Document - Historical information/data - Robert ONeill History -NEILL i ROEET
ROBERT O'NEILL
Robert O'Neill was born in Ireland on July
29,1811. His family moved to Canada in
1818 and to Minnesota in 1850. Robert
O'Neill came to Eagan in 1853 where he
bought 230 acres from Henry Sibley. Robert
married Catherine who ,through the years,
gave birth to 12 children.
Robert was the first chairman of the Dakota
County Commissioners, serving in that
capacity from 1853 to 1858. He was elected
to the territorial legislature in 1857 and was
a delegate to the Minnesota Constitutional
convention prior to its admission to
statehood. He served on the Town Board of
Supervisors from 1860 - 1865 and was
chairman in 1878 and 1879.
Much of the O'Neill land was purchased by
Dayton -Hudson Corporation for a planned
regional shopping center. The center was
built elsewhere and in the late 1980s the land
was sold to Northwest Airlines for
construction of its corporate headquarters.
ROBERT O' NEILL EAMILY
Somewhat earlier than the last mentioned set-
tlers, came Robert O'Neil, in June of 1852, and
made a claim in the central part of section 2,
hiring men to work it. Mr. O'Neill was, at that
time, a resident of St. Paul. In August, 1853,
with his family, he took up a permanent resi-
dence in Eagan, and has since lived on his
original claim, which has been largely added to
by purchase.
Mr. O'Neil has always occupied a prominent
position among his townsmen, and in the county
as well. He was elected to the first state legis-
lature of 1857-8, and served as one of the 'first
representatives elected +lba the county. He
was chairman of to board %if county commis-
sioners from 1863 until 1858, when under the
state organization, the office of county commis -
Stoner ceased for a time to exist.
Robert O'Neill was born in Ireland, July 29th,
1811. When seven years old moved with his
parents to America. Through the advice of
friends his father removed to Perth, Ontario,
remaining until 1828; thence to Buckingham,
Lower Canada, and settled on a farth. In 1850,
Robert came to Minnesota, and•engaged in lum-
bering three years. In the meantime he made a
claim of two hundred and thirty_ acres in Eagan_
township, and in 1853, moved to it. During the
fall of that year he was elected first chairman of
county board of commissioners; was a member
of the territorial legislature in 1857; and has since
held several town offices. t'n politics he is a
staunch democrat. His wife was Miss Catherine
Forbes, who was born on the beautiful Isle of
Montreal. She has borne him twelve Children,
eight of whom are living.
p. 348, 353 , 350
History:of Dakota County
pub. 1881
The next birth was that of Susan F. O'Neill,
January 7th, 1854. Her parents were Robert
and Catharine O'Neill, and lived at home until
she was sixteen years of age, when she lived
with her sister in Minneapolis until her marriage
with Martin Kennedy, June 8th,.1880. She now
resides in St. Paul.
ROBERT O'NEILL FAMILY
Somewhat earlier than the last mentioned set-
tlers, came Robert O'Neil, in June of 1852, and
made a claim in the central part of section 2,
hiring men to work it. Mr. O'Neill was, at that
time, a resident of St. Paul. In August, 1858,
with his family, he took up a permanent resi-
dence in Eagan, and has since lived on his
original claim, which has been largely added to
by purchase.
Mr. O'Neil has always occupied a prominent
position among his townsmen, and in the county
as well. He was elected to the first state legis-
lature of 1857-8, and served as one of the first
representatives elected iirt, the county. He
was chairman of ete board %f county commis-
sioners from 1853 until 1858, when under the
state organization, the office of county commis-
bioner ceased for a time to exist.
Robert O'Neill was born in Ireland, July 29th,
1811. When seven years old moved with his
parents to America. Through the advice of
friends his father removed to Perth, Ontario,
remaining until 1828; thence to Buckingham,
Lower Canada, and settled on a farth. •In 1850,
Robert came to Minnesota, and•engaged in lum-
bering three years. In the meantime he made a
claim of two hundred and thirty acres in Eagan:
township, and in 1853, moved to it. 'During the
fall of that year he was elected first chairman of
county board of commissioners; was a member
of the territorial legislature in 1857; and has since
held several town offices. rn politics be is a
staunch democrat. His wife was Miss Catherine
Forbes, who was born . on the beautiful Isle of
Montreal. She has borne him tweli Children,
eight of whom are living.
