SAMUEL ANGELL

Early Life

Samuel Angell was born on the 20th of March, 1818, in Wayne County, Indiana. His mother, Elizabeth Odell, was the eldest sibling of John Odell, founder of the Odell Pioneer Cemetery and Ebenezer Chapel. Samuel was the second of five children born to the Angell family. His father, Benjamin Angell, moved the family from Wayne County, Indiana to the sparsely populated Deer Creek Township, Indiana, in January 1825. Deer Creek Township was located near Delphi, Indiana and . The Angells, along with the Odells, were among the first white families to settle in the area. 

In the fall of 1825, Samuel Angell’s father died, leaving his wife Elizabeth with five children including then 7-year-old Samuel. After Benjamin’s death, Elizabeth and her children moved in with her father, James Odell, in Carroll County, Indiana (1830 U.S. Census, Carroll County, Indiana).

Elizabeth and the children lived with the Odell family in Indiana until her death in 1840, after which her brother John Odell was given legal guardianship of the Angell children.

Emigration to Oregon

Samuel lived with the Odell family until he emigrated to Oregon in 1849 at the age of 31, three years ahead of the Odell family.  It is unknown why Samuel make the overland trek prior to the Odell family, or which wagon train he travelled with. The overwhelming majority of the wagon trains westward in 1849 were destined to California, lured by the promise of striking gold. In 1849, only an estimated 450 pioneers emigrated to Oregon versus an estimated 25,000 who made their way across the plains to California (Unruh, 1993). Given the large percentage of people who chose to seek their fortune in California in 1849, it is possible that this was Samuel’s intent in making the trip alone; however, at this point no documents have been identified to support this theory. It is equally as possible that Samuel made the trip ahead of the Odell family as a scouting mission to ease their eventual journey and settlement.

“During the long summer of 1849 there was an unbroken line of wagons reaching from horizon to horizon.  Cholera, scurvy, dysentry, accident, thirst, hunger, fatigue, Indian attack, quarrels, discouragement and other ills plagued these trains.  As in other years, all of these obstacles were offset by the hope for a better future in the form of gold or land. The majority of this endless line of humanity was aimed toward the promise of gold and riches in California.  It was estimated that over 35,000 individuals took part in this great overland migration.  Of these, only a very few turned off for Oregon.”

– Stephenie Flora, Emigrants to Oregon in 1849

He settled in the Dayton Area on a Donation Land Claim of 321.38 acres (DLC OC 0919) located at what is now the intersection of Wallace and Fairview Roads. According to the 1850 US Federal Census, Samuel lists his occupation as farmer (1850 U.S. Census, Yamhill County, Oregon Territory).

Death & Legacy

Samuel died in 1856 at the age of 38.  His cause of death is unknown. He was not married when he died, and had no children. It can be assumed that he became ill or injured and died fairly quickly, as his will was written just three short days prior to his death. He left his estate to be divided equally between his surviving siblings – brother, Charles Angell (d. 1902), his sister, Sarah Angell Gillam (d.1863), and his infant niece, daughter of his recently deceased sister Ruth (d. 1850). His estate included 13 horses, at least 35 head of cattle, and various plows, harness, livestock feed and saddles (Oregon Wills and Probate Records, 1849-1963).

 His extensive probate records make clear that in less than a decade, Samuel Angell had grown his DLC into a thriving farm at the time of his death.

His grave features the largest headstone in the Odell Pioneer Cemetery.

“Samuel Angel was born in Wayne county, Indiana. October 4, 1818, and with his father, B. D. Angel, came to this county, in 1825. In the year 1849, he, with others, went to Oregon territory, where he remained until his death, which occurred on May 27, 1856. He was never married. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.”

– History of Carroll County, Indiana, p. 147

Note: The Angell surname was spelled with two “L’s” prior to Samuel’s death, but census and other records show both variations. It is unclear when or why the second “L” was dropped from his tombstone.