Congressman Moses Fowler Odell was born on 24. Feb. 1818 at Tarrytown, Westchester County, New York. He was the son of
William Dyckman Odell and
Susannah Fowler. Congressman Moses Fowler Odell married
Sarah Fish Vanderveer, daughter of
Abraham Vanderveer and
Jane Fish. Congressman Moses Fowler Odell was shown in the census on 31. Jul. 1850 as U. S. Customs.
Congressman Moses Fowler Odell and
Sarah Fish Vanderveer appeared on the census of 31. Jul. 1850 at with her mother, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.
Harpers Weekly Jun 14 1862
HON. MOSES F. ODELL.
THE HON. MOSES F. ODELL, the patriotic Member of Congress from the Brooklyn District, was born at Tarrytown, Westchester County, on the 24th of February, 1818. His family removed to New York City shortly after his birth, and here and in Brooklyn Mr. Odell grew up, receiving his education in the common schools of the city. Early in life he received an appointment in the Custom-house, where he soon proved himself a peculiarly valuable public servant, and for merit was promoted step by step till he was made Assistant-Collector, which post he held during the Administration of President Polk. Being a Democrat, when the Taylor Administration came in Mr. Odell was removed from his post and put to another desk. He was, however, shortly replaced, notwithstanding his politics, the Collector finding him indispensable. He continued to hold his place under Collectors Bronson and Redfield till he resigned, under the latter. During this long tenure of a responsible, laborious, and often irksome office, he gained and retained the esteem of the merchants of this city, and achieved a reputation for clear-headedness and the ability to transact a great amount of business, in a manner satisfactory to all with whom he came in contact, and which has made him a great favorite with the business community of New York. Under the Administration of Mr. Buchanan he held the post of Public Appraiser in this city.
Mr. Odell has always been a Democrat. In early life he was for a short time President of the Brooklyn Empire Club, and all his life he has taken a strong interest in the success of the Democratic party, though never seeking office. Last fall he was nominated, on the Douglas ticket, for Congress. The chances for his election were not good. The member of Congress from the District, Mr. Humphreys, was a Republican, and a gentleman of unexceptionable character, personally liked by his constituents; and the Breckinridge wing of the Democratic party nominated a candidate, and thus caused that horror of politicians, a "split ticket." Nevertheless, Mr. Odell was elected over both his competitors, his sterling character and great personal popularity carrying him far ahead of his ticket. He was, we believe, the only Democrat elected on the ticket.
He did not take his seat in Congress till the meeting of the extra session, on July 4, 1861. Meantime the rebellion had broken out. Brooklyn hastened to send a regiment to defend the capital and the Union; and in those first days, when Democrats and so-called Union men were still looked at with some degree of suspicion, he took his stand in a speech delivered to his constituents and to the soldiers going away to the war. The following short extract from that speech is an index to his conduct ever since. He said: "The position I stand in toward the Government and toward you, makes it right that you should know my views....I am for the Constitution of the country and for the enforcement of the laws—for the Stars and Stripes—for the flag which has protected us all. That flag has been trailed in the dust and spit on by those whom it protected. I have no apology to make for those who did this, and I have no quarter to give until that insult has been avenged. It is well known to you, gentlemen, that I was elected as a Democrat. I have been identified with that party since I came to Brooklyn—more than twenty years ago; but I have no party here to-night. I stand by the Union. I shall be summoned to Washington—I believe I shall get there [it was doubtful at that time]—and I shall give my support to any measure that will defeat the foes of the Government. I did what
I could to prevent the election of the President. I labored as earnestly against him as many of you did for him. But he was elected—legally, fairly, honestly elected President of this country. He is its President. I shall sustain the President in every thing which I believe to be right, and calculated to put down the men who have made war upon our flag and trampled it under foot....I am with you in this inspiring movement which has spread over the North. My prayers are with those who have gone forth to defend the country, and I believe and pray that God will defend them; for the right is with them, and they will prevail."
He has well kept his word. When Congress met it was expected by many who knew his peculiar experience and abilities that he would be placed upon the tariff and tax committees. This was not done, probably because the Speaker did not know him. But he was reserved for as important a work. His patriotic speech attracted attention, and, we have heard, gathered around him quite a number of Congressmen, Republicans as well as Democrats; and when it was determined to appoint a Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War, Mr. Odell was wisely selected as one of its members. Here he has labored earnestly and effectively ever since, to improve the effectiveness of the army, to expose and prevent frauds, and to aid the Government in its immense labors. We have reason to know that his conduct has secured him the affectionate regard of the President, who values his advice as that of an honest, clear-headed, and single-hearted man, such as Mr. Lincoln is himself.
Mr. Odell is not a speaker, but a man of action. He has not made a speech, in Congress, yet; but he has given all his time to the important labors of the Committee room. During his residence at Washington he has greatly endeared himself to the soldiers by his constant and personal care for their comfort. After the battle of Bull Run he looked after the sick and wounded who crowded the city, and especially those of the gallant 14th (Brooklyn) regiment, many of them young men who had grown up under his eye, in business and in the Sunday-school of the Sands Street Methodist Church, of which he has been for many years the efficient and beloved superintendent. The following paragraph from a recent number of the Washington Intelligencer shows that it is not only soldiers whom his active benevolence seeks to help:
"We referred yesterday to the commendable zeal and ability of Senator Wright in the Sabbath-school and other benevolent enterprises. It is our pleasure now to add to that worthy class of Christian philanthropists the name of Moses F. Odell, who represents the Brooklyn District, New York, in the House of Representatives, and contributed on Sunday very materially to the interests of the Sabbath-school exercises at the 'Foundry.' The accomplished wife of Mr. Odell has been a teacher of the Bible class in the same school ever since their residence in Washington." Congressman Moses Fowler Odell was buried on 6. Jun. 1866 at Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York; lot 16552 section 55. He died on 13. Jun. 1866 at Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, at age 48.
ODELL, Moses Fowler, a Representative from New York; born in Tarrytown, Westchester County, N.Y., February 24, 1818; completed preparatory studies; appointed entry clerk in the New York customhouse in 1845 and became public appraiser; elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-seventh and Thirty-eighth Congresses (March 4, 1861-March 3, 1865); chairman, Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Treasury (Thirty-seventh Congress); appointed Navy agent at the city of New York in 1865 and served until his death in Brooklyn, N.Y., June 13, 1866; interment in Greenwood Cemetery.