p. 348, 353 , 350
History of Dakota County
pub. 1881
First Events
The next birth was that of Susan F. O'Neill,
January 7th, 1854. Her parents were Robert
and Catharine O'Neill, and lived at home until
she was sixteen years of age, when she lived
with her sister in Minneapolis until her marriage
with Martin Kennedy, June 8th,1880. She now
resides in St. Paul
ROBERT O'NEILL FAMILY
p. 348, 353
History of Dakota County
pub. 1881
Somewhat earlier than the last mentioned set-
tlers, came Robert O'Neil, In June of 1852, and
made a claim in the central part of section 2,
hiring men to work it. Mr. O'Neill was, at that
time, a resident of St. Paul. In August, 1853,
with his family, he took up a permanent resi-
dence in Eagan, and has since lived on his
original claim, which has been largely added to
by purchase.
Mr. O'Neil has always occupied a prominent
position among his townsmen, and in the county
as well. He was elected to the first state legis-
lature of 1857-8, and served as one of the first
representatives elected ifbilt the county. He
was chairman of ite board Itif county commis-
sioners from 1863 until 1858, when under the
state or$nnization, the office of county commis-
sioner ceased for a time to exist.
Robert O'Neill was born in Ireland, .iuly 29th,
1811. When seven years old moved with his
parents to America. Through the advice of
friends his father removed to Perth, Ontario,
remaining until 1828; thence to Buckingham,
Lower Canada, and settled on a farth. In 1850,
Robert came to Minnesota, and•engaged in lum-
bering three years. In the meantime he made a
claim of two hundred and thirty acr es in Eagan_
township, and in 1853, moved to it. During the
fall of that year he was elected first chairman of
county board of commissioners; was a member
of the territorial legislature in 1857; and has since
held several town offices. In politics he la a
staunch democrat. His wife was Mies Catherine
Forbes, who was born . on the beautiful Isle of
Montreal. She has borne him twelve Children,
eight of whom are living.
•
:
HISTORY
OF
DAKOTA COUNTY
AND TITE
CITY OF HASTINGS,
INCLUDING TITE
EXPLORERS AND PIONEERS OF MINNESOTA,
BY REV. EDWARD D. NEILL.
AND
OUTLINES OF THE HISTORY OF MiNNESOTA,
BY J. FLETCHER WILLIAMS.
MINNEAPOLIS:
NORTH STAR PUBLISHING COMPANY,
1851.
44
THE ROB!B2 O'NBILL FAMILY
iRobert O'Neill was born in Ireland, July 29,, 1811. At the
age of seven, he and his parents moved to America.
Taking the advice of friends his father moved to Perth. On-
tario. lower Canada, remaining there until 1828. Prom Perth,
they moved to Buckingham, lower Canada and settled on a. farm.
In 1850 Robert came to Minnesota and was engaged in lum-
bering for three years.
In the meantime he purchased 230 acres of land in section
2 from Henry H. Sibley for twenty five cents per acre, And --
moved oethe property in 1853\
During the fall of that year he was elected First Chair-
men of the Board of Commissioners. and in 18.57 he became a mem-
ber of the Territorial Government.; He held several other offices.
1
In politics he was a staunch Democrat.
Miss Catherine Forbes was born on the Beautiful Isle of
Montreal.
Robert O'Neill married Catherine Forbes and they had twelve
children. Bight of whom were still living 1881. The children were.
Mary O'Neill Married MacDougal
Catherine " s King
Susan N a .. M. F. Kennedy
Arabelle a M Forbes
John N Never Married
William H. Sr. • p Frances Silk.she
was Scotch- Irish
their children were.
Robert, Mary and
William Jr.
Children Cont'd.
Laura • O'Neill Never Married
Helen N N
Agnes N N
Charles Forbes married Arabelle O'Neill, and when the O'Neill
• Estate was parcelled out, about 1890 they received the parcel
of land across the road, West of the Old Dodge City Trail in
section 2.
The Forbes name in this instance is of Scotch ancestry.
Charles Forbes Sr. became a government surveyor and;Wil-
liars O'Neill sr. became an assistant on his surveying crew a-
bout 1916'. As a surveyor he surveyed much of the land in this
area, and he surveyed many of the trails for roads in northern
Minnesota.
Upon his death Charles Forbes sr. was buried in St. Peter's
Cemetery in Mendota.
William O'Neill sr. married Elenore Conzemuis in 1933. They
had three children.
William dr. Married Marlene Nutzman Fagan
Thomas N Mary Trettle
Frances N Mike Terry
William O'Neill sr. had made the homestead his home all his life.
