ODIORNE. U NEIL. 447 Mr. O'Brien was elected on the board of aldermen in 1875, '76 and '77, defeated in 1878, again elected in 1879, '80, '81, not a candidate in 1882, elected in 1883, and was made chairman of the board, which posi- tion he held for the four last years. In December, 1884, he was elected mayor of the city, holding that position for four successive years, 1885, 'S6, '87 and '88. He has held the office of treasurer and general manager of the Brush Electric Light Company, president of the Union Institution for Savings, treasurer of Frank- lin Typographical Society for fifteen years, a trustee of the St. Vincent Orphan Asylum, and for many years was a standard author- ity on all matters relating to the trade and commerce of the city. Mr. O'Brien has long been regarded a friend of the laboring interest, securing the passage of an ordinance regulating payment to workingmen by contractors with the city. He urged the abolition of the poll-tax as a pre-requisite for voting, advocated the purchase of large areas for public parks, has been prominently identi- fied with the improved system of sewerage and the enlarging the water supply Mr. O'Brien was a firm believer in the future growth of the city, and as alderman and mayor, covering a period of eleven years of active service, was a prominent factor in carrying out these and many other reforms that have placed Boston at the head of the municipal governments of the country. ODIORNE, Frederic Hussey, son of Thomas and Mary (Hussey) Odiorne, was born in Maiden, Middlesex county, May 26, 1830. He is a descendant from John Odiorne, one of the first settlers of Portsmouth, N. H., from whom the name of Odiorne's Point at New Castle, N. H., was taken. At this point landed the first settlers in New Hampshire. He received a common school education in his native town. He began his business life in the count- ing room of Thomas Tremlett, Boston, in 1S47, remaining there until 1856. His first business connection was with his brother in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1856 (Odiorne & Brother), commission business. Ilr remained but one year, then was a partner of the firm of Tremlett Brothers & Co., Boston, for one year, then in the firm of Tremlett & Odiorne till i860. From i860 to '72 he was alone in business. From 1S72 to the present time, the firm name has been F. H. Odiorne & Co., coal and commission business. He is the longest in the service of the entire guild of Boston wholesale coal dealers. Mr. Odiorne was married May 24, 1854, to Adaline, daughter of Jonathan and Susan (Hovey) Robinson. They have no children. Mr. Odiorne was an alderman-at-large in the city of Maiden, 1887, and has been president of the Maiden Club since 1886. Mr. Odiorne is largely interested in the manufacture of gas, and has been for many years president of the gas light com- panies at Gloucester and Plymouth, Exe- ter, N. H., and Rockland, Me. O'NEIL, JOSEPH HENRY, son of Pat- rick Henry and Mary (Harrington) O'Neil, was born in Fall River, Bristol county, March 23, 1S53. He was educated in the Boston public schools, graduating therefrom in 1866. He then worked at the printing business for a short time, and afterwards learned the car- penter's trade with the firm of Jonas Fitch & Company, who did then a very large business. In 1870 he assisted in the formation of the St. James Young Men's Catholic Total Abstinence Society of Boston, of which he was president for many years. He also was one of the originators of the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of Massachusetts, and although he was one of its most active workers, refused to accept any office, pre- ferring to labor in the ranks. He still remains a member of the St. James so- ciety. In 1S74, when of age, he was elected a member of the school board from ward 7, Boston, and a member of the Democratic city committee the same year. He has been a member of the committee since, except four years, when he refused to be a candidate. He was a member of the House of Rep- resentatives from ward 16, Boston, in 1878, '79, '80, '81 and in '82. He refused to be a candidate for 1883, but was again elected in 1883 for '84, and each time by an increased majority. He served on the committee on liquor law in 1S78, committee on public buildings in 1S79, and the com- mittee on street railways in 1880, '81 and '82 — in 1881 on the special committee ap- pointed to revise the public statutes ; and in 18S2 was a member of the committee on rules and orders. In 1SS4 he was a member of the committee on rules and on railroads. He was also made president of the Democratic organization of the House in 1880.
