George L. Bimber's parents were Andrew and Gertrude Miller Bimber, born in Germany. They were of royal parentage. His father was the Prince Andrew of Hess. His mother was the Princess Gertrude of Wertemburg. Prince Andrew was a leader of the Hessian Revolt, which occurred in the year 1830. These revolutions for the humble working class people were defeated, and in 1831, Prince Andrew fled to England with a price on his head. He had, previously to the uprising in Hess, been an officer in the German Army for fourteen years and was a brother to the ruling king.
His wife and three sons, Philip, George, and Herman (all of whom were born in the royal castle in Hess) followed him to England and in 1831,along with his family, sailed to the land of freedom.
They came to this country in a sailing vessel which took two months to cross the ocean. Landing at Philadelphia, they traveled by stagecoach to Pittsburgh, which at that time was a flouring mill at the junction of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. This area consisted of a few scattered log homes along the banks of both rivers. From Pittsburgh, they traveled north to what is now New Brighton and Beaver Falls, where they located a large German settlement of several thousands of people. These Germans had schools, churches, and methods of living that were the same as in Germany, however, in America every man's vote was equal and alike, and they enjoyed the blessings of freedom, peace, and liberty.
In 1831, Prince Andrew, throwing aside his royal title and refusing to be addressed as Prince, offered his services to the State of Pennsylvania. He was made Captain of the State Militia of Pennsylvania from 1831 to 1841, and was known as Captain Andrew Bimber. By that time he was getting older and retired by the State of Pennsylvania receiving United States citizenship, as well as a pension for his valuable service.
At one time in his early military career in his adoptive land, Captain Bimber was sent on an errand to the Indians in Northwestern Pennsylvania on behalf of the States. He was accompanied by his three sons, all desirous of meeting the Indians in their native habitations. He met and interviewed Chief Cornplanter, who was half Dutch and an old man. It was there that Captain Bimber saw an admired the beauty of the Allegheny River and decided to make his future home in Warren County.
In the year 1855. Captain Bimber migrated from Beaver Falls to Warren County, accompanied by his Sons, Herman and George, along with George's wife and children. They settled in Deerfield Township near Tidioute, at what is known as Suttun's Hill.
George H. Bimber was born January 17, 1826 in Hesse, Germany. He came to this country with his father, mother, and two brothers when he was five years old.
On January 28, 1847, George H. Bimber married Elizabeth Little at Brighton, Pennsylvania, in Beaver County. His wife was born July 1, 1828, at Salem, Ohio, the daughter of Thomas and Hannah Court Little.
The children of George and Elizabeth Bimber were Ivy Gertrude, who died at three years of age, Andrew A., Louise H. 0'Dell, Annie M. White, Wilhelmenia Cox Goldthwaite, Caroline Elizabeth McIntyre, Mary J. Roth, George H. Jr., Esther B. McIntyre, and Josephine C. Davis.
George lived in Deerfield many years as a much liked person, respected neighbor, and sincere friend. He reared a family of nine children. Ivy Gertrude died and was buried at Beaver Falls, Pa.
Inheriting his father's soldierly qualities and loving the county of his adoption, George enlisted November 15, 1861, at Deerfield, Warren County, Pennsylvania, in the Union Army as Chief Bugler in Company K. 12th Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry. He participated in the Battle of Bull Run, Winchester, Virginia, Fisher's Hill, Strasburg, Virginia, Cedar Creek, and in a fight with Mosbey in the Loudoun Valley, besides many other skirmishes. At one time during the Civil War, George was under the command of General Custer. In after years, speaking of General Custer, George said, "I chust tell you vat, dot Cooster (Custer) was a Dutchman."
At Charleston, West Virginia, in July 1864, George Bimber, being a bugler and in the act of carrying out the orders of his commanding officer, was severely wounded when his horse fell on him after being shot out from underneath him. He was treated in a private home at Bolivar Heights, West Virginia, for a period of four weeks. The following February, at Winchester, Virginia, he was discharged to reenlist the next day as a veteran in the same command, thus obtaining a veteran's furlough of thirty days. He was honorably discharged at the close of the Civil War, July 20, 1865, at Winchester.
George Bimber also served his community as road commissioner, school director, judge of election, and belonged to the Col. George A. Cobham Post No. 311i. He also was a farmer by occupation. George was a devout Christian and well known for his acts of mercy and kindness. Both he and his wife were members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and he was class leader at Sutton's Hill. In 1908, at Pleasantville, Pennsylvania, George H. Bimber died and was buried.
Herman Bimber, brother of George was born in Hesse Castle, Germany. At the age of seven years, Herman emigrated to the United States with his parents and two brothers, Philip and George. While not a member of any religious sect, he was known and respected for his honesty and truthfulness. He was a bachelor and made his home with his niece, Mrs. Wilhelmina Goldthwaite, in Limestone Township, Warren County, Pennsylvania. He died at the age of 85.
George H. Bimber had two relatives in the service. His wife's brother, Levi Little, served in the Ohio Cavalry Regiment and was killed in the John Morgan raid. His cousin, Jacob Lewis Bimber served nine months in the Civil War, and was honorably discharged due to illness.
Jacob Lewis Bimber, cousin of George, Philip, and Herman Bimber, nephew of Andrew and Gertrude Bimber, was born in Hesse Castle, Germany, on October 24, 1835. Jacob emigrated to the United States in the year of 1850. Upon arriving in the new country, he made his home with his cousin, George. On January 3, 1860, Jacob married Johanna Millison. To this union were born nine girls and two boys.
In 1862, Jacob served nine months in the Civil War and was honorably discharged because of sickness. He later died of injuries received in a storm on July 23, 1884, while trying to close the large doors of his barn. Due to the high winds, the barn doors were torn from their hinges causing the doors to fall on him which resulted in his death.
He was a beautiful singer possessing a clear clarion-like voice of carrying qualities. He was never able to sing in English, only German His wife, Johanna, died on January 8, 1892. Jacob and Johanna were members of the Evangelical Church.
Today, some of Germany's best blood flows in the veins of the descendants of these early settlers, all of whom are now native born citizens.
Children born from the marriage of Wm. E. S. O'Dell and Loesa M. Bimber.
Deaths:
General information about the O'Dell Family.
William E. S. O'Dell was born in Saint Andrew, Canada. His mother was full-blooded Scott, and his father was English. They lived in a French settlement, so the children's dominant language was French; however, Mr. O'Dell was a college graduate which was an accomplishment in those days. He was sent to Montreal to a Catholic College, which was the only kind at that time. He was raised in the Presbyterian faith as his mother was quite strict in that respect.
He came into the United States the year after the Civil War. At the time he departed college, he spoke seven languages, three of them being of Indian dialect. He was a bookkeeper for boats on the Mississippi River before he met his wife; therefore, he had some wealth when they were married. He was eleven years older than his wife. He never went back to his home after his mother's death, but made several trips before she died.
At the time of his marriage he was in the boot and shoe business in Tidioute, Pennsylvania. There were five children in his family. His mother's first name was Dablunde and his father's name was Samuel. He was naturalized soon after his marriage making him a United States Citizen.
When the O'Dell home burned in Deerfield, Pennsylvania, most all of their prized possessions burned, including a large picture of his boyhood home, and his college diploma which was framed and hung on the parlor wall.
When I, Laura O'Dell Edwards, daughter of Win. E. S. O'Dell was stuck in my high school algebra or other subjects, he (Wm.), would always help me with my homework. My Mother's name was Bimber, and her father came from Hess Castle, as was told before in the family history.
The Allegheny Regional Family History Society