He died December 21, 1981 at the age of 81, He too is buried in
St. Peter's Cemetery in Mendota.
..)41 8 14 4t
By ELISABETH KENNEALY
Staff Writer
A COMMUNITY IS FORMED...
EAGAN -- The City of Eagan
today boasts a population of
18.500 persons. but it grew from a
tiny settlement in the middle of
the last century to a community
of homes. businesses. and in-
dustries in 1976.
First settlers were the Indians
who lived in Black Dog Village.
the place name being preserved
in Black Dog Rd. and Black Dog
Creek near Cedar Ave.
The first white child was Mary
A. Brown, born Nov. 22. 1849 to
J.W. and Mary Brown at their
home.in Black Dog Village. She
married Jasper McCollum in
1871. The next birth was Susan F.
O'Neill. on Jan. 7, 1854. She was
the daughter of Robert and
Catharine O'Neill. marrying
- Martin Kennedy in 1880.
The first litarriage was Alex-
ander Huard and Jane
McDermott: in 1854. who lived in
,lever Grove.
• Eagan was previously part of
the town of Mendota as
tptablished by the county com-
-nussioners. April 6. 1858. They
flrnet April 20 of that year and
formed Sections 13-36 called
'Montgomery. This was not suita-
1b1e. and was repealed. In 1861 the
.legislature detached Eagan from
Mendota. 1880's population was
642.
The first meeting of Eagan
Township was held at the home of
j,hchael Comer in Section 25 on
April 3. 1860. Robert O'Neill was
.moderator and Michael Comer
-clerk. At the election the follow-
ing were chosen: Patrick Eagan.
James Collar. Robert O'Neill.
supervisors; Michele Comer.
clerk; Thomas Fannan, as-
sessor; William Diffley.
treasurer; Michael Kirby.
William Harper. justices of the
peace: Patrick Mooney. Louis
_Sansoucey. constables; Patrick
Eagan. Anthony Devitt. Michael
on. road overseers.
Township valuation in 1860 was
7.342 and in 1870 $106.521. in
80. $177.890. City clerk Alyce
ilke said May. 1976 figures set
iluation at $91.517.361.
The first school was taught by
wheel Downing in 1859-60 in a
gall log house 14 by 16 feet in
ction 14. There were 40 stu-
nts Another school was built in
ction 23 about two years later.
third structure was erected 18
26 feet. named District 14.
The next school was held in a
use owned by Bartholomew
iiley in Section 19. It was used
Cr
i8
18
Bi
vs
tit
sn
Se
de
Se
A
by
ho
for two years until 1865 when a 16
by 22 foot building was erected in
Section 29. known as District 13.
In 1860 a school met with Mrs.
Robert O'Neill for a month. then
Miss Elizabeth McDermptt was
engaged for several years. This
was known as District 11 in Sec-
tion 3. District 12 was organized
in 1869 In 1881 there were four
school houses in Eagan.
The above schools bear little
similarity in appearance or cur-
riculum to the present Eagan
schaots, Northyiew. Pilot Knob
Rahn. and Cedar Elementary
Schools, and Metcalf Junior High
u
tl
c
e
c
O'Neills Tell
Of Life In
Early Eagan
The O'Neill family were Eagan
pioneers. Robert O'Neill came to
Eagan in 1852 to Section 2. He
was elected to the First state
legislature in 1857-58. and
chairman of the Dakota County
commissioners from 1853 to 1858.
After that time. the position of
county commissioner did not ex-
ist for several years.
Mrs. O'Neill taught in 1860 in
one of Eagan's first one -room
schools.
William H. O'Neill of 2660 Dodd
Rd., Eagan, has "O'Neill's
Place" near his driveway. His
two sons and a daughter, and
their families live nearby on
O'Neill Dr. Much of the farmland
was purchased by Dayton -
Hudson Corp. for a planned re-
gional shopping center.
Mr. and Mrs. O'Neill and Mary
O'Neill told of earlier days in an
interview at their home. They at-
tended District 11, on Lexington
Ave. and County Rd. 30, a build-
ing still standing and used as a
home. They attended eight
months of school. The railroad
men would cut a railroad wire so
the children would have a short
cut and not have to walk the three
miles to schools.
Recreational activities in-
cluded basket socials. and barn
dances whenever a farmer built
a new barn. Church card parties
were held in the town hall in Men-
dota Village.
Sicknesses included diphtheria.
Miss O'Neill remembers the
John Rahn family lost all their
children from that disease, but
later had more children.
The O'Neill property was
purchased from General Sibley.
