Sacramento County
Biographies
MERRITT FRANCIS ODELL
M. F. ODELL, senior member of the
well-known firm of Odell and Herzog, is a native of Indiana,
being born in Indianapolis January 10,
1853. His father, M. M. Odell, came to the Pacific coast in 1855. After
remaining here several years he returned to his Eastern home, and in 1861
brought his family overland to California,
reaching here in the fall of that year. He engaged in the cattle trade in this
valley, and prominently identified himself with the business for many years.
The subject of this sketch had an early practical training, was brought up in
the business, and after reaching manhood engaged in trade near the corner of K
street in 1875, and carried it on until 1886, when Mr. Herzog was admitted as
partner, and the firm became Odell & Herzog. Their place of business, Nos.
1020 and 1022 K street,
known as the New York Market, is large and commodious, the leading and most
attractive retail market in the Capital
City. They have a large wholesale
trade and supply many retail shops. They have their own slaughterhouses, south
of the city on the Riverside road, where their meats are
dressed to supply their extensive trade. They also buy and feed a large amount
of stock, thus giving their trade the advantage of the best selections. The
firm is widely and favorably known as one of the most responsible in this
section of the State. Mr. Odell is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of
the order of Knights of Pythias. He was married June 7, 1883, to Miss
Myrtle Underhill,
a native of California, and daughter of Joseph
Underhill, formerly surveyor of Sacramento.
Mr. and Mrs. Odell have three children, Hazel A., Edna B. and Merrill M.
Transcribed by Vicky
Walker, 10/3/07.
Source: Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated
History of Sacramento County, California. Page 787.
Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Vicky Walker.