Bio: O'Neill, Andrew O. (1766 - ?)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: O'Neill, Shane, Armstrong, Sparrowhawk

----Source: 1918 History of Clark County, Wisconsin

ANDREW O’NEILL

Andrew O'Neill

ANDREW O’NEILL, the founder of the O'Neill family in America, born in Shane's Castle, on the ancient O'Neill estate, County Antrim, Ireland-Sept. 23, 1766, and there became a schoolmaster. In that capacity he came, to the Province of Ontario, Canada, and located at where he married one of his pupils, Jane Armstrong, born in Edwardsburg, of English descent. The young people, in 1798, moved across the river to a point not far from Ogdensburg, N. Y., and became the first settlers in Lisbon Township. There they reared their family and spent the remainder of their lives.

Mr. O'Neill died in Lisbon, Dec. 31, 1840, and Mrs. O'Neill passed away May 9, 1846. They left eight children, one of whom James, was the first settler of Clark County, Wis. A grandson, James O’Neill, is now Judge of the Circuit Court at Neillsville, Wis. It is interesting to note that the pioneer farm is still in the family, being occupied by two grandchildren, William H. and Mary J., now Mrs. George W. Sparrowhawk, and owned by them and another grandson, Judge James O’Neill.