Hired men received $3.50 per
week at one time. plus room and
board.
• O'Neill Said the farm formerly
had 58 cocas and 7.000 laying
hefts Corn, potatoes. atnd onions
iivvrr�� fb - 1 it' tie Rt,
arTCel ilhim "arid
Franc 9 lSllkl O'Neill were the
parents Of *illitffh H. O'Neill and
htlat1'Nlii►. tiillirrei the Third
arttd F6uiktll 5t o liYY dh the home
place in Eagan.
O'Neill served Sn the school
board manly .yeata. Other school
board fhethliets *Pre Gustav
Poltiti. Pred $oettcher and
fitM Founder:
The Arita. Bill Smith, re-
telkt:d 84 it i►eek train the school
tdisttict. fie trapped skunks on his
*oy. to rlbfit softie Mornings.
*Ph kaki Atmosphere of
etl0cHtiolf. • .
• Ow telelier. Annie O'Leary.
fried bntdhs Oh the stove for her
"hot lunch." the students
antis t It*hess And hbpea they
did not ftehte. daring the winter
onttll.
The t&PP}t $t Mendota which
the Mendota bridge
Idea vdvidly.
were grown for
sale at the St.
Paul market
O'NE1LLI FoitIty
THE ROBER O'N ILL FAMILY
Robert O'Neill was born in Ireland, July 29, 1811. At the
r-
age of seven, he and his parents -moved to America.
Taking the advice of friends his father moved to Perth, On-
tario, lower Canada, remaining there until 1828. Prom Perth,
they moved to Buckingham, lower Canada and settled on a farm.
In 1850 Robert came to Minnesota and was engaged in lum-
bering for three years.
In the meantime he purchased 230 acres of land in section
2 from Henry H. Sibley for C0.25)twenty five ,cents per acre; And
moved on the property in 1853.
During the fall of that year he was,elected First Chair-
man of the Board of Commissioners, and in 1857 he became a mem-
ber of the Territorial Government. He held several other offices.
In politics he was a staunch Democrat.
Miss Catherine Forbes was born on the Beautiful Isle of
Montreal.
Hobert O'Neill married Catherine Forbes and they had twelve
children Eight of whom were still 1ivingR:881. The children
Mary O'Neill Married MacDougal
Catherine M r King
Susan N M .. M. F. Kennedy
Arabelle a r Forbes
John N Never Married
William H. Sr._ r N
Frances Silk she a'',�l<
was Scotch-. Irish.
T Gt'heir children were
Robert, Mary and
William Jr.
Her friend is Margaret (Coniff)' Quigley. wife of Patrick
Quigley Jr.
She was the mother to Margaret (Quigley) Des Lauriwrs
and the Maternal Grandmother to Martin Des Laurier*.
Margaret Coniff was born in 1g55 in Rosemount and died in
1945.
One wonders for an explanation looking at this picture.
Two wonen�out in the pasture with a third party) One toting
a-12 Ga. shot -gun.
k)e°""7
Were they hunting partridge or ducks. I -doubt -that i4-
w 0. 4
-wot]d have been for protection againist Revenoors.
Rkev\c\ cL:R. Probably -they were having a friendly conversation about
local politics or gun control.
arancis J. Dembroski
Children Cont'd.
Laura
Helen
Agnes
O'Neill
4
Never Married
N
N
Charles Forbes married Arabelle O'Neill, and when the O'Neill
r)mc'-'
Estate was parcelled out, about 1g90-they reCeived the parcel
of land across the road, West of the:Old:Dodge-City Trail in
section 2.
The Forbes name in this instance is of Scotch ancestry.
Charles Forbes:Sr. bedame a government surveyor and. Wil-
liam OiNeillter. became anassiitant on his,Surveying crew a-
bout 1916. As a surveyor he surveyed mach of the land in this
area, and he surveyed many of the trails for roads in northern
Minnesota.
A ,
Upon his death Charles Forbeslirwas buried in St. Peter's
Cemetery in Mendota.
>d
William O'Neillktr. married Elenore Conzemuis in 1933. They
had three children:,
William Jr. Married Marlene Nutzman
Thomas N Mary Trettle
Prances Mike Terry
William O'Neill*. had made the homestead his home all his life.
Be died December 21, 191 at the age of 84 He too is buried in
N.-143e fr •
St. Peter's Cemetery in Mendota.
JDbQh
Q
;)(
Eagan
•
courtesy Minnesota Historical Society
Robert O'Neill, c. 1857.
