Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/123

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O'BRIEN


OCHS


in "Virginia until fatally wounded in a skirmish with Col. Ashby's Confederate cavalry, Feb. 26, 1862. His poems Loch Lie and Iriah Castles were published anonymously in Ballads of Ireland (1856) . See Hie Poems and Stories of Fitz- James O'Brien xcith Personal Recollections by his Asso- ciates, edited by William Winter (1881). He died in Cumberland, Va., April 6, 1862.

O'BRIEN, William Shoney, capitalist, was born in Abbeyleix, Ireland, about 1835. He im- migrated to New York city in his early youth and removed to California upon the discovery of gold in 1849. He engaged in mining, and in 1851 established a liquor saloon in San Francisco, sub- sequently entering the ship chandlery business. In 1854 he formed a partnership with James C. Flood in the restaurant and saloon business, which he continued until 1867, when they engaged ex- clusively in mining. They soon acquired im- mense wealth, becoming two of the four "Bo- nanza princes," and with J. G. Fair and John W. Mackay controlled the "Bonanza" mines of Nevada. His fortune was estimated as $20,000,- 000. He died in San Rafael, Cal., May 2, 1878.

OCHILTREE, Thomas Peck, representative, was born in Nacogdoches. Texas, Oct. 26, 1842 ; son of Judge William B. andNovaline (Kennard) Peck Ocliiltree. When a boy he volunteered in Capt. John G. Walker's company of Texas Rang- ers and marched to the frontier against the Apache and Co- manche Indians. He was admitted to the bar by special act of the legislature of Texas, being non-age ; was editor of the Jeffersonian at Jef- ferson, Texas; a de- legate to the Demo- cratic national con- vention at Charleston and Baltimore, 1860; witnessed the sur- render of Fort Sumter in 1861, and entered the Confederate service as a private in the Marsliall guards. 1st Texasinfantry, which became a part of the Texas battalion, com- manded by Lieut. -Col. Louis T. Wigfall. He was subsequently assigned to the 1st Texas infantry in Hood's brigade. Army of Northern Virginia. He was on the staff of Gen. H. H. Sibley in the Army of New Mexico, and was mentioned for gallantry in official reports. He was sent to Richmond with important dispatches and joined the staff of General Longstreet as assistant adjutant-general, serving in the battle of Seven Pines and in the seven days' battles around


Richmond. On returning to the lower Missis- sippi, he was made chief of General Sibley's staff, and afterward was assigned to Gen. Richard Taylor, taking part in the campaign that led to the capture of Brashear City, La. He was en- gaged under orders of Gen. S. B. Maxey in tlie battle of Poison Springs, Ark., and with General Raines in the defence of Richmond, Va., 1864. At Sailor's Creek, Va., April 6, 1865, he was wounded and captured. He visited Europe, 1865-66 ; was editor of the Daily Telegraph, Houston, Texas, 1866 ; visited Europe again, 1867, securing a line of direct steamers from Galveston, and was made commissioner of emigration for Texas. He was U.S. marshal under General Grant for Texas. He was a representative from the seventh dis- trict of Texas in the 48th congress, 1883-85, and at the end of his term removed to New York city, and became counsel for the Mackay-Bennett cable company. He died Nov. 25, 1902.

OCHILTREE, William Beck, jurist, was born in Fayette ville, Cumberland county, N. C, Oct. 11, 1811 ; son of David and Lucy (Beck) Ocliil- tree ; grandson of Malcolm Hugh Ochiltree, and a descendant of Malcolm Hugh Ochiltree, who was on the personal staff of Prince Charles Ed- ward, and who came to America after the defeat of the Stuarts, and settled in North Carolina about 1746. He was admitted to the bar. He went to Florida, and thence to Alabama, where he was married in 1834 to Novaline. daughter of James Kennard, and widow of Thomas Peck. He became a distinguished lawyer, and in 1839 removed to Nacogdoches, Texas. He was an associate judge of the supreme court, attorney- general and secretary of the treasury of the Republic of Texas. He was a member of the constitutional convention of Texas in 1845, and was appointed one of the first district judges of the state in 1846. He was the leader for years of the Whig party in Texas and a representative in the state legislature, 1855-56 ; chairman of the judiciary committee and also of public debt, and made a famous speech on a bill to pay Samuel Swartout of New York the interest on $16,000 advanced by him in fitting out expedi- tions for the relief of Texas during her struggle for independence. He was elected a representa- tive to the Confederate States congress in 1861, and resigned therefrom to become colonel of the 18th Texas infantry. He died at Marshall, Texas, in December, 1867.

OCHS, Adolph 5., journalist, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. March 12,1858: son of Julius and Bertha (Levy) Ochs, both natives of Ger- many, who came to America in 1844. His father erilisted for the Mexican war, was a Federal officer in the civil war, was lionorably discharged as captain in the 52d Ohio volunteers, and removed