consumed in making the box. There are four hundred separate pieces, carved from walnut, maple, mulberry, hedge, red cedar, and sumach in the box.

Mr O'Dell challenges any in the world to show a better collection of articles made entirely with a pocket knife. In his collection he has about 250 articles, all of which he has made with the aid of his trusty knife in the past few years.

The small box is a wonder in the excellent way in which the pieces are joined, the intricates of detail, the matching of the colors of the wood, and the finish."

1924 - Bedford Free Press, Bedford, Iowa, Dec 18, 1924 - WARREN O'DELL IS A POCKET KNIFE ARTIST

Perhaps but comparitively few people of this city and county are aware of the presence in their midst of an artist in pocket knife work who is unexcelled in the state. We refer to Warren O'Dell, now a resident of Bedford and one of the old timers of the county.

Mr O'Dell has always enjoyed using his pocket knife in shaping pieces of wood into all sorts of things but it has only been during the past five or six years that he has been saving his pieces and building up a collection. Today he probably has one of the largest and most interesting collections of pocket knife carving and whittling in the state. They are at his home in northwest Bedford and visitors are welcome. Although he has been urged to show the collection at the state fair and at the local county fairs he has never done so.

He was showing us a handkerchief box the first of the [...paper missing] which he completed recently after working six weeks on it. It contains 1000 pieces of wood ranging in size from a tiny piece of wood said to have come from a timber in Lincoln's special coach, up to a piece an inch or so square taken from the broken propeller of an aeroplane wrecked here last summer.

Nineteen different kinds of wood were used in the construction of the little box whose measurements are about 8 by 5 by 5 inches, and they have been so arranged that each side and the top presents a very beautiful pattern displaying every color imaginable. The wood has not been stained to present the colors but they come from the natural wood. For instance maple wood gives the white portions, walnut the brown, the heart of a box elder the pink, hedge the yellow and so on.

Mr O'Dell might be induced to sell some of his pieces of wood whittling but his main incentive for exercising his art is the pleasure derived from the work, and he becomes so attached to the finished products that he doesn't like to part with them.

1926 - Bedford Free Press, Bedford, Iowa, Jul 29, 1926 WARREN O'DELL DISPLAYING HIS CARVED WOOD COLLECTION

Warren O'Dell of this city has over 250 pieces of hand carved work on exhibit in the Floral hall at the Taylor County Fair this year, and it is attracting a lot of attention. It is doubtful if there is a larger or finer collection of pocket knife carved pieces in the United States.

In the collection are minute patterns of every conceivable hand tool used about the farm. There is a wooden chain 11 1/2 feet long containing about 100 separate links all fastened together, made from one long piece of timber. In one chest are 1000 tiny pieces of wood, all fitted together to make the chest. One piece in it came from the rail way car that carried Lincoln's body from Washington, D.C. to Springfield, Illinois, for burial.

Mr O'Dell started on this handcraft work about six years ago and its value now is great. He has had many tempting offers for the collection but he declines to sell it.