O'Donnell, James
soldier, journalist, congressman, was born March 25, 1840, in Norwalk, Conn. In 1861 he enlisted in the first Michigan infantry, and served out his time, participating in the first battle of Bull Run. He was recorder of the city of Jackson, Mich., in 1863-66.
He established the Jackson Daily Citizen in 1865; and continued its owner and editor. He was presidential elector in 1872, and was designated by the state electoral college as messenger to convey the vote of Michigan to Washington. He was elected mayor of Jackson in 1876, and in 1884 he was elected a representative from Michigan to the forty-ninth congress; and was re-elected to the fiftieth, fiftyfirst and fifty-second congresses as a republican.