BARTON O'Neal of the firm of Colwell & O'Neal, dealers in lumber, shingles, lath, etc., Urbana. He was born Jan. 5, 1827, in Rosa Co., Ohio, and is a son of Samuel and Martha (Cowgill) O'Neal, both natives of Ross Co., Ohio, where they grew up to maturity and married. In 1851, they moved to Hardin Co., Ohio, and three years later they became residents of McLean Co., Ill., where Martha died, in 1860 and Samuel in 1864. Our subject is the second of a family of eight children; he was raised to farm life, and in 1846, married Miss Elizabeth Moots. In 1852, they located in West Liberty, Logan Co., Ohio, and December, 1861, in Urbana, where Mrs. O'Neal died in 1863. She was a native of Ross Co., Ohio, and left five children and a husband; the latter married Emma E. Strayer, a native of Logan Co., Ohio. After settling in Urbuna, he was engaged in saw-milling and lumber dealing until 1867, when he purchased a mill, and since has had a pecuniary interest in the business. ln March, 1877, he sold his mill and formed the partnership of Sayman, Colwell & O'Neal, which association conducted business until the death of Mr. Sayman, Sept. 23, 1879, since which the firm has been as already indicated. Mention is made of this firm in the sketch of C. F. Colwell, in this history.
Source: The History of Champaign County, Ohio, 1881, Page 685, by Bev Crowe, 4/1/2001