An American Family History

James T. O'Dea was born in December, 1860 in Colorado. His parents were John O'Dea born in Ireland and Johanna Gogin born in Ireland and they were married in Omaha, Nebraska.

James grew up in Fort Calhoun, Washington County, Nebraska. His father was a farmer.

In 1900 he was a motorman in Portage, Houghton County, Michigan.

James married Etta Fox about 1909.

At the time of the 1910 census they were living in Davenport, Scott County, Iowa. He was a railway motorman.

A James F. O'Dea died on June 18, 1913 and was buried at St. Marguerites Cemetery which is now known as Mount Clavary Cemetery

At the time of the 1915 Iowa state census, Etta and James were living at 208 Tremont Avenue in Davenport. James was a motorman and earned $900 in 1914.

James was left a widower when Etta died in 1915.

Possibly James married Viola Long Bertrand on April 15, 1918 in Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota when she was 47 and he was 52. The marriage record has his name as James F. O'Dea. At the time he was assistant state manager of the Woodman of the World for North and South Dakota.

Viola died on April 21, 1919.

In 1925 a James T. O'Dea was living in a boarding house in Davenport, Iowa.

According to the Tombstone Records of Scott County, Iowa James died on January 2, 1929. James and Etta are buried together at Oakdale Cemetery in Davenport.