This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: O'Donnell, Boyle, Gallagher Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/oI4.2ACIB/81.117.238.1 Message Board Post: I just found your Aug 4, 2000 note. Here is what I have on what may be the same family: From BEFORE TODAY, A HISTORY OF HOLT COUNTY, NEBRASKA, p. 287: Dan O'Donnell and Mike Gallagher also came to the Inman, Nebraska area in 1878. This is the same O'Donnell who platted the village of Stuart, Nebraska and for a time operated a store there. Since Dan O'Donnell was Sarah O'Donnell's grandfather and Mike Gallagher her uncle, it is likely that the two men were brothers-in-law. O'Donnell homesteaded south of the Elkhorn, NE and Gallagher north of the stream, although later he moved his home to the present site of the Gallagher ranch. Mr. O'Donnell developed the stream that flowed through his land into a good sized lake and planted many trees around it. It became a favorite picnic spot for the neighbors for miles around; fisherman, hunters and swimmers all enjoyed it and Dan O'Donnell stated that no one was ever to be charged for the privilege of fishing in its waters. The two men returned to Philadelphia in 1879, married their sweethearts and brought them west to their new homes. Daniel married Sarah Boyle in Omaha, NE on 27 Oct 1879. The O'Donnell marriage certificate is kept in the family Bible. The two men made several trips back east and returned from one of them driving a herd of cattle, presumably Galloways, and crossing the Missouri River with them at Nebraska City. Mr. O'Donnell bought cattle throughout the territory and took them home to his Elkhorn range. He herded these cattle himself, using a team and buggy and two cattle dogs. Each dog worked the cattle on its own side of the buggy. The original home of the O'Donnell was made of three small buildings put together. Mrs. O'Donnell, in addition to mothering her own brood of seven, took on the duties of midwife and nurse to her community. In time the O'Donnell ranch had a 600 foot loon cattle shed with divided pens, dehorning chutes and yards, also a cattle scales. The neighbors brought their cattle there to be weighed, dehorned and vaccinated. When Jim, the eldest son, was old enough to help, he soon took over these later tasks. The younger children, Dan, John and Katie, then had to herd the cattle, often crossing the river with their charges. Quicksand was an ever present danger but the cattle usually knew where the save fords were the children followed on their ponies. The elder O'Donnell died with a year of each other -- in 1910 and 1911. ------------- Please contact me if you have any other information on this family as I have many of their descendants but none of their ancestors.