Mr. O'Donnell received his early education in the public schools of Liverpool. In February, 1852, he came with his parents to this country, and, settling in New York, completed his studies in Grammar School No. 11, on Seventeenth Street, in that city. Afterward he was employed there in various capacities. In 1860 he settled in Hudson City, now Jersey City Heights, N. J., and applied himself to learning the carpenter's trade with Charles J. Knighton; but the excitement incident to the War of the Rebellion aroused his patriotism to the point of enlisting in the Union cause, in which he served with honor and distinction. Joining Company F, Twenty-first New Jersey Volunteers, in August, L862, he was soon transferred to Company I, of the same regiment, and for about ten months participated in the operations in Virginia, including Mary's Heights, Chancellorsville, and other battles and skirmishes.

In 1863 Mr. O'Donnell was honorably discharged from the service and resumed his associations with Mr. Knighton, applying himself to the trade of carpenter and stair builder. Later he entered the employ of David Stagg, of Hoboken, and in 1869 he engaged in business for himself in partnership with Ambrose Gale. Their business was almost exclusively stair building. In 1870 Mr. O'Donnell succeeded this firm, and has since followed the stair building trade, though of late years his time and energies have been very largely devoted to important official duties. As a stair builder, however, he achieved success as well as a high reputation for skill and ability, and is one of the oldest members of that trade in East Jersey. He has always been an active Democrat, prominent in the councils of his party, and recognized as one of its influential local leaders. For about five years he was Commissioner of Appeals for the Township of Weehawken. In 1876 he was elected a member of the Township Committee, and in 1877 he was reelected, but the new law reducing the board from five to three members threw him and another associate out. He was again re-elected in 1878, as one of the three members composing the board, but on account of political differences refused to sit, and resigned. In 1881 he was elected an Assessor of the Township of Weehawken. Owing to a tie vote, however, he did not qualify, but in 1882 he was re-elected to that office, and by successive reelections has continued to hold it to the present time. He is now serving his eighteenth consecutive year, a fact which attests at once his popularity, his faithfulness and fidelity, and the esteem and confidence in which he is held by the community. His long and uninterrupted connection with the assessor-hip has not only given him a wide experience in real estate values, but has enabled him to gain an extensive knowledge of municipal affairs.

Mr. O'Donnell has been for many years a delegate to township, county, and district Democratic conventions, in which his influence has materially advanced the interests of the party. He has always been a fearless advocate of honest government and sound Democratic principles. As a citizen lie is public spirited, enterprising, and patriotic. He was for fourteen years a member of Wadsworth (now Woerner) Post, G. A. R., of Hoboken, and is now a member of Ellsworth Post, No. 14, of the Town of Union, of which he was for a time the Junior Vice-Commander. He is also a member of the Catholic Benevolent Legion.