Arizona Obituary Archive

Search      Post Obituary


James P. O'dell

Posted 2016-12-18 by Judy Wight Branson
Weekly Journal Miner, Prescott, Arizona
Wednesday, September 14. 1921. page 4, column 4

Death Takes J, P. Odell In Motor Crash

Prescott Contractor Is Instantly Killed When Machine Strikes Tree;
Thomas Eppner, Shaken Up, Will Recover

(From Tuesday's Daily)

Death came swiftly and suddenly yesterday noon to J. P. Odell, local
contractor, when the Dodge car he was driving swerved from the lower
road approaching Whipple Barracks and crashed into a tree. His head
struck the tree and he died instantly. His skull was fractured.

With Odell at the time was Thomas Eppner, to whom Odell was
demonstrating the car. Badly shaken up, Eppner was given medical
attention and taken to the Pioneer's Home, where he lives and where he
was reported last night to be improving. His hurts were not serious.

Also in the car was Jiggs, Odell's dog and constant companion, who was
killed with his master. Both were lifeless when witnesses of the
accident reached the scene.

Odell had taken the car to put it through its paces for his friend, to
whom it is said, he contemplated selling it. Apparently he lost
control of the machine, which left the road, struck a tree, skidded and
crashed head-on into a second tree. Odell's skull was crushed against
the first tree.

Odell had lived in Prescott about eight years, coming here from Jerome.
He was unmarried. Though not known positively to have any living
relatives, it is understood by friends that he has relatives living in
West Virginia. He never spoke of his family to his friends here. He
was a carpenter and contractor and at the time of his death was engaged
in building two new houses in West Prescott. He was a member of the
chamber of commerce.

Word of the tragedy, which occurred about 12:30, came as a shock to the
many friends he had in Prescott.

A coroner's jury, which visited the scene of the accident returned a
verdict of accidental death.


Transcriber's note: Mr. Odell is buried in an unmarked grave at the
Citizens Cemetery in Prescott, Arizona.




Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.

Questions About This Project?