Thomas Jefferson Odenbaugh

Please email corrections and additions to georgeann@msn.com

Thomas Jefferson ODENBAUGH
son of Charles and Catherine (FRY) ODENBAUGH

b: 1801 or 1804 or 1812 per LDS-IGI born in PA
married Susan W. CRAIG b: 1808 on June 02, 1830
Residences: 16 Main Street, West Middletown, PA - purchased in 1831
died: July 29, 1868 in West Middleton, Washington Co., PA
buried Upper Presbyterian Church, West Middletown, PA

Susan died: June 05, 1889 in Urbana, OH Father: David CRAIG Mother: Susannah W. (maybe the W is the first letter of her maiden name ? MaidennameUnkown URIE (first husband's name)

-she outlived her husband 21 years. She probably died at her daughter Susan Virginia (ODENBAUGH) MADDEN's home in Urbana. (I recall seeing a "D. C.Odenbaugh" along with Susan Odenbaugh in Urbana census about that time so there were probably more relatives in Urbana.

"T. J. ODENBAUGH mentioned in "This convention was held in the "Fulton House," Washington, March 18, 1856, the platform being occupied by Whigs, Americans, and kindred others whose leanings were toward the Republican phase of politics. The president on this occasion was James G. Hart, the vice-presidents being J. Clark Chambers, John Hayes, John Johnson, Francis Fitzwilliams, David Walker, T. J. Odenbaugh, Joshua Wright, W. H. McNary and Samuel J. Crothers; the secretaries were: Craig Ritchie, E. L. Christman, Joseph Welsh and Thomas Miller" NOTE: Other relatives of ours include CROTHERS and McNARY (although I don't know of relationship if any to above.)

Hopewell Twp. (pp. 811) History of Washington County, Pennsylvania
Post-Office.--The Postmaster-General's report of 1805 shows at that time there was a post-office at West Middletown, but fails to state who was postmaster. It is learned from the newspapers that David Craig (his father-in-law) was postmaster in 1808. He remained in that office till 1832, and was succeeded by Thomas J. Odenbaugh, who occupied the position till 1839.

History of Washington County, PA page 548 "On June 30, 1836...meeting of the "Anti-slavery Society"...officers of the executive committee...included Thomas J. Odenbaugh, Esq." This is the first time I have seen Esq. after his name. I have been told it probably indicates he owned land.

"West Middletown Papers" Washington County, PA prepared by Citizens Library Genealogy Records Group in 1977, call number SR 974.883 KRA: From the reminiscences of Mrs. Mary (McFadden) Allison, daughter of James McFadden and Margaret Stewart McFADDEN (neighbors), dictated 19 Feb 1910: "Thomas Jefferson ODENBAUGH lived in the next house. He was a merchant and also a son-in-law of David CRAIG. Mr. Odenbaugh was very severe with his children, not permiting them to go out on nights except Halloween when he allowed the boys to do as they pleased. The Odenbaughs afterwards moved to the country."

Thomas Jefferson and Susan (CRAIG) ODENBAUGH had nine children, including Clarinda (died young) and Henry Clay Odenbaugh who died in 1862 in Civil War. B. Franklin and his brother, Dr. T. Jefferson ODENBAUGH, moved to Chicago....would be nice to know when. Susan moved to Ohio. Mary E. moved to Indiana. So they seemed to move from their birthplace. We would appreciate more information on this line.

The ODENBAUGH Hotel
page 55 from a book by Jane Fulcher

In 1801 Galbraith and Elizabeth Stewart sold this "lot of ground and wooden messuage or tenement thereon" to William McKennan and Thom K. Thompson.

In 1823 he sold the property to Alexander Adams "being the same in which the said Adams now lives." This Alexander Adams's older brother John was the ancestor of the Adams and Keenan families who are still nearby. Alexander's younger brother, Dr. David Adams, married Galbraith and Elizabeth's daughter Eliza. She died young leaving a son named Stewart whom his Aunt Mary McCall raised.

In 1831 Alexander Adams sold the house and lot to Thomas Jefferson Odenbaugh who made it the "the Odenbaugah Hotel." He was an active member of the Abolitionist Party. He also served as the second postmaster of the Borough, with the post office probably in this building.

(this section added by Georgeann)

On June 2, 1830, Thomas Jefferson Odenbaugh married Susan Craig, youngest daughter of David Craig who's farm includes where the Breezy Tavern stands in 2004. Thomas Jefferson Odenbaugh's older sister, Mary Odenbaugh married Thomas Hughes. They were associated with the Thomas Hughes Home in Greene County a famous underground railroad stop. Thomas and Mary Hughes' daughter Eliza Hughes was the first woman to graduate from medical school in the United States. Her younger brother Alfred Hughes was also a doctor. They both practiced in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Thomas and Susan Craig Odenbaugh had a total of nine children including:
- Clarinda Odenbaugh
- David C. Odenbaugh
- Thomas H. Odenbaugh
- John N. Odenbaugh
- Henry Clay Odenbaugh
- B. Franklin Odenbaugh
- Mary E. Odenbaugh
- Susan Virginia Odenbaugh
- T. Jefferson Odenbaugh

Thomas Jefferson Odenbaugh died July 29, 1868 in West Middletown, Pennsylvania and was buried in Grove Cemetery.

On the 1876 map, Mrs. Susan Odenbaugh is shown as owner. Her nephews, John and WIlliam Thompson, were very fond of her. They were sons of her oldest sister Jane Craig, the first wife of James Thompson.

Janet Bemis: "In the east side when I was a child people by the name of Westlake lived there. I think that Carrie Westlake was Ruth's first school teacher. When the school house burned down, Ruth's class met down there in that annex. That's where she was in the first grade (about 1896)." In 1900 Lemuel and Rachel Liggett lived here with an adopted daughter Lutie. The annex was the location of the West Middletown Post Office when Miss Lou Coulter served as postmistress of the Borough.

The 1984 description of the annex:

2 more paragraphs to transcribe