Francis Michael O'Donnell M.D. (1863 - 1937)

Born Apr 1863 in Marlborough, Massachusetts

Husband of Rose Aloysia (Harkins) O'Donnell — married 2 Jul 1888 in Newton, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 10 Feb 1937 at age 73 in Harrington St., Newton, Massachusetts

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Biography

Francis lived at 1 Washington Street, Newton, MA (valued at $15,000) in 1930 with his wife Rose (whom he married at age 26) and two single children Paul F and Ruth A. Both of his parents were born in the Irish Free state. He and his wife had a live in servant Mary Gloddy (age 24 - born in Massachusetts, parents from Ireland) - (source: 1930 census).

The 1900 Census has Francis (37) and Rose (37) living at 619 Washington Street, Newton, MA (home owned, free of mortgage) with children Paul F. (10), Grace (9), Ruth (8) and Father in Law Cornelius Harkins (65) of Ireland -emmigrated 1840. Hanna McGrath servant also lived here. (The 1910 and 1920 census correspond with dates and residence; however, with different servant names.)

The 1870 Census has Francis' father father James (30) working in shoe shop, mother Catherine (25) children: James M (9) attending school, Francis M (7).

His obituary from the February 1937 New England Journal of Medicine read, "Dr. O'Donnell was graduated from Boston College in 1882 and from the Harvard Medical School in 1885. He had practiced medicine in Newton for many years and was a retired Fellow of the Massachusetts Medical Society..." In a separate article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, his cause of death was listed as Myocarditis"

His obituary from the Newton Graphic read:^[1]

"DR. F. M. O’DONNELL - Dr. Francis M. O'Donnell died on Feb. 10th at his home. 28 Harrington St. bbNewtonville. He was horn in Marlboro on April 9. 1863, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James O’Donnell. He had been a resident of Newton for 54 years. He was educated in the public schools of Marlboro, Boston College. from which lie graduated in 1882, and Harvard Medical School, where he graduated in 1885. Dr. O’Donnell was a charter member of Middlesex Court. M. C. O. F., and Newton Council. Knights of Columbus. He had served as medical examiner of the former organization for 51 years, and of the Newton Council for over 40 years. He was the oldest alumnus of Boston College in Newton. Dr. O’Donnell was a man of a very charitable nature and during the fifty years he practiced medicine in Newton, lie gave freely of his skill and time to hundreds of families and persons in humble circumstances. He is survived by ills widow. Mrs. Rose (Harkins) O’Donnell; a son. Paul F. O’Donnell of Waltham; two daughters. Mrs. Harry C. Lanergan and Miss Ruth J. O’Donnell, both of Newton; two brothers, Dr. George O’Donnell of Boston and Dr. John O’Donnell of Medford, and three sisters, Mrs. Joseph Cosgrove of Marlboro, Mrs. Edward St. Louis of Medford and Mrs. Mary Tiglie of Wakefield. Dr. O’Donnell’s funeral will be held on Friday morning from tho home of his daughter, Mrs. Lanergan. at 77 Waban Park. Newton. The funeral service will be at Our Lady’s Church at 11 o’clock Burial will be in Holyhood Cemetery."

Harvard Medical School #2906. Francis Michael O'Donnell, A.B. Bost. Coll. 1882; M.M.S.S.; address: Newton.^[2]

He attended the first annual alumni dinner for Boston College on June 28, 1886 according to the Boston Globe: The first Alumni dinner was held 60 years ago on June 28, 1886. The following report of it appeared in the Boston Globe, June 29, 1886. The first annual dinner of the Boston College Alumni Association was held last evening at Young's Hotel and a large number of graduates of that institution assembled to make merry around the festive board. Previous to the dinner a business meeting was held, at which it was unanimously voted to admit to the association none but the graduates of the college. Promptly at 6 o'clock the members and guests, to the number of about fifty, sat down to dinner.

Among those seated at the tables were: Rev. Edward V. Boursaud, S.J., president of Boston College; Edward A. McLaughlin, '77; Edward J. Flynn, '81; Rev. James F. Talbot, D.D., '78; Rev. Nicholas R. Walsh, '77; Dr. Samson A. Callahan, '82; Edward F. Burns, '80; Augustine L. Rafter, '82; Peter F. Gartland, '82; Hugh J. Molly, '83; Rev. Charles F. Glennon, '79; Timothy W. Coakley, '84; Rev. John J. Moore, '82; Charles A. Winn, '85; Jeremiah G. Foley, '85; Thomas J. Hurley, '85; Rev. Thomas I. Coghlan, '78; Charles V. Carroll, '84; Frank J. Barnes, '84; James F. Aylward, '84; Dr. Charles E. Mongan, '83; Dr. Daniel P. Smith, '83; Dr. Francis M. O'Donnell, '82; Dr. William A. Dunn, '77; Rev. William F. Powers, '82; Rev. James W. Allison, '79; Philip J. Farley, '84; Eugene A. McCarthy, '84; Rev. James F. Gilfether, '80; Rev. Charles A. O'Connor, '81; Rev. Francis J. Butler, '80; Dr. William G. MacDonald, '77; Dr. William J. O'Reilly, '80; Rev. Henry A. Sullivan, '79; Rev. John W. McCarthy, '80; Rev. John H. Griffin, '81; Rev. Michael J. Doody, '80; Edward F. Hoynes, '78; Thomas F. Flanagan, '81; Richard J. Sullivan, '78; Rev. Patrick B. McManus, '79.

According to the Newton Historical society:

Francis M. O'Donnell, M.D., son of James O'Donnell, was born in Marlboro', Mass., April 9, 1863. His early education was obtained in the Grammar and High Schools. He afterwards entered Boston College, from which, in 1882, he received the degree of A.B. and in 1887 the degree of A.M.

In 1882 he entered the Harvard Medical School, and from Harvard Medical College received his degree of M.D. He settled in Newton in 1885; became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1887. He married Miss Rose A. Harkins, of Newton, July 2, 1888. ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ https://archive.org/stream/NewtonGraphicFeb_1937/1937-02-Feb_djvu.txt
2. ↑ Thomas F. (Thomas Francis) Harrington. The Harvard medical school; a history, narrative and documentary. 1782-1905 (Volume 3). (page 81 of 97)
3. ↑ D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Hurd. History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men (Volume 1). (page 36 of 217)