John O'Driscoll from "Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah"

John O'Driscoll
from "Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah"

O'DRISCOLL, JOHN (son of James O'Driscoll and Rachel 
Knight, of Cape of Good Hope, South Africa). Born Dec. 
21, 1845, at Cape of Good Hope. Came to Utah Nov. 8, 1865, 
Miner G. Atwood company. 

Married Sarah Ellen Nelbaur Nov. 16, 1867, Salt Lake 
City (daughter of Alexander Neibaur of Ehrenbreitsteln, 
near Coblenz, Hessen-Nassau, Prussia, and Ellen Breakell, 
of Salt Lake City, pioneers Sept. 20, 1848. Brigham Young 
company, former was first surgeon-dentist In Salt Lake 
City). She was born May 21. 1849. Their children: 
Rachael b. Jan. 3, 1869, m. William Woolstenhulme; Ellen 
b. April 6, 1870. m. James Davies; George Alexander b. 
July 24, 1871; John Hyrum b. March 27, 1873, m. Jeanette 
Holfeltz; Richard b. Oct. 16, 1874; William Henry b. Dec. 
9, 1875; Leslie b. Nov. Nov. 5. 1877, m. Irene Cloward; Susie 
b. May 13, 1880, m. Joseph Edward Wilde; Isaac Breakell 
b. Nov. 27, 1884, m. Dora Taylor; Nathan Nelbaur b. March 

Robert Mills

John O'Driscoll learns obedience

From an account by his daughter, Susie O'Driscoll Wilde

He spent his young boyhood days as most boys in that tropical land (South Africa) did -- swimming in the ocean, gathering wild honey and fruits, and hunting wild birds and animals.  Many are the stories he would tell to us about the different birds, plants, animals, snakes, etc. that are found in the tropical lands.

The missionaries were always welcome at the Smith home and spent much of their time there.  The family, including my father, were finally converted and baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

The voyage across the ocean took two months and six days.  The journey from New York to Omaha was made on the railroad.  At Omaha they joined the wagon train, and father drove seven yoke of oxen form there to Salt Lake Valley

At Bittercreek father encountered his first snow storm.  Father was 20 years old and didn't have any idea what snow was.  At night when they camped, the wagon boss told the drivers to pick up their oxen yokes and other articles as they were going to have a snow storm; father didn't take any notice of him and left his things on the ground; but he said the next morning when he had to hunt ox yokes, whips, etc. out of the snow he decided form then on to obey orders.  At any rate it was a useful lesson.

History of John O'Driscoll by Susie O'Driscoll Wilde

History of John O'Driscoll

Written by his daughter, Susie O'Driscoll Wilde

My father, John O'Driscoll, was born in the town of Humans Dork (sic) near the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, 21 Dec. 1845. He was the oldest son of James O'Driscoll and Rachel Knight O'Driscoll.

James O'Driscoll was born in Ireland and his wife, Rachel was born in England. In the family besides my father, there were three boys -- Cornelius, Jams, and Henry and two girls -- Mary and Annie.

When my father was just a young boy, his father died; and he (my father) went to live with his Uncle and Aunt Henry and Martha Smith and for many years was known as John Smith. Many of his old friends still remember him by that name.

He spent his young boyhood days as most boys in that tropical land did -- swimming in the ocean, gathering wild honey and fruits, and hunting wild birds and animals. Many are the stories he would tell to us about the different birds, plants, animals, snakes, etc. that are found in the tropical lands.

John O'Driscoll

John O'Driscoll obituary

Park Record October 26, 1923


Francis News

Mr. John O'Driscoll who died recently at Kamas spent most of his life in our vicinity. Mr. O'Driscoll was well known and has a host of friends here who extend sympathy to the bereaved family

John and Sarah O'Driscoll in the Park Record

Park Record November 30, 1917

Chums for Fifty Years

The Deseret Evening News of last Sunday had the pictures of Mr. and Mrs. John O'Driscoll, prominent people of Kamas, this county, who recently celebrated the anniversary of their fiftieth wedding day. In speaking of the affair, the News correspondent said: "Mr. and Mrs. John O'Driscoll of this place passed their golden wedding anniversary Nov. 16. Mr. O'Driscoll was born at Humans Dorp, South Africa, 72 years ago. He was baptized there in 1865 and came to Utah the same year. In 1866 he served in the Blackhawk war in Sanpete county. In 1867 ne married Sarah Ellen Neibaur, who was born in Salt Lake City.

They have had 12 children of whom four sons and four daughters are living. They are: John O'Driscoll, of Leeton: Isaac O'Driscoll of Kamas; Jesse P. O'Driscoll of Provo; Mrs. Rachel Wolstenhulme of Driggs, Idaho; Mrs. Ellen Davis of Marion; Mrs. Gladys O'Driscoll of Kamas. Mr. and Mrs. O'Driscoll have 32 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. They moved to Kamas in 1869 and have resided there ever since.

John O'Driscoll and Sarah Ellen Neibaur O'Driscoll headstones